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Impact is very involved with the plans to regenerate the town alongside other stakeholders. We have our head office in Nook Street, employ local staff and contractors from the town, and own and manage the Salterbeck Estate as well as having properties in the town centre.
Workington is an isolated, Cumbrian coastal town founded on shipbuilding, steel and coal. All of these have long gone creating enduring problems and scarred physical environment. There is also uncertainty about the future of Sellafield, a huge employer in the area and the Corus works.
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On the plus side, just for starters, the town has the backdrop of the Lakeland fells and Solway Firth and is known for its friendliness and supports a huge number of sports activities in the town run by volunteers for all age groups.
The town has been successful in attracting £7.5million through SRB (Single Regeneration Budget) and is now rolling into action to improve the town through a series of Community Plans produced at grass roots level and with the work of themed topic groups. The partnership to regenerate the town has a healthy mix of community, council, business and agency representatives on the board as well as the full support of Allerdale District and Cumbria County Councils. Impact staff are involved at Board level; with the Town Centre, Built Environment and Youth topic groups and with the Community Plans.
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The regeneration of the town, especially the SRB funded aspects, will focus on addressing the problems of high levels of unemployment and joblessness, reducing health and education inequalities, reducing the fear of crime and environmental deficit in the area and ensure that local groups have the capacity and leadership to revive their own neighbourhoods.
The area has a number of other government initiatives running such as the Health Action Zone so it will be vital that all these initiatives are joined together to ensure they make a real and positive difference to the town
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