Work began this week to improve the start of the C2C cycle route in Workington.
The former coastguard lookout building, currently used only as the location for a fog horn and warning light for shipping, is to be restored and turned into a bird hide and viewing platform.
Cumbria County Council is spending £400,000 on improvements to the cycle way as part of its £21 million Land Reclamation programme to restore ‘brown-field’ land and to support employment and tourism.
Workington Regeneration is spending further £100,000 on the coast guard building which is to have a large stainless steel C2C symbol installed to act as a landmark for C2C cyclists and as somewhere to have photos taken at journey’s beginning or end.
The improved cycle route itself will lead inland from the coastguard building to the Town Quay. It will follow the road for the first few hundred metres then cross a grassy area away from the road to run closer to the river. Due to the evolving regeneration plans for the Derwent corridor further upstream, the precise route inland from Town Quay is yet to be determined.
Tim Heslop, county council cabinet spokesman for regeneration, "It's good to see these improvements to the start and finish point of the C2C cycle route. This should bring real benefits for local people and for the local economy so this is money well spent."
Workington Regeneration manager Rob Rimmer said: "I'm really pleased that we are going to be able to upgrade this area at the mouth of the Derwent which offers some of the best views in Cumbria. Workington deserves to be able to show off its end of the Coast to Coast cycle route."
Allerdale Borough Councillor Ivor Humes, a ward member for Workington St Michael’s, said: “This is obviously a very encouraging development from my point of view. I’m really looking forward to seeing the Workington end of the C2C route marked in suitable fashion and it will be really nice to direct visitors to an attractive setting.”