INITIAL plans have been submitted which will see the start of Maryport's regeneration.

An application has been lodged with Allerdale planner to convert the Maritime Museum into an art gallery and exhibition space.

The proposal would also see the second floor of the building turned into a flat for an artist in residence.

Applications have also been lodged for enhancing some of the town centre properties.

One of these is for Knoxwood, the Senhouse Street charity shop. This application was lodged by Helen Brownlie, part of the regeneration team.

Ben Opi, who runs his Collectables shop on Senhouse Street has also applied to construct a new heritage-style shopfront.

Maryport councillors, at a meeting on Monday night, agreed that they needed to hear more about the multi-million regeneration of the town.

Planning chairman Angela Kendall said: "We have had schemes in the past that have come to nothing. People are asking when things are going to happen and I can't tell them."

Councillors also expressed concern that the Maritime Museum would be closed until Christ Church - its new home and wanted an assurance that the exhibits and artefacts, much of which has been donated or loaned to the maritime museum, will be kept safe and will be exhibited in the new building.

Allerdale council announced last month that it would be issuing regular newsletters from this month on outlining the regeneration and how it was going.