Last updated at 20:29, Thursday, 16 August 2012

Town centre managers have been appointed across the Allerdale council area.

NEW TOWN CENTRE MANAGERS: Toni Magean, left, and Joe Broomfield

Joe Broomfield will be town centre manager for Cockermouth, Keswick, Wigton and Silloth.

Toni Magean will cover Workington, Maryport and Aspatria, Allerdale council announced this week.

An early priority for both managers will be to work with communities to develop “aspirational” town centre plans.

They will focus on the cleanliness and appearance of town centres, the organisation of festivals and events, markets and promotional activity.

Mr Broomfield has been part of the council’s economic growth team since 2004.

He has managed several town centre improvement schemes, including the Maryport Townscape Heritage Initiative, which saw empty and derelict properties, including the Golden Lion Hotel, being given a new lease of life.

He recently managed the award-winning Cockermouth Shopfront Heritage Scheme, which helped to revitalise Cockermouth town centre after the floods of 2009.

Mr Magean worked for Copeland council, where he led a number of environmental service functions including parks and gardens, play areas, bereavement services, parking and street infrastructure.

He also headed partnership schemes to provide new facilities, such as BMX tracks for young people.

He is a member and national assessor of the National Green Flag Awards Team and is involved with both Cumbria and Britain in Bloom and recently undertook the assessment and judging of towns across Cumbria.

A new aspect to this programme is that now many departments will work together to provide the tools to reinvigorate local town centres.

Council departments earmarked for involvement include environmental services, property, car parking, planning and economic growth, with others to follow as required.

The team will work with partners to ensure that Allerdale’s seven town centres are vibrant, attractive and welcoming.

Councillor Mark Fryer, economic development spokesman for of Allerdale council, said: “We have made a clear commitment to residents, businesses and visitors about developing our town centres

“With our town centre team in place we can move forward in a cohesive way.

“Town centres are at the heart of communities; their importance is not simply about ‘shopping’, but are vital in terms of job creation, community and transport hubs, visitor attractions, venues for arts and events, and places to live.

“Our town centre team is going to be working with partners to see how we can positively contribute to ensure that our town centres meet the needs of our communities.”

First published at 19:22, Thursday, 16 August 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk