Street food units to be removed from park

The entrance to Bitts Park with manicured lawns and flowers behind
Parts of Bitts Park in Carlisle date back to 1818 [Cumberland Council ]

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.

It said plans for the site "are being developed" but no decision has been reached on what might replace the Tribe.

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.

A park full of people sitting in deckchairs
Bitts Park is close to the city centre and is used for public events [Stuart Walker photography]

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.

The 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.

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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