Quango shake-up in Cumbria

A REGENERATION agency based in the Lake District has changed its name to Britain’s Energy Coast West Cumbria (BECWC).
 
The organisation, formerly named West Cumbria Vision, is responsible for delivering a £2bn package of projects that will establish the county’s western fringes as a nationally significant generator of low carbon and renewable energy. It aims to battle climate change; ensure energy security; and simultaneously create around 16,000 jobs.
 
BECWC is now responsible for delivering projects in the boroughs of Copeland and Allerdale.
 
Three other regeneration boards are also in operation: Barrow Regeneration – formerly Barrow Vision – remains responsible for delivering Energy Coast projects in the Furness area while the Carlisle Renaissance and the Eden & South Lakeland Delivery Board continue to operate within their own areas.

Brian Wilson, chair of the BECWC Board, said: “It was the board’s unanimous view that we should adopt a name which drives home this organisation’s role in delivering the Energy Coast initiative – one which has resonance across the entire county and further afield.
 
“While it is important to have vision, in particular when we are seeking to build a new economy based on low carbon energy, it is even more important to deliver projects that will make a real difference to the communities we are here to serve.
 
“This is now the challenge which the team are engaged in to ensure we grasp the opportunities that clearly exist.”

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Cumbria Vision – which oversaw the reorganisation of the economic delivery by creating the four regeneration boards – has also announced that its chief executive, Richard Greenwood, is leaving his post.
 
Richard Greenwood, said: “I am very proud to have been part of a team that has helped to clarify Cumbria’s priorities and overcome some of the obstacles which prevented or delayed effective delivery of important projects.
 
“Regional and national bodies now see Cumbria as a much more focussed county with very strong partnership qualities and an open for business attitude.
 
“I have worked hard to help form these working partnerships and Cumbria has a very exciting economic future centred mainly, but not exclusively, around energy and tourism.
 
“I look forward to watching the results grow in the future and will continue to explore the fells even if I have to move away in the future.”