How the Appleby Heritage Action Zone will help
Since the flooding, Appleby has been designated a Conservation Area at Risk and several buildings feature on the Heritage at Risk Register. Tourism is one of the towns' major industries but Appleby had suffered from a decline in visitor numbers in recent years; visitor numbers have bounced back somewhat since the flooding, but boosting tourism further is a major ambition.
The Heritage Action Zone will focus on restoring and reviving Appleby as a tourist attraction, benefitting the local economy and the people who live and work there.
Actions will include:
- Improving the historic environment and repairing a number of listed buildings, including the White Hart Hotel and work on the Keep at Appleby Castle
- Boosting tourism through a series of projects to showcase the town's rich heritage, including a town trail
- Engaging local people through initiatives like Heritage Open Days and surveying the town's listed buildings