AMBITIOUS plans to breathe new life into Grange-over-Sands' ageing promenade are still alive despite the temporary withdrawal of financial support from a major funding body, reports Luke Dicicco.

The mood among Grange town councillors and 3Ps representatives remained upbeat over the future of the £6 million Time and Tide Project, despite claims that the North West Regional Development Agency will not be able to offer any cash to the project for three years.

Councillors were told that NWRDA claimed to have too much money tied up in other projects in Cumbria to offer any to the much-anticipated project.

Instead the 3Ps group which comprises of representatives from South Lakeland District Council, Cumbria County Council, Grange Civic Society and Grange Chamber of Trade is to push for funding from the Public Parks initiative of the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Councillors have also agreed to push for the replacement of the Berners Close bridge when the Furness Line is closed for 16 weeks next spring to allow for repairs to the decaying Levens Viaduct.

Coun Aiden Smith has made the call, saying that there may not be another window of opportunity to carry out the repairs to a bridge that has been closed for safety reasons.

SLDC is looking to spend £30,000 on work to the bridge and the Clare Lane bridge during the line closure, but it was warned that replacing the Berners car park bridge would cost thousands of pounds.

Coun Smith and Grange Mayor Ron Shapland hope to meet SLDC finance chief Jack Jones to discuss the matter.

See The Westmorland Gazette for the full story.