Street food units to be removed from park

The units are being removed on Friday

Industrial units which formed part of a street food and cultural hub are to be removed from a park two years after the site's operator collapsed.

The company which ran the Tribe site in Bitts Park, Carlisle, went out of business in 2022 and just one trader remains.

Cumberland Council said the unused units would be taken away on Friday, refurbished and passed on to charitable organisations.

Gregory Pandis, the only trader remaining on the site, said he was pleased with the decision.

"They don't look after [the units]," he said, adding: "We have rats and the place is not good enough."

The hub, next to the park's play area, was created in 2021 when Carlisle City Council secured a government grant of £150,000.

A start-up community interest company won the contract to operate it, offering a place for independent shops and street food vendors, but it ceased trading after a year.

Richard Francis, from Carlisle, said there was a lack of "strategic planning" over the hub.

"Having a bar here is a nice idea but it's quite a walk from the middle of town," he said, adding: "No one is going to walk over for a drink here and then walk back into town."

Bitts Park is close to the city centre and is used for public events

The council will now repurpose the units and pass them on to organisations including The ReBuild Site CIC, Watchtree Wheelers at Watchtree Nature Reserve and Northside Speedway, Workington who will cover the transport costs.

Mr Pandis said the removal of the units would make the area cleaner and safer.

"[Right now] it looks like an abandoned place," he said.

Mr Pandis said he was pleased to see the back of the units

Mr Pandis's Tasty Greek takeaway café will remain on the site, as will the public toilets.

Local artist Lydia Leith has also been commissioned to create an artwork for the exterior of Bitts Park Lodge.

The council said plans for the site after the removal of the units were "being developed" but no decision has been reached on what might replace the Tribe.

Park users were advised that the car park would be closed on Friday to allow the old units to be removed.

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