Search on for £80k after canopy nod

Last updated 12:02, Tuesday, 29 July 2008

A UNIQUE community scheme for Dalton has won planning approval.

The structure would act as an all-weather venue for a range of town events such as hog roasts, ceilidhs and fund-raising activities.

Now those behind the project – a group of traders and individuals in the town – are hoping to generate the £80,000 purchase price of the canopy itself. Generous residents have already pledged hundreds of pounds towards the structure which would be bought from Chichester Canvas.

Town resident Andy Deakin, who helped get the project off the ground, said that although the first hurdle had been cleared there was more hard work to come.

He said: “It really is great news that we have got planning permission in place for this unique structure.

“But it is going to be hard work to raise the funds to buy it. We just hope the community will really get behind us to enable the town to have something for Tudor Square that is modern, vibrant and alive.”

Dalton Town Council initially objected to the scheme.

But Councillor William Bleasdale, who is also a member of Barrow Borough Council’s planning committee, said he had voted in favour of the project.

He said: “We had a number of concerns over the canopy – such as the licensing events, the impact it would have on traffic, disturbance for residents and whether it would attract groups of youths.

“But as it can be installed and removed quickly and those issues will be addressed by council officers before each and every event, I went with the advice of planners and voted for it to go ahead.”

Cllr Bleasdale added: “We just have to hope the concerns are not justified and everything in the garden will be rosy.”