A LOCAL champion is calling on people to come forward and “breathe life” back into Cleator Moor’s town centre

Dave Farrell is best known as a director of Whitehaven Rugby League Club and the owner of Farrell Sports in Cleator Moor, but he is also chairman of Cleator Moor’s Town Team and Chamber of Trade.

With a dwindling membership, Dave is now looking for anybody with ideas to support or join the Town Team.

The group has been involved in organising the Christmas lights switch-on and the monthly Moor Made market events at Cleator Moor Civic Hall.

“We want to get involved in the Western Lakes Cycling Festival and organise events all year round,” said Dave. “We just need people to come forward and share their ideas for events with us.”

Dave is also keen to build up membership for the town’s Chamber of Trade.

The organisation was inactive before it sparked into life to bid for funding under the Mary Portas improvement scheme three years ago.

Now Dave wants more members so businesses in the town can have more say in how it develops.

He explains: “We are looking to take a more proactive role in what is going on in town from a business point of view. We want to take advantage of what funding there is available. We are trying to form partnerships. The chamber has to speak to and lobby decision-makers.

“We have more than 50 businesses in town, they should have a strong voice in what happens and how it happens.

“If you just sit back and don’t do anything, the opportunity will be missed, so we have got to try and recognise the opportunities.

“We want to have a stronger voice with what is going on in Cleator Moor.”

Dave Riley, a Cleator Moor town and borough councillor, who is also part of the Town Team, said: “Our mission is to get more businesses in the High Street and we’d really like to have a shop there to promote our local arts and crafts people.”

n If you would like to get involved with the Town Team or Chamber of Trade, call Dave on 07967 123983 or join the Cleator Moor Town Team Facebook page.