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Published at 01:00, Friday, 05 October 2007

WORK on a £250,000 facelift for the centre of Longtown designed to attract more businesses has begun.

It comes just two weeks after the town missed out on a £50m cheese factory, which will be built at Carlisle.

Improvements are being carried out to the Swan Street area of Longtown and include construction of new parking bays, pedestrian footways and landscaping.

“The improvements are part of our investment in Longtown and have been in the pipeline for a while,” said Helen Sykes, Longtown Market Town Initiative (MTI) programme manager.

Marilyn Bowman, Carlisle City Council’s rural champion, said: “The scheme will greatly improve the appearance of the conservation area and provide an attractive environment for local businesses to prosper.”

The work is being managed by Carlisle City Council and is funded by the council, the Northwest Regional Development Agency, the European Regional Development Fund and English Heritage, through Longtown MTI.

David Hunter, NWDA head of rural affairs, said: “The improvements will boost the area as a place where people want to live, work and invest.”

Rob Grant, from contractor RH Irving Construction, said: “We are sure the local people will be pleased with the completed works.”

Work is scheduled to be finished by January.

Partners in Cheese will build its cheese factory at Kingmoor Park, Carlisle, but had considered locating it in Longtown.

The MTI is a partnership between the Longtown and District Enterprise Trust and Carlisle City Council.

Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk