This descision does not suprise me,if you look at the list of chosen areas it is rife with southern towns and stinks of bias,so much for equality,as usual the southerners get money,our Mp's should play the discrimination card that they are against cumbria and we will get the funding.

The response "Not bad enough" beggars belief - ignorance must be bliss. If this was ever true, I would question why Whitehaven submitted a bid in the first place. The additional comments made that other towns have many more empty shops is simply untrue, they simply submitted better bids.

Shelley Williamson is right - Whitehaven town centre isn't that bad, I enjoy shopping here. It would get a major boost if the dowdiest department store in the north shaped up a bit (the stock is actually pretty good and the staff are OK, but I always lose the will to live when I step through the door), and certain wealthy property owners put in some investment instead of sitting on their backsides pocketing the rent while letting buildings rot.