Keswick would benefit from around £2 million a year if the town’s “crown jewels” were returned to local control.
That is the view of Councillor Tony Lywood, whose call for Keswick’s four main pay-and-display car parks to be transferred back to the ownership of the town council is being backed by local councillors.
Central, Otley Road, Bell Close and Lakeside car parks have been under the control of Allerdale Borough Council since the previous local government shake-up in 1974.
Councillor Lywood says town hall changes being considered across Cumbria, which could spell the end for all six borough councils, presented an opportunity for the town council to take charge of the local car parks again.
The Labour councillor also called for control of Derwentwater foreshore and the town council’s office building in Main Street to also switch from Workington to Keswick.
“These things would massively add to the finances of the town and give it the ability to do many more things than we do right now.
“Over £2 million a year in car park income goes to Allerdale and we do not receive anything like that amount of money back into the town,” he told fellow Keswick councillors during their recent Zoom meeting.
“It is high time these assets in law were owned locally by the people in Keswick. Workington Town Council has presented Allerdale with its list of assets to transfer – and we have the crown jewels of all these things which are our car parks. They are a massive cash cow.”
All 12 Keswick councillors, including the three Allerdale members, voted to formally ask Allerdale to transfer the ownership of car parks, foreshore and council building if the Workington authority disappeared in the current reorganisation being considered.
Councillor David Burn said Market Square should be added to the town council’s provisional list but he: “If we got the car parks back – and it is a very big if – with them comes responsibility for maintenance.”
Coun Lywood replied: “Car parks in Keswick give something like 20-25 per cent of Allerdale’s entire annual budget. That would more than cover any maintenance costs.”
He added: “I am not saying we are going to get the car parks – but I am saying we should ask for them.”
