EYESORES in Egremont are being targeted in an attempt to make the area more attractive.

Alongside Copeland Council, Egremont Town Council is trying to renovate dilapidated buildings and clean up ‘grot spots’.

The buildings currently earmarked for improvements are the former Red Lion pub and Tommy Kelly’s clothes shop on Main Street.

Owners have so far been cooperative, with architects coming in to draw up plans.

Lena Hogg, leader of the Labour group and Egremont town councillor, said: “For a number of years councillors have tried to encourage regeneration in Egremont.

“This has been made difficult because some of the properties, mainly on the Market Place, have been sold and resold before we could trace the absent landlords and most have been allowed to get into a state of dereliction.”

She added: “Now thanks to Mike Starkie’s persistence in prioritising derelict buildings in all of Copeland, these owners have been traced and tasked with bringing them back into use.”

The purpose of this move is to help regenerate the area and make it more appealing for investors.

Mrs Hogg said: “Egremont needs to not only encourage more retail outlets and places to eat for the local community but to attract others including tourists to use our town.

“NuGen are also looking at Egremont and the surrounding area in an effort to help regeneration by bringing in a number of their workforce and providing work for our local people.

“We, as town councillors, have always paid for the flower baskets and the planters as well as being involved in cleaning up litter and checking the ‘grot spots’ regularly for fly tipping.”

And as well as cleaning up the town’s buildings, the town council believes it is time to redevelop the public toilets.

Mrs Hogg said: “Now we need to look seriously at reopening the public toilets and making them available for all who visit our town. We need to take on the responsibilities that other towns and parish councils in Copeland have and help make our town attractive to residents, investors and visitors.”

The West Copeland lengthsmen scheme is also helping to keep Egremont tidy, with regular community litter picks. Starting at 9am, volunteers will be meeting at the Original Factory shop car park on Saturday, December 5 to support the cause.

Participants will take part in coffee morning in Calderwood House at 11am.