End in sight for city centre works after year

Work to regenerate Market Square and Greenmarket in Carlisle started last August

Work to regenerate parts of Carlisle city centre are nearing completion, a year after they started.

Cumberland Council, which is managing the project, confirmed fencing, machinery and workmen are due to leave Market Square and Greenmarket by the end of September.

It means shoppers will be once again be free to walk around the city centre without footpath closures and disruption.

The £4m project was originally due to be completed in the spring. Further funding was secured earlier this year to expand the 6,000 sq m (20,500 sq ft) area by 1,500 sq m (5,000 sq ft).

Funded by the government, the work aimed to make the areas "vibrant, multi-functional spaces" to support events and activities in the city.

Another objective was "enhancing the environment and attracting more residents and visitors", the Labour-led council said.

Seating is now in place opposite the Crown and Mitre, though work is ongoing

In its latest update, the council said the installation of benches and seating had been completed, with access to the cathedral resurfaced and porphyry paving almost finished.

As part of the work, the war memorial was relocated to a more prominent spot on the square.

Work is expected to be completed soon to remove the temporary surfacing leading to the war memorial and to install new lighting.

Paving work in the city centre is almost complete