HOPES are high for an improved community and council centre in Kirkby Stephen to play an important role in delivering services under a remodelled local government structure.

The community and council centre on Market Street has been a success story, outperforming expectations and providing a vital resource for people in the Eden area.

Talks about the centre's future are well under way and town councillors have been encouraged by the news that Kirkby Stephen could become a focal point for a new authority governing Cumbria.

Cumbria County Council leader and Kirkby Stephen councillor Tim Stoddard said Kirkby Stephen could be one of the towns to house officers under the new regime.

"The new unitary authority would be bottom-up rather than top-down so decisions can be made at a local level," he said.

"A town like Kirkby Stephen could deliver a number of services locally and have officers based here. I can't say that's how it will be but it is something that will be considered."

Despite the success of the community and council centre, new premises may have to be found to house the services being offered.

Town council chairman Alex Birtles said it was important the momentum behind improving the centre was not lost over the coming weeks.

"What we need to do now is keep pushing this forward because we have got a good degree of momentum," he said.

"I'm encouraged to hear Kirkby Stephen could be a service provider under a new authority for Cumbria. What we must do is maintain a central location in the town that is highly visible."

Councillors and officers will be producing a business plan for the centre over the coming weeks to help find a way forward.