Bulgarian leaders' Castleford walkabout

Leaders from regional and local government in Bulgaria head to town on Monday (March 6) for a first hand look at achievements through the Castleford Project.

A party of five politicians and officials will be led by officers from the UK government's Department of Trade and Investment, which supports companies wishing to develop international business. They want to find out more about the community improvement schemes, which are fast gaining national and international attention. They will meet Wakefield Council representatives, project managers and local community representatives who have been involved in driving the schemes along. The visit will begin at 2 Sagar Street, Castleford. The party will tour some of the schemes already completed such as the award winning Cutsyke playforest and designer village green at New Fryston. They will also take a walkabout in central Castleford; see the new Tittle Cott underpass and main shopping area where consultation is soon to begin on a proposed scheme to transform the town centre.

Progress with the Castleford Project is being filmed for Channel 4 by Talkback Thames and a major television series to be broadcast when all schemes are complete. Presenter is Kevin McCloud of Channel 4's 'Grand Designs'.

Wakefield Council Leader Peter Box said: "We are delighted to welcome visitors from Bulgaria to Castleford. We hope they will find the visit useful. We are very proud of what has already been achieved and understand the group is particularly interested to learn more about community involvement in the Castleford Project schemes and hands on practical information. As word spreads about the Project, we are increasingly fielding more national and international interest in our local improvements and we are happy to share our experience with people from other communities."

Robert Hudson, Manager, Regeneration Initiatives for UK Trade and Investment said: "We heard of the Castleford public's passionate commitment to supporting community improvements and of what was being achieved in the town. We wanted to offer our group the chance to take a first hand look and meet some of the people involved."

NOTE TO NEWS EDITORS

There will be an opportunity to take a photograph of the Bulgarian party with Wakefield Council's Cabinet member for Regeneration Phil Dobson and other party members as they tour the stylish village green at New Fryston from 1.45pm on Monday March 6. Bulgarian visitors include:

Stilyana Tincheva, Deputy Mayor, Gabrovo Municipality;Vladimir Penevski, Head of Economics and Social Cohesion, Ministry of Regional Government; Marta Petrova, Head of Economic Development, Gabrovo Municipality;Margarita Stoykova, Chief Architect, Gabrovo Municipality

Martha Rasheeva Commercial Officer, British Embassy, Sofia

The green is the work of acclaimed US designer Martha Schwartz and was funded by English Partnerships as one of 11 schemes under the Castleford Project banner. The Castleford Project is a partnership involving Wakefield Council and Channel 4 working with key regional and national agencies involved in supporting improvements in Castleford. For more information please contact Carmel O'Toole on 07838 368813, cotoole@channel.co.uk; www.channel4.com/castleford.