Cumbria Tourism Gets A Double Boost

Workington and Morecambe Bay lead the headlines this week with two splendid pieces of news that will show that Cumbria continues to be a big hitter in the tourism stakes.

Firstly, Allerdale council representing Workington have announced that a site has been earmarked for a new, £9m leisure centre.  The 40-year-old crumbling complex in Moorclose, Workington, is to be demolished because it is no longer fit for purpose, the council said.

But, after public consultation, instead of building its replacement on the same site, a more central location has been chosen in Brow Top. It has been confirmed that the new complex would have a sports hall and swimming pool and hopefully would open the year after next. Private investors will also be sought to build an entertainment complex with a cinema, shops and restaurants on the site, a council spokesman said.

Good news about Lottery funding

Meanwhile not to be outdone, Morecambe Bay will receive the best part of £2 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to promote natural habitats and historic sites around the area.
The Morecambe Bay Partnership will use the money for what is known as the Headlands to Headspace scheme, which is aimed at encouraging people to get to know the bay area. A cycleway, stretching 124 miles (200km) from Glasson Dock in Lancashire to Walney in Cumbria, will be created.

There will also be an oral history project examining fishing communities. Susannah Bleakley from the partnership said: "We want more people to find out about the bay's heritage and get involved in celebrating it and looking after it. There's lots of projects for people to get involved in - community archaeology projects and oral history projects to capture the reminiscences and the stories of the people of the bay."

Sara Hilton from the HLF said: "We are committed to supporting projects such as this one in Morecambe Bay as they bring together both community groups and public bodies with a shared passion of caring for our environment." Work on the five-year scheme will start early next year.
Morecambe Bay is known as the largest intertidal area in Britain, with around 200,000 people working and living in the area.  It also accounts for the best part of 5% of the UK’s total area of saltmarsh.

There is substantial commercial fishing in the bay, and popular places along the bay include Arnside, located within one of Britain's smallest Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty - the Arnside/Silverdale AONB - Grange-over-Sands and Morecambe, picturesque Edwardian seaside resorts.

                                                      More information about Morecambe Bay