THE look of Appleby town centre in the future is to be discussed at a public meeting being organ-ised by the Upper Eden neighbourhood Forum next Tuesday.

The meeting, to be held in The Supper Rooms at Appleby

Public Hall, will be chaired by local County Councillor Mary Warburton and will be attended by Cumbria County Council engineer Jim Smith and Eden District Council's town centre manager Neil Strettam.

The purpose of the meeting is to inform residents about plans to enhance the town centre, building on what was formulated by the Appleby Alliance in 1996.

Mr Smith told the Westmorland Messenger: "The aim of the meeting is to set out where we are at the moment with plans for the Appleby town centre scheme and look at formulating the plans and taking them forward.

"At the moment, we do not have a final scheme for Appleby in place, and this is an opportunity for local people to have their input into the scheme.

"Eden District Council has made £130,000 available for work on Appleby town centre, and the value of the existing scheme is £500,000. It will have to be demonstrated to the Government how any scheme meets the aims and targets of the Local Transport Plan before the scheme can be moved forward and a bid can be made to the county council for the extra funding."

The public meeting is part of the public consultation stage to discuss proposed improvements to the highways and surrounding environment in the town centre.

Sue Fell, of the Appleby Alliance, said: "The meeting is following on from the work done by Appleby Alliance's Environmental Group, which has continued to work with individuals in the community towards a policy plan with which the town council, Chamber of Trade and Appleby-in-Westmorland Society are happy.

"Money is available to finance a scheme, and the meeting is looking at ways to take the project forward."

The open meeting will begin at 7.30pm.

May 14, 2003 08:30