Published at 14:36, Tuesday, 14 April 2009

MARYPORT'S outgoing mayor, Mary-Claire Telford, said with multi-million pound plans for the development of the harbour, the town could become as an important a tourist destination as Keswick.

Speaking at the town assembly, Coun Telford said with the proposed redevelopment of the harbour, Maryport’s future would lie in tourism.

But she said Maryport people had to start taking more pride in their town for that to happen.

“We have to ensure that visitors don’t come here and see rubbish and dog mess everywhere.

"Residents have to help us to ensure that Maryport does stay on the map,” she added.

She said there were many sceptics before the Wave Centre opened last July, but already 45,000 people have gone through its doors.

Coun Telford commended the blues festival and the other events that kept Maryport on the map and praised the volunteers who did so much around town.

Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk