NEW faces are set to join Eden District Council to support a five year Heritage Action Zone (HAZ) programme in Appleby.

Adrian Banford will join the council on August 1 as a programme officer for the HAZ and will be working closely with Historic England and Appleby Town Council.

Paula Smith will be joining the council on August 14 as a conservation officer in the planning department supporting the conservation and management of the Appleby Conservation Area.

The Heritage Action Zone is a five year programme, working with the local community, to use the power of the town's heritage to boost the local economy. The overall investment over five years is estimated to be £1.65 million.

Adrian has already worked with communities and businesses in Appleby and the surrounding area as part of his previous work managing the Fells and Dales LEADER programme at Cumbria County Council.

LEADER, a French acronym roughly translating as Liaison among Actors in Rural Economic Development, is a grant funding programme for small and medium sized rural businesses and forms part of the Rural Development Programme for England.

“I am genuinely excited to be taking on this opportunity," said Mr Banford. "Appleby is a great little town, with a wealth of heritage and I am looking forward to working with the local community to help the town to thrive.”

Paula has most recently been working as Graduate Heritage Consultant for Capita in Carlisle whilst studying for an MSc in Building Conservation and Regeneration.

“I am delighted to be joining Eden District Council as the new conservation officer and very excited to be working on the HAZ scheme in Appleby," she said.

Eden District Council’s Deputy Chief Executive and Chair of Appleby HAZ Partnership Team, Matthew Neal, said: “We are pleased to have Adrian and Paula starting in their new roles at the council which will allow the Heritage Action Zone project to progress with additional dedicated resources.”