CCCiAdmin
12/02/09, 11:12
Egremont & District Business Forum 5th Feb 2009
Chair: Don Graham, Chamber of Commerce
Speaker: Simon Walker, Egremont Regeneration Partnership
Don welcomed Simon who presented to the attendees on the achievement of
the Egremont Regeneration Partnership and plans for the future.
The Regeneration Partnership was formed in April 2004. Due to the
constraints of funding work focused on the town centre. However, some
grants were given to businesses outside the perimeter of the town. The
Partnership has worked with the Phoenix Enterprise Centre to provide access
to employment. In co-operation with Inbiz they have supported 27 people in
setting up businesses in the town. Six empty buildings on the main street
have been brought into use and grants have been awarded for 2 further
buildings to be brought into use. The shop front facelift scheme has helped
12 businesses to upgrade their shop frontages. There is still funding available
for bringing empty buildings into use but the spend needs to be completed by
September 2009.
Youth Works were funded for 3 years but are now self funding. The Castle
Cinema was demolished and planning permission obtained to build 15 flats on
the site. However, in the current economic climate this is currently on hold.
The Thornhill bus shelter became a project for the whole community who
gave it a complete facelift. Egremont FM Radio Station ran for a month and
may have a longer term future. The success of the partnership hinges on
having a local office which allows it to harness the ideas of the community. It
has recently worked together with the Community Action Group on the
renovation of the De Lucy Centre. A local web site at Egremont has been
created which can be used by local businesses free of charge. However, the
take up of this has been limited.
A recent development has been the acquisition of a canopy for the Castle
Performance Space which will provide cover for 200 seats. The Partnership
is working with the Rosehill Theatre and the Kendal Arts Centre to bring
performances to the town. At the Florence Mine a digital arts production
centre has been created.
Funding for the Partnership is due to run out in March 2009. However, there
is hope that new funding will be secured although it is likely that the
Partnership will take on the remit to cover a wider area.
Simon took questions from the attendees.
Q Are building re-use grants only available for Main Street premises?
A No, they are available for any premises in the area covered by the
Partnership. For example a grant was recently given to allow a micro brewery
to utilise premises at the Florence Mine.
Q What about the sustainability of the projects that the Partnership has
sponsored? For example, the bus shelter at Thornhill has now been painted
black and looks awful.
Egremont & District Business Forum 5th Feb 2009
A We are not sure why it was re-painted particularly as the original
design included a graffiti panel. However, we can only assume that it was the
Parish Council because the bus shelter belongs to them. In respect to other
sustainability projects the Partnership secures agreements to ensure that its
work is not in vain. For example, when new street furniture was installed it
was agreed that Copeland Borough Council would maintain it. Likewise, the
gateways planting scheme is also maintained by Copeland Borough Council.
The Partnership tries to use this model for all its projects in order to ensure
sustainability.
Don Graham thanked Simon for his presentation (attached)and asked if there was any other business. There being none the meeting was closed.
Chair: Don Graham, Chamber of Commerce
Speaker: Simon Walker, Egremont Regeneration Partnership
Don welcomed Simon who presented to the attendees on the achievement of
the Egremont Regeneration Partnership and plans for the future.
The Regeneration Partnership was formed in April 2004. Due to the
constraints of funding work focused on the town centre. However, some
grants were given to businesses outside the perimeter of the town. The
Partnership has worked with the Phoenix Enterprise Centre to provide access
to employment. In co-operation with Inbiz they have supported 27 people in
setting up businesses in the town. Six empty buildings on the main street
have been brought into use and grants have been awarded for 2 further
buildings to be brought into use. The shop front facelift scheme has helped
12 businesses to upgrade their shop frontages. There is still funding available
for bringing empty buildings into use but the spend needs to be completed by
September 2009.
Youth Works were funded for 3 years but are now self funding. The Castle
Cinema was demolished and planning permission obtained to build 15 flats on
the site. However, in the current economic climate this is currently on hold.
The Thornhill bus shelter became a project for the whole community who
gave it a complete facelift. Egremont FM Radio Station ran for a month and
may have a longer term future. The success of the partnership hinges on
having a local office which allows it to harness the ideas of the community. It
has recently worked together with the Community Action Group on the
renovation of the De Lucy Centre. A local web site at Egremont has been
created which can be used by local businesses free of charge. However, the
take up of this has been limited.
A recent development has been the acquisition of a canopy for the Castle
Performance Space which will provide cover for 200 seats. The Partnership
is working with the Rosehill Theatre and the Kendal Arts Centre to bring
performances to the town. At the Florence Mine a digital arts production
centre has been created.
Funding for the Partnership is due to run out in March 2009. However, there
is hope that new funding will be secured although it is likely that the
Partnership will take on the remit to cover a wider area.
Simon took questions from the attendees.
Q Are building re-use grants only available for Main Street premises?
A No, they are available for any premises in the area covered by the
Partnership. For example a grant was recently given to allow a micro brewery
to utilise premises at the Florence Mine.
Q What about the sustainability of the projects that the Partnership has
sponsored? For example, the bus shelter at Thornhill has now been painted
black and looks awful.
Egremont & District Business Forum 5th Feb 2009
A We are not sure why it was re-painted particularly as the original
design included a graffiti panel. However, we can only assume that it was the
Parish Council because the bus shelter belongs to them. In respect to other
sustainability projects the Partnership secures agreements to ensure that its
work is not in vain. For example, when new street furniture was installed it
was agreed that Copeland Borough Council would maintain it. Likewise, the
gateways planting scheme is also maintained by Copeland Borough Council.
The Partnership tries to use this model for all its projects in order to ensure
sustainability.
Don Graham thanked Simon for his presentation (attached)and asked if there was any other business. There being none the meeting was closed.