ALMOST £700,000 of investment into Liskeard has been rubber stamped at a special meeting of the Town Council.
Members of the Council agreed to accept the terms of a funding package from the EU and from Cornwall Council, meaning that with planning permission now secured, the project to create a Makers Hub at the former Cattle Market can proceed.
The Makers project will provide small workshops and shared space in shipping containers. There will be business and other support for craftspeople, as well as opportunities for people not in work to try new crafts and boost their skills and confidence.
A project manager and assistant will manage the space, organise training and events, and provide business support.
While the wider former Cattle Market site is being re-developed in stages, the Town Council’s Cattle Market Makers project will be one of the earliest parts to be up and running, making use of the site while larger projects are being worked up.
The Town Council says there’ll be good links between its project and the Cornwall Council-led Creative and Digital Workspace scheme (the ‘Workshed’) which will provide larger workspaces. “Makers who start out in the small workshops can grow into the larger studios, and businesses in the Creative and Digital workspaces can benefit from business support and facilities in the Cattle Market Makers project,” said a Council spokesperson.
Liskeard Town Council has successfully applied for £369,000 of European funding for the project. This comes via the Community Led Local Development (CLLD) fund, which brings together EU funding which supports business to help people who are economically inactive.
Cornwall Council is a partner in the project and is providing £322,000 of match funding, which will mainly be spent on providing the infrastructure of the creative hub units themselves.
Liskeard Town Council is putting in a small amount of match funding, as well as having undertaken a significant amount of work to apply for funding and develop the project.
Plymouth College of Art is another partner in the project and has contributed its specialist knowledge to develop the application.
At a meeting of Liskeard Town Council, members heard from vice chair, Sue Brownlow, about how the College will help with practical workshops, events and access to their facilities - including enabling a satellite of the digital Fab Lab. Ian Hutchinson, Head of Development at Plymouth College of Art said: "Our Fab Lab was established as part of the college's £8million Crafts building, opened in 2014, which sites new technologies such as 3D printing alongside craft facilities like our glass blowing house and ceramics workshop, allowing students to combine traditional craft skills with modern technology. We are excited to contribute to this new project, and we look forward to bringing the skills and experience of our dedicated Fab Lab staff to Cattle Market Makers."
Local artists and educators Nicky Harwood and Emma Bennett also expressed support for the project, saying it will provide opportunities for makers to collaborate and provide much-needed business support.
Former Liskeard mayor, Rachel Brooks, who has led the development of the Cattle Market Makers project, said: “We have many creative businesses in Liskeard. By nurturing them and building a community of makers we’ll give people more reasons to visit our town.
“The project is also about working with people in deprivation for whom craft is a way to build confidence and find new opportunities. A huge amount of work has gone into this successful funding application and I’d like to thank the Town Council staff who worked on it, and also our partners in Cornwall Council and Plymouth College of Art for all they have done.”Cornwall Council cabinet portfolio holder for the economy Cllr Stephen Rushworth said: “The creative sector is one of the fastest growing sectors in the Cornish economy. This project will not only cater for existing businesses, but also nurture new talent and help support the high street by bringing businesses into the town centre. It forms an important element of the wider regeneration of the former cattle market site and the Council is delighted to be working with the Town Council to provide support and funding to enable delivery of the creative hub and bring the project to fruition.”Judith Hann from CLLD said: We are delighted to be working alongside Liskeard Town Council and Cornwall Council, to bring this exciting project to the town. Liskeard is the first Town Council to be awarded CLLD funding and we look forward to collectively supporting local creative and making businesses.