True grit - Cumbria County Council

Transcription

True grit - Cumbria County Council
Inside: Free A-Z guide to council services
Winter 2011
True grit
Find out more about the workers
that are prepared for this Winter
Winter warmth
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Winter gduidre to driving in Cumbria
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Includes yo
visit cumbria.gov.uk for regular updates on the issues affecting you
YourNews
Welcome to the winter edition of YourCumbria magazine
How can we improve?
Ideas and suggestions for improvement come from all directions. Which is why it is so important that
the county council reaches out to harness and encourage your ideas. In other words, let’s try to make the
county council less remote, less bureaucratic, and be part of the local community – your community.
It’s easy to take pot-shots at the county council; we are a big target. But step outside your front door
and almost everything you see around you is provided or controlled or influenced by your county council
- care homes, schools, roads, children’s centres, flood control, street lighting, bridge maintenance, animal
welfare, trading standards, fire and rescue ... etc.
We all appreciate, however, that those services don’t just happen by chance! 8500 people make them happen, and keep on making
them happen, everyday – 365 days a year. I am very grateful to them. Given the turbulent year we have had the staff might be excused
for feeling a little bruised and battered. But they continue to do a first class job. The county council is responsible for over 800 different
functions and inside these pages you can see many of those activities and meet just a few of the staff who make them happen. In this
issue you can read more about the work we do during the winter months, from gritting your roads to helping the elderly. The county
council, across all its activities, continues to improve. But if you have a criticism or find fault tell us and we’ll try to put it right.
Never has ‘closer to the people’ been more important! But it cannot happen without your continuing support and interest.
Best wishes.
4
Eddie Martin
Leader of Cumbria County Council
Follow Eddie Martin’s blog at cumbriacabinet.ning.com
Contents
04
05
07
08
12
14
Disabled ramblers
Your Cumbria on CD!
Children’s centres
Reducing Cumbria’s waste
Winter warmth
16
20
23
Funding boost takes
broadband pot to £23.8 million
T
he broadband project in Cumbria has been given a £6.7m boost by
the government. The funding has been allocated from Cumbria’s
Performance Reward Grant.
The grant is awarded to local authorities in England and the amount
of money received depends on how well each authority has performed
in meeting its targets. Local authorities across Cumbria agreed that the
grant would be most beneficial to the broadband project and the money
adds to the £17.1m funding already received from Broadband Delivery
UK.
Cllr Liz Mallinson, Cabinet Member for organisational development,
said: “Improving broadband availability for Cumbria means improving the
quality of life for everyone who visits and lives in the county. I believe that the
Performance Reward Grant has been allocated to the best possible cause.”
We have a new name!
7
Nuclear news
Diary events
See it. Do it
The broadband project for Cumbria now has a new name –
Connecting Cumbria! Along with a new name we also have new
ways for you to get in touch.
Visit us at connectingcumbria.org.uk
Email us at info@connectingcumbria.org.uk
Your A–Z guide to
services around
the county
Follow us on Twitter @Connect_Cumbria
12
Cumbria floods - two
years on
What’s the cost? Each YourCumbria costs around 18p to produce and deliver to your door. It is printed on FSC certified paper from sustainable
sources. Please recycle the magazine when you have finished reading it. Any comments? Please contact the editor on 01228 226447 or
email barry.alcock@cumbriacc.gov.uk Cover photo: Steve Barber.
01228 606060
01228 606060.
01228 606060.
01228 606060.
01228 226338.
through superfast broadband
Our vision is to deliver superfast broadband for
everyone in Cumbria - every resident, business, public
sector organisation and visitor to the county.
If you would like an audio CD of
this magazine call 01228 221008
New fire stations take
shape
Connecting Cumbria
01228 606060.
01228 606060
H
ave you ever wondered how house
prices are changing in your area?
How the global economic turmoil is
impacting on your neighbourhood?
Who lives near you and how health or
education varies around the county?
The Cumbria Intelligence Observatory
is a website where you can find the
answers to these questions and a lot
more besides. The Observatory brings
together existing research and analysis
resources from key public agencies in
Cumbria. The aim is to help the public
sector, businesses and community groups
get access to the information they
need to work efficiently and effectively.
cumbriaobservatory.org.uk/
Did you know?
• Cumbria has the lowest rate of
burglaries in the country
• The county receives over 40 million
tourist visitors each year
• Part of Risedale in Barrow boasts the
best access to services in England
• Similarly Irthing, near Carlisle, is one
of the best neighbourhoods for the
quality of its outdoor environment
• Average life expectancy in Greystoke
is the 2nd highest in the country
• Over the last few years we have seen
an increase in the number of babies
born in Carlisle following a decline
through the 1990s.
• Average house prices in Grasmere
are 11 times the average income
• There are 4 times as many sheep in
Cumbria as there are residents (and
6 times as many chickens)!
Spotted a pothole?
T
he Cyclist’s Touring Club, in collaboration with construction company Aggregate Industries, has
produced a downloadable free software app for the Apple iPhone which allows you to report a
pothole or road fault on the move.
By using the iPhone’s built-in camera and GPS locator, together with the large display screen, you can now
report potholes and other road defects right from the roadside. Working with the ‘fill that hole’ website, the iPhone
locates where you are on a map, looks up the address and allows you to add details if needed. You can then add a
photo and upload the report to the website there and then. The details of the road fault are sent through to Cumbria
County Council’s Highways department who can then assess and repair the problem.
• Compatible iPhone models: The app will work with iPhone models 3G, 3GS, or 4 that are running Apple’s iOS
version 3 or 4. This includes many older models as well as the latest ones.
• Downloading the app: You can download the app from the App Store for free, simply search for ‘fill that hole’.
For more information visit fillthathole.org.uk/
YourCumbria 3
YourEnvironment
YourCommunity
Disabled ramblers
Top 10-year figures for
Cumbria Fire and Rescue
T
Out and about on Smardale Fell
C
umbria County Council looks after some 4,623 miles
(7,450km) of public rights of way network across Cumbria,
in partnership with other agencies. The council’s countryside
access team works hard to ensure that as many people as
possible get the maximum access to this beautiful country.
Earlier this year countryside ranger, Tony Burns helped a group of disabled
people to take advantage of the good weather and get out and about on the
Cumbrian fells.
As well as the county council’s Countryside Access Team, Kirkby Stephen
Walkers are Welcome and the Dargue family of Smardale Hall, all helped out
with the ramble.
The group, Disabled Ramblers, organises and runs an annual programme
of supported outings which are graded according to difficulty. Its members,
who are mainly mobility disabled, use a variety of mobility aids from manual
wheelchairs to specially designed cross-country buggies.
Winter Workers
For more information visit: cumbria.gov.uk
Stephen
Murray
Gritter
Driver
“I’ve been gritting the roads around
Kirkby Stephen for 10 years now.
As I can drive over 150 miles in a
single shift, I can only imagine the
amount of miles I’ve covered over
the years!
The area I grit covers a lot of high
ground – out towards Middletonin-Teesdale and over to Tebay.
Some of the conditions I face are
unbelievable – people literally don’t
believe me when I tell them how
deep the snow can be. Sometimes
it’s towering over the top of our
4 YourCumbria
12-foot cabin and the only way to
get through it is with diggers and
snowblowers.
I drive the roads a lot of people
avoid when it’s freezing – and
have to be really switched on. It
can be dangerous and, as a lot
of the ground we cover has no
mobile phone signal, we have to be
careful we stay safe.There’s always
two of us, we have heaters in the
cabin and a survival kit containing
blankets and emergency rations.
I love the job – I’m Kirkby
Stephen born and bred and I love
the fact that I’m working in my
own backyard. I see things at 3am
on a winter’s night that you never
normally see – badgers, owls, and
the odd reveller staggering out of
the pub!
Cumbria County
Council Countryside
Ranger Tony Burns,
said: “We were
delighted to help with
this Disabled Ramblers event as we’re
keen to encourage people with mobility
issues to get out and about into the
Cumbrian countryside.
“I worked with members of the Disabled
Ramblers group to suggest this route and
we carried out some reconnaissance on it
to make sure it was suitable.
“The countryside is there to be enjoyed
by everyone and on our website we
have a series of self-guiding walks called
“Miles Without Stiles” that highlight
routes that can be tackled by people
with limited mobility.”
Check out the Winter
driving guide included
in this edition of
YourCumbria
I wouldn’t want to be a lorry driver
though, I like the variety Amey (the council’s
highways maintenance contractor) offers me,
as when I’m not driving the gritter I can be
out mending bridges, sorting out drains or
surface dressing the roads.”
Stephen’s top tips for winter driving:
• Trust your common sense, not your
sat nav.
• Be prepared: when driving in winter
always have essential items such as
warm clothes, boots, a mobile phone
and a shovel.
They show that:
• Over the 10 year period Cumbria Fire and
Rescue Service has reduced the number of all fire
incidents by nearly 41%.
• Dwelling fires dropped by 6% last year alone and
in the 10 year period have fallen from 542 per
year to 287 – a drop of 47%.
• False alarm calls have fallen by almost 37%.
• Casualties from fires dropped by 30% in the past
year alone – the biggest drop in mainland Britain.
Firefighters now carry out around 18,000 free home
fire safety checks in Cumbria every year. The free
checks are designed to make sure people have working
smoke detectors, basic fire prevention advice and a
plan of how they will get out of their home in the event
of a fire.
To book a free visit call for free on 0800 358 4777 at
anytime. The service is completely free and can only be
done by Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service.
he number of house fires in Cumbria has
nearly halved over the past 10 years making
Cumbria County Council’s Fire and Rescue
Service one of the best in the country, new
figures have revealed.
Additionally during this time the number of casualties
from fires dropped by over a third and the number of
hoax calls has been reduced by 94%.
These impressive statistics have been compiled by
Cumbria County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service
from the past 10 Fire Statistic Monitor reports – yearly
nationwide statistics pulled together by the Department
for Communities and Local Government.
New fire stations
take shape
C
umbria’s new state-of-the-art fire
stations are now taking shape, with
construction well underway at four of the
county’s five new buildings.
Artist Impression of the Penrith Building
The Penrith build in progress
Two are being built in Carlisle - at Durranhill and off
Newtown Road to replace the city’s Rickergate station
– one in Patterdale and another in Penrith.
Construction is due to start on a fifth station, at
Moorclose in Workington in March 2012.
The Penrith station, just off the Kemplay Bank
roundabout, will be the new headquarters of Cumbria
County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service and will
provide improved operational response facilities, the
Fire and Rescue Service Learning and Development
Centre, enhanced training facilities and office
accommodation for the county council resilience unit.
The two Carlisle stations are set to come into
operation in spring 2012, the Penrith headquarters in
the summer and the Patterdale station this winter.
The construction is part of a wider PFI program which
will see 16 new fire stations built by Mansell, a Balfour
Beatty company, across Cumbria, Lancashire and
Merseyside.
YourCumbria 5
YourLibraries
YourCommunity
Libraries modernisation
gets the go ahead
in Cumbrian
schools
T
hank you to all 3,700 people who took the time to have their say on the future of Cumbria’s libraries
through our discussion earlier this year.
The council is reviewing libraries in light of falling usage over recent years, and the discussion has looked at ways to make
the service fit for the future so libraries can be enjoyed for generations to come.
Cabinet members have listened carefully to your feedback and have decided that changes to the service should be made on an
area-by-area basis. Councillors will work closely with residents to improve the service in a way that is right for each community.
Councillor Gary Strong, Cabinet member for Community Safety and Local Services said: “The review of the service has been
about investigating realistic, practical ways to respond to changing lifestyles and new technologies whilst preserving what makes our
libraries great. We have decided to look at the service on a local basis because one size does not fit all. We need to balance the
need for the service to be as cost effective and efficient as possible while meeting the needs of our local communities.”
A variety of ways to modernise the service have been given the go-ahead including
• Library Extras: large libraries in main towns which act as community hubs
• Library Links: where residents can borrow and return books in rural communities
• Community Libraries: book stocks in places like village halls, shops or schools
• A Community Librarian: someone who can take the service out to hard to reach areas and people
• An improved website: where customers can renew and order books download audio books and more.
Projects to test these approaches in communities will begin in the New Year.
For a full report on the feedback we received and Cabinet’s decisions go online to:
cumbria.gov.uk/libraries/review.asp
More than just books
Cumbria’s libraries offer loads of different services. Here’s a snapshot of why some people had
dropped in to their local library one sunny day this September.
Elizabeth
I only moved to Cumbria last month. Today staff have helped me find local line dancing classes
and a walking group. I’ll also be picking up some reading for the week, ideally a James North
Patterson novel.
Magnus
I use the library for DVDs, reference, cookery books,
everything really. From my point of view it’s use it or
lose it.
Karen
I’m a health visitor and I’m on hand to give help and
advice to parents every other Thursday at Ambleside
library. Right now I’m checking five month old Ollie’s
weight at our baby weighing session.
Mark
I’m from North Berwick, and I’m here on holiday for the
week. I’m using the PCs to quickly check my emails and
keep up with the news online.
Katie
Me and my daughter Bethan come every week to the
children’s sessions at Ambleside library. There’s play
time, a healthy snack and then story time and a sing-along which she loves.
6 YourCumbria
Children’s
Centres
P
C
umbria County Council is
working with the Carbon Trust
as part of an exciting national
programme to encourage carbon
and cost savings within schools.
Schools account for a large part of
Cumbria County Council’s carbon
footprint and reducing carbon here
will have a huge effect on improving
our carbon emissions for 2012 and
beyond. At the same time it will
help schools to reduce their own
energy costs and help educate
children about the wider issues
around climate change.
A total of 20 Cumbrian schools have
now signed up to take part in the ‘Carbon
Count’ pilot programme. The pilot aims to
drive down energy use and cut the carbon
footprint of schools delivering financial
savings, while engaging pupils on the wider
carbon agenda.
Each school has received an individual
and realistic carbon reduction target
based on findings from the audit and from
potential projects that can be carried out
at each school.
Carbon Count will focus initially on
reducing energy use as it accounts for
39% of the carbon footprint for schools
in Cumbria and can achieve large savings
over a fairly short amount of time. The
programme will roll out to include carbon
reduction activities in procurement,
transport and recycling as it progresses.
Carbon Count is being delivered by
the county council in partnership with
the Carbon Trust. The Carbon Trust will
be monitoring and assessing how well
Cumbria has developed its low carbon
schools programme.
For more information visit:
cumbria.gov.uk/carboncount/
arents and children
across Cumbria are
continuing to benefit from
advice, help and support on
a host of family and health
issues after the county
council secured the future
of all 28 of its Sure Start
Children’s Centres.
Contracts for the running of the centres (from August 1 until March
31 2014) were awarded this summer to three provider organisations:
Barnardo’s, Action for Children and Howgill Family Centre.
Offering everything from play sessions for toddlers to courses on
healthy living, the centres are used by thousands of families around the
county.
In some areas of the country Sure Start Children’s Centres have been
closed due to spending cuts, but in Cumbria the service has not only
been retained, but enhanced, so that it now provides for young people
up to the age of 19.
Parents at the Workington Sure Start Children’s Centre, run by
Action for Children, spoke to YourCumbria about the important role
the centre plays in their lives.
The Time out Together to Share Scheme, a session for youngsters
between the ages of 0 and five, allows the children to get together and
play with a variety of toys and equipment and eat healthy snacks while
in the company of their parents who can also enjoy socialising with
each other.
Mum Emma Reay said: “It has been really good for my little one with
all the activities and it allows him to mix with other children of his age
and just have a good time. The session sets the kids up really well for
when they go to school.”
It is clear that adults benefit from the centres just as much as their
children.
Helen Johnson, who regularly uses the Workington Sure Start
Centre, said: “I’m not from Workington so when I moved to the
area I found the centre was a great way to get to know people and
meet other parents. The kids absolutely love it and there are so
many different sessions that people can take part in so the centre is
something that we really rely on.”
YourCumbria 7
YourEnvironment
YourEnvironment
Reducing Cumbria’s waste
W
hile excellent progress has been
made in reducing waste, reusing
and recycling in Cumbria, more than
50% of household waste currently ends
up in landfill sites.
In 2009 Cumbria County Council signed a
25-year agreement with waste management
company Shanks Group plc. The contract
will massively reduce the amount of rubbish
being sent to landfill and provide Cumbria
with a greener, more cost-effective system
for dealing with residual waste for many
years to come. The work with Shanks will
see much of the county’s waste that has
up until now ended up in landfill sent to
mechanical biological treatment plants at
Hespin Wood near Carlisle and Barrow.
Once operational, each of the plants will
be able to process up to 75,000 tonnes
of waste per annum that instead of being
sent to landfill will be shredded, dried and
transformed into a solid recovered fuel that
can be burned to provide an alternative
source of energy to fossil fuels.
The plant in Carlisle is due to be fully
operation this winter and construction of
the Barrow plant is in progress, but what
kind of reduction in waste that ends up in
landfill can we expect?
Home recycling
Recycleable material
Solid recovered fuel
Landfill
4
3
5
Waste is delivered to the waste
processing plant where it is dried and
more recyclable material recovered. The
sites near Carlisle and Barrow will be
capable of processing up to 150,000
tonnes of waste per year.
The new site at Hespin Wood
Waste is gathered at
local transfer sites. This
helps to reduce mileage
costs for areas outside
of Barrow and Carlisle.
for Cumbria
6
25% of
7
the waste is
reduced by
drying.
22.5% of
the waste is
recovered for
recycling.
8
40% of
the waste is
processed into
a fuel that can
be burned
to produce
energy.
9
District councils collect
a total of 115,976
tonnes of domestic
waste and kerbside
recycling for processing.
1
General Domestic Waste
Water removed
O
ver the last five years people across
the county have changed their attitude
to waste. Recycling in the home now means
that there’s less general waste ending up
in landfill sites. Cumbria County Council is
building two waste processing plants to help
reduce this amount even further, here’s the
ten steps that turn your rubbish to potential
electricity for the home...
Cumbrian households now
recycle 45.5% of their
waste using a combination
of kerbside collection,
household waste recycling
centres and local recycle
points. District council’s
collect 96,824 tonnes
of kerbside recycling for
processing
Just 12.5%
of the waste that
arrives on site
ends up in landfill
and the county
council is looking
at ways to reduce
this further.
2
54.5% of
household waste
currently ends up
in general waste
for collection. In
the past, this was
collected and
buried leading
hefty landfill taxes.
10
Fuel that’s produced
can be used to produce
electricity for the home.
For more information visit cumbria.gov.uk
8 YourCumbria
YourCumbria 9
YourMoney
Balancing the budget
YourHealth
I
Have
your say
In December the county council will
produce a draft budget for 2012/13
which sets out what it plans to spend. A
final budget will be agreed in February
next year. Last year council tax was
frozen, but the council will need to
decide what impact a freeze this year
would have on the revenue in future
years before deciding what its share of
council tax should be.
As always the council is committed
to listening to local people and will be
asking people for their views on its
proposals for next year and broad ideas
for future years. A consultation will take
place during December and January, full
details will be announced in the local
press and on cumbria.gov.uk closer
to the time. Make sure you take the
opportunity to have your say on how
public money is spent in Cumbria.
Say
E
t’s been a challenging 12 months for Cumbria County Council.
With increasing pressure to spend less and deliver more, the
council has had to make some tough decisions.
As the Government takes steps to reduce and repay the national
deficit they have significantly reduced the funding they give to the council
– because of this the council has had to make £44m savings this year
(2011/12) to balance the books.
The council has worked hard to make those savings. It has had a
recruitment freeze for around a year and has restructured large parts of
the organisation to make it more efficient. It is also reviewing its entire
estate of offices and buildings that it owns – that should save around half a
million pounds this year alone.
Where possible the council has sought savings from efficiencies
and revised contracting arrangements, in the area of home care and
Supporting People, the council aims to save nearly £2m this year from
more efficient and effective contracting arrangements.
But it doesn’t end there. Over the next years the council will have to
make even more savings:
• In 2012/13 savings of £16.3m have been agreed but there is £2.4m of
new savings still to find.
• In 2013/14 savings of £1.2m have been agreed with a further £5.5m of
new savings to find.
So we’re clear that there are still tough times ahead.
Given the council is in a situation where it has to make savings, it is more
important than ever that it is clear about its priorities.
The big three priorities, which shape all our decisions, are:
• Challenging poverty in all its forms.
• Ensuring that the most vulnerable people in our
communities receive the support they need.
• Improving the chances in life of the most disadvantaged in
Cumbria.
no to local radio cuts
arlier this month, the BBC announced how it
plans to save £670m a year after a nine-month
review of all its services. Radio Cumbria is having
its budget cut by 20% compared with an average of
12% across all other local radio stations.
The BBC says it plans to reduce the budget at some of
its main national platforms at far lower levels than local
radio - BBC One’s reduction is 3% and Radio 1 faces a cut
of just 2.5%. But the cuts at BBC Radio Cumbria are far
greater, with fewer staff to absorb them. The 20% funding
cut would lead to the loss of almost 10 full-time jobs at the
station and severely affect the ability of journalists to get
out and cover one of the largest geographic areas of any of
the local radio networks.
You can take part in the BBC’s consultation and also vote
at Cumbria County Council’s website cumbria.gov.uk on
where you think the BBC should save money - at a national
or local level.
10 YourCumbria
Key facts about the importance of BBC Radio
Cumbria include:
•
•
It is the most listened to station per head of
population in the whole of England.
It has the highest audience reach of any of the
BBC’s chain of local radio stations, last year
achieving its highest ever audience reach of 39%
To find out more about the BBC’s consultation, which
runs from 6 October to December 21 December
2011, visit bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/consult/delivering_
quality_first.shtml
People can send their views on the proposed cuts to
dqf.consultation@bbc.co.uk
To request an audio or braille version of the
consultation document, or if you have any other
queries, please call 0800 068 0116 or Textphone
08000 153 350.
YourCumbria 11
YourHome
YourCommunity
Top tips for keeping
warm and well
S
Winter
warmth
ummer might have just finished but with November
around the corner it’s time to get prepared for the cold
winter weather.
For many Cumbrians a cold snap isn’t just an inconvenience, it be can
potentially life threatening, so getting prepared for the cold weather
means you’re more likely to keep warm and well this winter.
This winter there will be more than six million UK households living in
fuel poverty, with nearly two thirds in rural areas.
Any household that spends more than 10 per cent of its disposable
income, after housing costs, on domestic fuel is classed as being in fuel
poverty and rising fuel bills have put many homes across the county into
this category – leaving some of Cumbria’s more vulnerable residents at
serious risk during periods of cold weather.
Winter Workers
Heat your home efficiently
So, where can you get help and advice?
• If you don’t already get a Government winter fuel payment give them a
call on 0845 9 15 15 15 to find out if you’re eligible for the payment.
• The Energy Saving Trust is an independent, non-profit making organisation
which can advise you how to save energy in the home. Contact them on
0800 512 012 or online at energysavingtrust.org.uk
• Age UK can offer information on claiming benefits, saving energy, and
staying safe 0800 169 6565.
• Citizens Advice Bureau have several branches in Cumbria, call them on
08444 111 444 or contact your local branch for more details.
• The Home Heat Helpline provides advice for people having difficulty
paying their fuel bills. Contact them on 0800 336699.
• The Gas Safe Register should be called on 0800 111 999 if you suspect a
gas leak.
• For health and illness issues turn to page 11 for NHS advice.
Cumbria Community Foundation Winter Warmth Fund
Winter can often be difficult for many older vulnerable people. But in Cumbria
you could help through the Cumbria Community Foundation (CCF) Winter
Warmth Fund.
The Government’s Winter Fuel Payment is paid to all eligible older people. For
many this is vital, but if you feel that you’d like to give some of your payment to
help other local older people, please donate to the Winter Warmth Fund - not
only could your donation improve the quality of life for someone, it could extend
their life. If you don’t get a Winter Fuel Payment, you can still make a donation.
For more information contact CCF on 01900 825 760 or visit:
cumbriafoundation.org
12 YourCumbria
Mariusz Gebura
Community
Support Officer
“Every autumn the county council
encourages people to get their
electric blankets checked, so I
help out with our countywide free
testing events.With rising fuel bills,
electric blankets are now popular –
but a faulty one could cause a fatal
fire. If an electric blanket is found
to be faulty we issue one free
replacement blanket per household.
You should get your blanket tested
every three years and anything
older than 10 years should be
replaced. Tell-tale signs include
frayed fabric, scorch marks, loose
connections, exposed elements and
permanent creases. Lots of people
aren’t aware of the potential risk,
and might not know how to store
them safely by rolling them or
laying them flat rather than folding
them. It’s really satisfying to do
this job and I hope our advice and
intervention could save lives this
winter.”
Cumbria Trading Standards
worked with Cumbria Fire and
Rescue Service on the electric
blanket testing events which ran
in September and early October.
For a free fire safety check or
advice on fire safety call 0800
3584777. For consumer advice
contact Trading Standards via
Consumer Direct on 08454
040506.
By setting your heating to the right
temperature - between 18 and 21º
celsius or 64 to 70º Fahrenheit –
you can still keep your home warm
and lower your bills. If you feel cold
at night, use a hot-water bottle or
electric blanket – but never use both
together.
Thumbs up for
Cumbria’s adoption
services
Get some financial assistance
You could be entitled to grants and
benefits that can help you pay your
heating bills this winter and make your
home more energy efficient. Get more
information by contacting Age UK or
the Energy Saving Trust advice centre
on freephone 0800 512 012.
Eat well
Food is a vital source of energy and
helps to keep your body warm. If you
don’t eat, you’ll feel the cold and be
more prone to illness. Try and make
sure you have hot meals and drinks
throughout the day.
Get a jab
Remember, if you’re over 65 or you
have a long-term health condition, you
can get a free flu jab from your GP –
contact them to find out more.
Look after yourself
and keep an eye on
neighbours and
relatives
Make sure you wear
appropriate clothing
to keep warm if
you’re out in the
cold. Keep an
eye on elderly
neighbours and
relatives during
the cold winter
months to
ensure they’re
keeping warm
and staying safe
and well.
A
doption services in Cumbria have been given the thumbs up
by government inspectors - but new families are still needed
to enable this good work to continue.
A recent Ofsted inspection gave Cumbria County Council’s adoption
service an overall ‘good’ rating, praising the ‘wealth of good practice and
individualised care and support children receive’.
They also recognised that staff are competent and committed to achieving
positive outcomes for children and have the relevant skills and training to
work with children involved in the adoption process.
However, new families are required to meet the needs of the total of
around 50 children in Cumbria waiting for families.
The county council’s adoption service usually approves in the region of 20
new families each year but is looking to boost this number to around 30.
There is especially a need for families for siblings aged between one and five
and slightly older children in the seven to 10 age category.
Recruitment for adoptive families takes place all year round and later this
year a publicity campaign in the county’s shopping centres will be taking place
to tie in with National Adoption Week (first week of November).
Extensive information on adoption and advice for people thinking about
adopting a child can be found on Cumbria County Council’s website;
cumbria.gov.uk/adoption or by calling 01539 713312.
Cllr Anne Burns, Cumbria County Council’s Cabinet member for children’s
social care, said: “While I’m delighted with our good work, we are always in need
of new adoptive families so I’d really encourage anybody who is thinking about
adopting a child or would simply like to find out more, to get in touch with us.”
During National Adoption week (October 31-November 6) Cumbria
County Council will be handing out leaflets in the following shopping
centres around the county to try and recruit potential adopters.
Monday October 31 – Carlisle, the Lanes shopping centre
Tuesday November 1 – Penrith, Devonshire shopping arcade
Wednesday November 2 – Kendal, Westmorland shopping centre
Thursday November 3 – Keswick, Packhorse Court shopping centre
Friday November 4 – Barrow, Indoor Market
For more information visit cumbria.gov.uk/adoption
YourCumbria 13
YourEnvironment
YourCommunity
Cumbria floods – two years on
has been almost two years since the 2009 floods hit the county and Cumbria County Council has
Itworked
throughout this time to ensure that communities get back on their feet.
A lot of the repair work was carried out immediately after the floods, but in the last year alone five bridges which were
damaged or destroyed in the floods have been repaired or replaced and re-opened.
Backbarrow bridge nr Ulverston
The original Backbarrow footbridge was damaged beyond repair.
The footbridge was an important crossing point for local school
children attending Leven Valley primary school.
It has now been replaced with a new and improved structure at
a higher level and with a slight arch to ensure it is less likely to be
struck by future flood debris. The bridge was re-opened to the
public earlier than anticipated, in time for the start of the new school
year in September 2011.
Low Lorton bridge,
nr Cockermouth
Ironbridge in
Sockbridge, nr
Penrith
The Victorian multi-span
structure was removed
last Christmas by Cumbria
County Council and has now been replaced with a
new, improved footbridge.
The footbridge, which crosses the River Eamont, is the only
local crossing point for walkers in the area and is a key link in
the footpath network. The new structure has been built to sit
higher over the river to reduce the risk of it being hit by debris
flowing down the river in future.
Little Braithwaite bridge,
Braithwaite nr Keswick
The old bridge was a 19th century
slatestone masonry arch which was
completely destroyed when the flood
waters burst through the east bank of
the river and made a direct line to the
A66, depositing tonnes of gravel and
boulders across local farmland.
As the bridge location is in the
national park, the county council got
approval from Lake District National
Park Authority planners to build a new
bridge of similar appearance to the old
one.
14 YourCumbria
Low Lorton bridge was completely
destroyed in the floods and required a
full rebuild rather than a repair.
Construction to replace the
collapsed bridge was completed earlier
this year and involved putting in place
a new steel girder and reinforced
concrete slab bridge with stone
cladding.
Navvies bridge, Workington
The original Navvies bridge was destroyed
beyond repair and the new £1.7m single-span
replacement has been lifted into place. The
steel bow-arch bridge was designed following a
public consultation which allowed locals to give
their views on how the structure should look.
The 96 tonne bridge spans 60 metres over
the River Derwent and carries both pedestrians
and cyclists, offering an important connection
between the community of Northside and
Workington town centre.
Respecting riverlife
It may seem like a long time
since the floods and many people
ask why we’ve not opened
bridges sooner. As well as
planning, tendering and building
processes, the Environment
Agency has restrictions on when
river works can take place. From
October to May, no works can
take place in a river, including
bridge repair or replacement.
This is to protect riverlife in
their natural habitat and also
prevents spawning fish from being
disturbed.
New flood defences at
Derwent Bridge
Residents near Derwent Bridge
in Workington can rest assured
that they will have a safer winter as
rock armour flood defences have
been put in place at the bridge.
Defences were installed in
September as part of ongoing
flood defence measures in the area.
The Big One Workington Bridge
Work is currently underway
to build the new Workington
Northside road bridge at a cost
of £11m.
The original bridge was
destroyed and has so far been
replaced with the temporary
road bridge, which opened in
April 2010. The new Northside
bridge will be a permanent
fixture. Once the new permanent
bridge is open to the public, the
temporary road bridge - that was
built in 72 days - will be closed
and removed.
The construction programme
for Northside bridge is scheduled
to be completed in 2012,
with the new bridge
expected to be open to
traffic in mid-June 2012.
The new bridge will span
152m over the River
Derwent.
Look out in local
media and on Twitter for
progress on Northside
Bridge.
Preparing for emergencies
Are You Ready?
F
amilies, households and businesses can cope better with
emergencies by preparing in advance and working together as a
team.
The Cumbria-wide floods in 2009, the June 2010 shootings and the recent severe
winters all vividly illustrate the potential for emergencies to cause havoc and
disruption to our way of life.
But by being informed and prepared, local communities can significantly reduce
the risk to life and property.
Although Cumbria can count itself as one of safest counties in the country,
emergencies can still happen, and once you know the type of emergencies that
may occur in your area – such as flooding or severe weather - you can start
putting arrangements into place.
The county council works hard to prepare its services so that they are resilient
to emergencies. It also works closely with the police, NHS, district councils and
many other organisations to prepare the county and help it recover as quickly as
possible from emergencies.
Follow these simple tips:
• Go in, stay in, tune in – in a major emergency the best advice is to go inside a
safe building, stay inside until you are advised to do otherwise, and tune in to
local radio or TV for information.
• Prepare an emergency pack and keep it handy – include items such as torches,
batteries, radio, books and games, medication, sleeping bags, warm clothing,
mobile phone and charger, first aid kit, special food for infants, the elderly and
people with disabilities.
• Stay in touch – make sure you know how you and your family will stay in
contact.
• Meeting point – agree where you will meet up should you be separated and
unable to return home, bearing in mind that children could be at school or
parents at work.
For more information on planning for an emergency visit
cumbria.gov.uk/emergency
g
Cumbria Community Messagin
new free way of
Cumbria Community Messaging is the
issues to you as
getting local information on a range of
quickly as possible.
latest information
The service allows everyone to get the
il, voicemail or text.
from crime to major incidents by ema
uk for more
Visit cumbriacommunitymessaging.co.
internet access
out
with
information or to sign up. People
lication form.
app
an
should contact their police station for
YourCumbria 15
YourEnvironment
YourEnvironment
westcumbria:mrws
West Cumbria Managing Radioactive Waste Safely Partnership
Why geological disposal?
Sellafield (NDA)
Nuclear waste
Going underground in West Cumbria?
A
consultation is due to
start soon on whether
West Cumbria should
take part in the search for
somewhere to put a repository
for higher activity radioactive
waste.
Entrance to a repository
being built in Finland
Partnership
meeting in
Maryport in
September
W
e are now finalising a consultation document setting out our initial
opinions on the issues we have looked at. We will then be starting
a major consultation so we can get your views before we send our final
report to the councils.
Although there would still be a right to withdraw from this process during
the search for a possible site, the decision we need to make at this stage is
an important one. Therefore this will be the time to get involved in these
important discussions and decide what you think would be best for the area.
A
n independent committee of experts,
the Committee on Radioactive Waste
Management (CoRWM), recommended
that geological disposal was the best
available long-term approach compared
to other ways of managing higher activity
radioactive waste.
Higher activity waste is currently stored
above ground, the majority of it at Sellafield.
This waste decays over time but some of it
remains hazardous for many thousands of
years.
The Committee on Radioactive Waste
Management said geological disposal would
be safer in the longer term than storage
above ground e.g. because of the risk of
terrorism. They also said that we cannot
rely on societies hundreds or thousands of
years from now to manage these wastes
safely above ground.
Their recommendations received wide
ranging support. Geological disposal is
also the preferred approach in most other
countries with nuclear waste.
However, some people and organisations
are not convinced about the long term
safety of geological disposal and oppose
having an underground repository. These
organisations include Greenpeace, Friends
of the Earth and Radiation Free Lakeland.
What is geological disposal?
G
eological disposal involves
a series of barriers that
the Nuclear Decommissioning
Authority says would work
together to prevent the
radioactivity escaping to the
surface in amounts that could
cause harm. This is known as the
multi-barrier approach.
The waste is first made as
safe as possible and put into a
16 YourCumbria
Underground
storage vaults
specially designed glass or cement
and then into specially made
packages. The packages are placed
in tunnels or vaults constructed
deep underground in the disposal
facility. The vaults can then be
filled and sealed.
A further barrier is provided by
nature through the rock between
the underground facility and the
surface.
Buffer
Surface
facilities
200/1000m
The Government has asked
communities to consider volunteering
to have a repository – known as a
geological disposal facility – in their
area.
Allerdale Borough Council, Copeland
Borough Council and Cumbria County
Council set up the West Cumbria
Managing Radioactive Waste Safely
Partnership to help them decide
whether or not to take part in the
search for a site for a repository,
without any commitment to have it in
the area.
The Partnership includes all the local
authorities in Cumbria and a wide
range of other organisations such as
the Cumbria Association of Local
Councils, the Lake District National
Park, Cumbria Tourism, the National
Farmers Union and Cumbria Chamber
of Commerce.
We have met roughly every six weeks
to consider the issues that would be
involved in taking part in the search
for somewhere to put a repository e.g.
geology, safety, impacts and community
benefits. We have also been talking to
local people.
Eurajoki in Finland
where a repository
is being built
Host
rock
Access
shafts
Additional
Container
Conditioned
waste in
container
YourCumbria 17
For more information see the overview section of our
YourEnvironment
YourEnvironment
What might a
repository look
like?
NDA image showing
what the underground
repository might look like
A
n underground repository
would be between 200
and 1000 metres underground.
By comparison, the Eiffel
Tower is 300 metres high.
The underground facilities could be
somewhere between 6 km² and 25
km² (3.5 and 15 square miles) in size,
depending on the type of rock, and
how much and what kind of waste
would be placed into them.
This would be between approximately
one and four times the size of the
Sellafield site. The amount of rock
that would need to be excavated to
create the facility is similar to what was
removed during the building of the
Channel Tunnel.
There would also be buildings above
ground. Although some parts of West
Cumbria have already been ruled out
as clearly geologically unsuitable for the
underground facilities, at this stage the
above ground facilities could be sited
anywhere in the area.
There would be buildings to support
the construction of the repository,
so these facilities would be at their
busiest while the repository is being
built. There would also be buildings to
handle the waste received from across
the country, administration offices,
workshops and possibly an interim
store and a packaging facility for waste
created by any new nuclear reactors.
Listening to
your views
T
he Government says a repository
will only be put somewhere
where the geology is suitable and
there is a community that has
volunteered to have it.
The West Cumbria Managing
Radioactive Waste Safely Partnership
will look at whether a range of
people think our initial opinions are
reasonable and we will then amend
our final report before sending it to
Allerdale Borough Council, Copeland
Borough Council and Cumbria
County Council.
When the consultation starts we
will provide a lot of opportunities
for you to find out more and give
us your views. In particular, we will
be encouraging you to read our
consultation document and fill in the
questionnaire that comes with it.
Information about the consultation
will be sent to all homes in West
Cumbria and will also be available in
places like libraries and leisure centres.
Members of the public at a
Partnership event in 2010
There will be community events
across the county where you will be
able to get more information, as well
as talking to Partnership members
and technical experts.
As this decision would particularly
affect people in Allerdale and
Copeland there will also be a large,
representative opinion poll to see
whether people in these areas are in
favour or against entering the siting
process.
If there is a decision to take part in
the search for somewhere to put a
repository there would be a series
of studies and detailed geological
investigations to find out if there is a
suitable site.
i
NDA image showing
what the surface facilities
might look like
The councils would have the
right to withdraw from the
process up until the point where
any construction starts. They
would need to show that, there
is credible support for a decision
either to accept a repository, or
to withdraw.
For more information visit
the Partnership’s website
westcumbriamrws.org.uk,
call the freephone number 0800
048 8912 or email contact@
westcumbriamrws.org.uk
Find out more...
You can find out more by visiting:
www.westcumbriamrws.org.uk
You can also contact us by calling our
free helpline on:
0800 048 8912
or by emailing:
NDA image showing what
the surface facilities for
handling the waste might
look like
contact@westcumbriamrws.org.uk
The NDA says the surface facilities could cover an area
of around one square kilometre. They could either be
above the underground facilities or up to 10km apart,
possibly further. The repository would be accessed
through sloping tunnels and vertical shafts.
You can also join our
Facebook page or follow
@westcumbriamrws on Twitter.
Students at a Partnership event in 2010
18 YourCumbria
YourCumbria 19
YourDiary
YourDiary
• Drawing • Directing • Writing •
Reading • Playing an instrument
• Textile arts • Jewellery •
es
im
tom
Pan
•
als
niv
Car
•
als
tiv
• Plays • Operas • Fes
• Painting • Sculpture • Woodworking • Carnival activities • Embroidery • Furniture making •
Add your
events to the
diary - visit
k
seeitdoit.org.u
Events in your area
November
October
26
26
26-28
27
27
28
29
29
30
Children’s Workshop: Imaginary Animals
The Watermill, Little Salkeld, Nr Penrith
01768 881523
Steam and Romans
Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, Ravenglass
01229 717171
Haunted Holker – Halloween fun
Holker Hall and Gardens, Cark in Cartmel, Grange over Sands
015395 58328
Lakes Collectives of Artists and Designers
Grasmere Buff’s Club, Red Lion Square, Grasmere, Ambleside
015394 34859
Over the Rainbow – the Life Story of Eva Cassidy
The Forum, 28 Duke Street, Barrow-in-Furness
01229 820000
Field to Fork Day
Kendal Market Place, Market Place, Kendal
01539 729048
Spooky Saturday Halloween Festival
Penrith
01768 212150
The Culture of the Border Reivers
Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery, Carlisle
01228 618700
Ghost Train
Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway, Haverthwaite Station,
Haverthwaite 015935 31594
Eva Cassidy
1
A Morning in Dove Cottage
Dove Cottage and the Wordsworth Museum, Town End,
Grasmere
015394 35544
1
Soup Making
The Watermill, Little Salkeld, Nr Penrith
01768 881523
3
An Introduction to Romanticism
Dove Cottage and the Wordsworth Museum, Town End,
Grasmere
015394 35544
4
The Etherdome
Rosehill Theatre, Moresby, Whitehaven
01946 692422
4 -6 Beyond the Frontiers – Literary Festival
Senhouse Roman Museum, The Battery, Sea Brows,
Maryport
01900 816168
5
Carlisle Fire Show
Bitts Park, Dacre Road, Carlisle
01228 817358
5
The Real Story of the Gunpowder Plot Guided Tours
Carlisle Castle
0870 333 1181
6
The Snow Queen
Sands Centre, Carlisle
01228 625222
7
Celebrity Chef Ooy
Windermere Hydro Hotel, Helm Road, Bowness-onWindermere 01524 381820
8-9
Two Day Chocolate for Christmas Course
The Lake District School of Food and Wine, Beechcroft,
Seagill, Penrith
01931 714580
11-13 Carlisle Blues Festival
Swallow Hilltop Hotel, London Road, Carlisle
01228 529255
13
Handel’s Messiah
Theatre by the Lake, Lakeside, Keswick
017687 74411
14
Far Eastern Brush Painting – Animal Studies
Greystoke Cycle Café, Poplin Dub, Greystoke, Penrith
017684 83984
16-19 ‘Allo ‘Allo
Rosehill Theatre, Moresby, Whitehaven
01946 692422
19
Mark Watson Request Stops Tour
Penrith Leisure Centre, Southend Road, Penrith
01768 863450
23-24Melancholia
Rosehill Theatre, Moresby, Whitehaven
01946 692422
24
Harry Blofeld – Shaken Not Stirred
The Forum, 28 Duke Street, Barrow-in-Furness
01229 820000
25
Wonderful Weaving – Shibori Technique
Greystoke Cycle Café, Poplin Dub, Greystoke, Penrith
017684 83984
26
Wicked Desserts – Freeze ahead for Christmas
Cook in Cumbria, High Chapel House, Ravenstonedale,
Kirkby Stephen 015396 23411
27
Vampires Rock
Sands Centre, Carlisle
01228 625222
29
Tuesday Trundle Walks
High Head Sculpture Valley, High Head Farm, Ivegill, Carlisle
01228 817158
30
Christmas Cake Decorating – Sugarcraft
Greystoke Cycle Café, Poplin Dub, Greystoke, Penrith
017684 83984
30
Peatbog Faeries
Rosehill Theatre, Moresby, Whitehaven
01946 692422
Handel’s Messia
h
For more details visit seeitdoit.org.uk
20 YourCumbria
Melancholia
o
Vampires R
ck
offer
n
o
ts
even ull list of
e
h
t
n of k for a f
o
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.
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This k out se at’s on n
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YourCumbria 21
YourDiary
• Drawing • Directing • Writing •
Reading • Playing an instrument
• Textile arts • Jewellery •
es
im
tom
Pan
•
als
niv
Car
•
als
tiv
• Plays • Operas • Fes
• Painting • Sculpture • Woodworking • Carnival activities • Embroidery • Furniture making •
December
2
Rat Pack at Christmas
The Forum, 28 Duke Street, Barrow-in-Furness,
01229 820000
2
The Doors Alive
Rosehill Theatre, Moresby, Whitehaven
01946 692422
3
Cooking with Fish
The Lake District School of Food and Wine, Beechcroft,
Seagill, Penrith
01931 714580
3
Royal Marines Band
Sands Centre, Carlisle
01228 625222
4
Levens Choir Festive Concert
United Reformed Church, Highgate, Kendal
01539 730590
4
The Navarra String Quartet
Theatre by the Lake, Lakeside, Keswick
017687 74411
6
In Search of Nature: Recording Cumbrian Wildlife
Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery, Castle Street, Carlisle
01228 618700
7-10 The Exorcism
Theatre by the Lake, Lakeside, Keswick
017687 74411
9
Isy Suttie
Rosehill Theatre, Moresby, Whitehaven
01946 692422
10
Millom Christmas Festival
Millom
01229 719680
11
Melody and Mirth
Theatre by the Lake, Lakeside, Keswick
017687 74411
11
Shakespeare’s Christmas Party
Rosehill Theatre, Moresby, Whitehaven
01946 692422
13-31Cinderella
Sands Centre, Carlisle
01228 625222
16-21 Winter Tales
Theatre by the Lake, Lakeside, Keswick
017687 74411
18
Santa’s Elf Cruises
Ullswater Steamers, The Pier House, Glenridding, Penrith
017684 82229
This
is ju
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itdoi
h
t.org e events
wha
on
t’s on .uk for
a ful offer near
l list
you.
of
22 YourCumbria
Your updated guide
now featuring additional useful numbers!
Events in your area
yourcumbria.org.uk
The Doors Alive
Any problems?
If you are unsure of who to contact or
experiencing difficulties in getting through to
the numbers listed please phone our main
switchboard on
Melody and Mirth
Winter Tales
tet
01229 407377
01228 227285
01539 713540
01946 506420
Arts and culture
Aspatria Dreamscheme
01228 606060
A
Abandoned vehicles advice line
Accidents and Emergencies Adoption and fostering – Adult education
Navarra String Quar
Archives Barrow
Carlisle
Kendal
Whitehaven
contact your district council
999
see Fostering and adoption
01228 227304 / 227303
Adult Social Care
Barrow
Carlisle
Kendal
Penrith
Whitehaven
Workington
Emergency out of hours service 01229 407894
01228 227000
01539 713377
01768 812242
01946 506352
01900 706325
01228 526690
Age Concern Carlisle
Eden
Northwest
Barrow
Millom
South Lakeland
01228 536673
01768 863618
01946 66669
01229 831425
01229 774573
01539 728118
01228 227306
016973 20893
B
Barrow Borough Council – barrowbc.gov.uk 01229 876300
Barrow Youth Inclusion Project
01229 871420
Basement Bar, Barrow
01229 894644
Beach cleaning
contact your district council
Benefits advice centre contact your district council
Benefit enquiry line
0800 88 22 00
Bereavement services
contact your district council
Birth registration see Registration Services
The National Blood Service 08457 711711
For details of blood donor sessions blood.co.uk
Blue car parking badges for disabled people 01228 606060
Botcherby Healthy Living Initiative
01228 543405
Brewery Arts Centre 01539 725133
British Heart Foundation 020 7554 0000
Building regulations
contact your district council
Building planning applications contact your district council
Bus timetables 0871 200 2233*
*Calls from landlines cost 10p per minute
How to...
REPORT A POTHOLE
If you spot a pothole on the
highway call the Highways
Hotline on 0845 609 6609.
Allerdale Borough Council allerdale.gov.uk
01900 702702
Allotments
contact your district council
Animal health and welfare 01539 713137
Archaeology 01539 713428
YourCumbria 23
A–ZGuide
A–ZGuide
Your A–Z guide to council services in Cumbria
Your A–Z guide to council services in Cumbria
Important: For all services highlighted in blue please see district council section for your local council number
Important: For all services highlighted in blue please see district council section for your local council number
Councillor contacts
A L L E R DA L E
COP E L A ND
C
Gosforth & Ennerdale
Norman Clarkson - 01946 841126
C
Hillcrest
Andrew Wonnacott - 01946 63601
L
Cleator Moor S & Egremont
Frank Morgan - 01946 830759
B A R ROW
I Walney South
C Hawcoat
C
Parkside
Lisa Hammond - 01229 823071
David Marcus - 01229 470629
David Roberts - 01229 811994
C Ormsgill
S Dalton South
C
Dalton North
Jill Heath - 01229 465051
Jim Hamezeian - 01229 829454
Bill Bleasdale - 01229 468804
L Walney North
L Newbarns
C
Risedale
le
Kevin Hamilton - 07849 847158
Melvyn Worth - 07779 247957
Tina Macur - 01229 836148
EDEN
LD
Penrith East
Patricia Bell - 01768 867826
C
Eden Lakes
Thomas Lowther - 01931 712284
C C
Greystoke & Hesket
Bert Richardson - 01768 483704
SOUTH LAKELAND
C Kendal Highgate
LD
Sedbergh & Kirkby Lonsdale
Kevin Lancaster - 015396 20800
Geoff Cook - 01539 740133
C Lakes
LD
High Furness
Claire Salisbury - 015394 36611
David Earnshaw - 015394 33573
LD Lower Kentdale
C
Kendal Castle
Tom Clare - 01539 725946
Roger Bingham - 015395 63694
LD Windermere
LD
Kendal Strickland & Fell
Brendan Jameson - 01539 735540 Jo Stephenson - 015394 45448
C Cartmel
LD
Ulverston East
Peter Hornby - 01229 585416
Rod Wilson - 015395 36673
C AR LIS LE
L
L
Moss Bay
Barbara Cannon - 01946 834702
C
Aspatria and Wharrels
Mike Johnson
L
St Michael’s
Alan Barry - 01900 604289
C
Wigton
Joseph Cowell - 016973 43479
LD
Dalston & Cummersdale
Trevor Allison - 01228 523923
L
St Aidan’s
Reg Watson OBE - 01228 521676
I
Botcherby
Robert Betton - 01228 530747
L
Denton Holme
Hugh McDevitt - 01228 530223
L
Belle Vue
Ian Stockdale - 01228 529678
24 YourCumbria
C
Bowness, Thursby & Caldbeck CM C
Duncan Fairbairn - 016973 43160
I
Seaton
Trevor Fee - 01900 61635
L
Maryport West
Bill Cameron - 01900 812783
C
Cockermouth West
Alan Kennon - 01900 826368
C Hensingham & Arlecdon
L
Bransty
Graham Roberts - 01946 692860
Mike Hawkins - 01946 65447
L Millom
C
St Bees & Egremont
David Southward MBE - 01946 841476 Raymond Cole - 01229 774378
C Distington & Moresby
L
Seascale & Whicham
Susan Brown - 01229 774666
Cam Ross - 01946 861552
L
Kells & Sandwith
Wendy Skillicorn - 01946 692628
Cleator Moor N & Frizington CM L
Timothy Knowles - 01946 811687
L
Mirehouse
John Woolley - 01946 695804
CM L
Hindpool
Anne Burns - 01229 471824
C
Roosecote
Ray Guselli - 01229 830739
CM I
Old Barrow
Oliver Pearson - 01229 836367
St John’s
Joe Holliday - 01900 66319
Moorclose
Gerald Humes - 01900 63976
Keswick & Derwent
Ron Munby - 01900 825355
Harrington, Clifton & Stainburn
Marjorie Rae - 01946 831004
Cockermouth East
Eric Nicholson - 01900 827944
CM
L Solway Coast
Tony Markley - 016973 31998
LD Dearham & Broughton LC CM
Eddie Martin - 01900 819918
L Maryport East
Keith Little - 01900 812981
C
C
L
L
CM C
LD Ulverston West
Low Furness
Janet Willis - 01229 861250
James Airey - 01229 588461
C
LD Grange
Kent Estuary
Bill Wearing - 015395 32482
Ian Stewart - 015395 62391
C
LD Lyth Valley
Upper Kent
Jim Bland - 015395 68576
Stan Collins - 01539 821086
LD
Kendal Nether
Clare Feeney-Johnson - 01539 422939
LD
Kendal South
Brenda Gray - 015395 61135
C
Brampton & Gilsland
Lawrence Fisher - 01228 512550
C
L Longtown and Bewcastle
Val Tarbitt - 016977 42247
C Stanwix & Irthington
C
John Mallinson - 01228 533746
LD Upperby
DL CM L
Stewart Young - 01228 541905
C Currock
L
Heather Bradley - 01228 533162
How to...
CATCH A BUS
If you are using the bus for the first time or using a bus
away from home – the first step is the hardest!
When? Where? How much? – Answers to all these
questions can be found in a number of places but the
simplest way is to contact Traveline on 0871 200 22 33
– calls from landlines 10p a minute. If using a mobile
dial 874 as soon as “Welcome” message starts to get
straight through to Cumbria Call Centre. Or go online
to traveline.info. This service is available daily
7.00 am to 10.00 pm.
Information – Timetables etc can be obtained from
a number of outlets eg Tourist Information Centres.
If you have access to the internet these can be found on
the county council’s website cumbria.gov.uk/buses.
Copies of the Cumbria and Lakes Rider which gives
information on bus timetables and maps of town services
for the summer – available from your local library.
Something for nothing? – If you are over 60 you may
be entitled to travel free on all buses. See page 8 of this
magazine.
Most services in Cumbria are paid for by the fares
collected on the bus. Where fares do not cover costs the
county council can provide financial support. Cumbria
County Council would be pleased to hear any suggestions
to improve services and supply of information.
C Appleby
C
Penrith North
Hilary Carrick - 01768 898147
Martin Stephenson - 017683 51378
CM C Kirkby Stephen
LD
Penrith Rural
Gary B Strong - 01228 599435
Peter Thornton - 01539 823640
C Alston & East Fellside
I
Penrith West
Helen Fearon - 01768 892731
Mary Robinson - 01768 896147
Harraby
Cyril Weber - 01228 539215
Morton
John Bell - 01228 530388
Yewdale
Fiona Robson - 07919 374121
Castle
Jim Tootle - 01228 546410
Belah
Alan Toole - 01228 530681
Community Action Furness
Concessionary fares
C
Wetheral
Nicholas Marriner - 01228 561546
CM C
Stanwix Urban
Liz Mallinson - 01228 533746
KEY: Party: C Conservative L Labour LD Liberal Democrats I Independent S Socialist People’s Party
DL Deputy Leader of Council
Title: C Chairman CM Cabinet Member LC Leader of Council
A
Active Cumbria
01228 221263
C
Carers see Young Carers
Carlisle City Council – carlisle.gov.uk
01228 817000
Carlisle Castle
01228 891922
Car parking
contact your district council
Cemeteries and crematorium
contact your district council
Children’s information service 08457 125737
Provides you with details of early years childcare and educational facilities
Civil partnerships see Registration Services
Coast protection
contact your district council
Community centres support
contact your district council
Community events
contact your district council
Community Law Centre
Complaints about county council services
Complaints about Adult Social Care
01228 515129
0800 1218800
Contact local offices or ring 01228 227140
Complaints about district council services
01229 832073
01228 226720
Children’s Services
Head Office, Portland Square, Carlisle Barrow – Market Street
Barrow – Nan Tait Centre
Carlisle – Alfred Street North
Kendal – Busher House
Penrith
Whitehaven – Blencathra House
Workington
Emergency out of hours service 01228 226877
01229 407894
01229 407400
01228 227002
01539 713456
01768 812242
01946 505505
01900 706325
01228 526690
Citizens Advice Bureaux Barrow
Carlisle Grange
Kendal
Keswick
Millom
Penrith
Ulverston
Whitehaven
Windermere
Workington
01229 830367
01228 633909
01539 533100
01539 738772
017687 73472
01229 772395
01768 891503
01229 585585
01946 693321
01539 446464
01900 604735
Connexions Cumbria Free phone number
Partnership Office
Barrow-in-Furness
Carlisle
Kendal
Maryport
Whitehaven
Workington
0800 435709
01931 711300
01229 824052
01228 596272
01539 7300456
01900 815928
01946 695541
01900 604674
Consumer advice 0845 4040506
Contaminated land
contact your district council
Copeland Borough Council – copeland.gov.uk 0845 054 8600
Councillors details
01228 226351
Council meetings 01228 226351
Council tax
contact your district council
Countryside access
01228 221052
Countryside Rangers (outside the National Parks)
Carlisle District
07789 603253
Copeland Borough and Allerdale District
07773 819101
Eden District
07789 602281
South Lakeland and Barrow District
07789 603435
Contact your local district council
YourCumbria 25
A–ZGuide
A–ZGuide
Your A–Z guide to council services in Cumbria
Your A–Z guide to council services in Cumbria
Important: For all services highlighted in blue please see district council section for your local council number
Important: For all services highlighted in blue please see district council section for your local council number
How to...
FIND OUT ABOUT CHILDCARE AND FREE EARLY
LEARNING FOR THREE AND FOUR YEAR OLDS
Cumbria County Council’s Children’s and Families
Information Service can give you this information and lots
more. To find out about services, activities and
entitlements, including the following contact 08457 125 737.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
childcare
free early learning for three and four year olds
out of school and holiday clubs
support and advice groups
parent and toddler groups
activities for children and young people
local services, national helplines and websites
financial help with childcare costs
maternity and paternity rights and benefits
parental leave and work-life balance
We also
• Offer a brokerage service to anyone who has tried
to find childcare without success. We will contact
providers on your behalf to try to find suitable childcare
• Produce a range of information leaflets
• Provide information to anyone thinking about becoming
a registered childminder
• Maintain the Cumbria Children’s Services Web
Directory – www.help4me.info
• Develop and maintains a website for 13–19 year olds
www.wotson4u.com
Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership 01768 812369
Cumbria Association of Local Councils
01768 812141
Cumbria Care 01228 227790
Cumbria Centre for Independent Living - providing services
and advice for local disabled people
01228 606483
Email info@daceability.org
Cumbria Community Foundation
01900 820822
Cumbria Chamber of Commerce (business advice) 01228 534120
Cumbria Youth Support Services Team
Allerdale and Copeland
Carlisle
Eden
South Lakes and Barrow
Cycleways
01900 706375
01228 226939
01768 242071
01539 713135
01228 226735
Cumbria County Council
Comments, compliments and complaints
For complaints 0800 121 8800
Email: complaints@cumbria.gov.uk
For comments and compliments
Email: information@cumbria.gov.uk
Write: Corporate Complaints, Cumbria County Council,
Freepost NWW6059A,The Courts, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA3 8NA.
26 YourCumbria
D
DaCE IT & Training - recycle and refurbish IT equipment and
provide training for local disabled people.
01228 606485
Email info@daceability.org
Dangerous structures
contact your district council
Day care services, older adults contact Adult Social Care
Death registration see Registration Services
Derelict land
contact your district council
Development control
contact your district council
National Park authority within boundaries
Development control planning
01539 713066
Dentist (NHS)
To register for a NHS dentist in Cumbria visit
cumbria.nhs.uk/yournearestservice/dentist
District councils
Allerdale Borough Council – allerdale.gov.uk
Barrow Borough Council – barrowbc.gov.uk
Carlisle City Council – carlisle.gov.uk
Copeland Borough Council – copeland.gov.uk
Eden District Council – eden.gov.uk
South Lakeland District Council – southlakeland.gov.uk
How to...
FOSTER
Interested in fostering and adoption but need more
information then contact Fostering and Adoption on
0303 333 1216 or visit cumbria.gov.uk
Local plans
Locallinks.org.uk
Local Links - Alston Local Links - Aspatria Local Links - Ambleside Local Links - Cleator Moor Local Links - Grange-over-sands Local Links - Kirkby Stephen
Local Links - Longtown Local Links - Milnthorpe Local Links - Wigton Longtown Youth Project
contact your district council
01434 382244
016973 20515
01539 432507
01946 855030
015395 32749
017683 71775
01228 791638
015395 63040
01900 702890
07780 688734
Libraries
Cumbria has 49 libraries around the county – the main six are listed below:
01900 702702
01229 876300
01228 817000
0845 054 8600
01768 817817
01539 733333
Doctor
To register: Allerdale, Carlisle, Copeland and Eden 01228 603633
Barrow and South Lakeland 01772 221444
Out of hours service: Allerdale, Carlisle, Copeland and Eden 01228 401999
Barrow and South Lakeland 0845 052 4999
Hearing impaired users (South Cumbria) 18001 01539 716999
Dogs – barking and fouling
Drop Zone Café, Barrow
Dustbin emptying
Environment Agency advice, floodline
0845 9881188
Environmental issues including: pest control,
food safety, dog control (dirt), health and
safety at work, noise pollution
contact your district council
Environmental protection services contact your district council
contact your district council
01229 812888
contact your district council
E
Economic development 01228 226691
Eden Care Alarms (providing support services 01768 890657
and care alarms to elderly and vulnerable
people in Eden) Eden Carers (support for unpaid carers) 01768 890280
Local election offices
Allerdale
01900 702550
Barrow
01229 876318
Carlisle
01228 817555
Copeland
01946 598531
Eden
01768 817817
South Lakes
01539 797535
Eden Community Outdoors
017683 51640
Eden District Council – eden.gov.uk
01768 817817
Eden Housing Association
01768 861400
Eden Rural Foyer
01768 861650
Eden Youth Work Project
01768 861404
Education and Education Welfare – see Children’s Services
Energy efficiency advice centre
contact your district council
F
Fire service Fly tipping
Food inspection control
Fostering and Adoption G
Girlguiding
Grants – community groups
Gritting 01900 822503
contact your district council
contact your district council
0303 333 1216
01946 694868
See Neighbourhood Development
0845 609 6609
H
For health care related matters contact:
NHS Direct (24hrs)
see panel at bottom right for all numbers
Highways Hotline 24 hours / 7 days 0845 609 6609
Email: contact@cumbriahighways.co.uk
Home care
see Adult Social Care
Homelessness
contact your district council
Hospice at Home West Cumbria 01900 705200
Hospice at Home Carlisle & North Lakeland 01768 210719
Hospitals
Furness General Hospital (Barrow) 01229 870870
Cumberland Infirmary (Carlisle) 01228 523444
Westmorland General Hospital (Kendal) 01539 732288
West Cumberland Hospital (Whitehaven) 01946 693181
Household Waste Recycling Centres 01228 227644
Housing advice
contact your district council
Housing benefit
contact your district council
I
Impact Housing
01946 833100
J
Junk Mail (to stop junk mail)
0845 703 4599
Or write to the Mailing Preference Service at:
MPS, Freepost 22, London, WE1 7EZ.
K
Kendal Youth Work
L
Lake District National Park Land charges
Litter and street cleaning
Living Well Trust, Carlisle
07709 797534
01539 724555
contact your district council
contact your district council
Barrow Carlisle Kendal Penrith Whitehaven Workington
M
Markets
Marriages
Meals on wheels
Millom Youth Partnership
Minerals and waste planning
Multi-cultural service
01229 407370
01228 227310
01539 713520
01768 812100
01946 506400
01900 706170
contact your district council
see Registration Services
see Adult Social Care
01229 777500
01539 713066
01229 833933
N
NHS Direct
0845 4647
For 24 hour free expert health advice nhsdirect.nhs.uk
NHS Trusts in Cumbria
•NHS Cumbria (Cumbria NHS Teaching Primary Care Trust)
Provides leadership for the NHS, commissions all
health care, provides public health and primary health
care services across Cumbria. 01768 245317
• North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust
Includes Cumberland Infirmary Carlisle and West
Cumberland Hospital. 01228 523444
•University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust
Includes Furness General, Westmorland General and
Royal Lancaster Infirmary. 01539 732288
•Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Includes mental health and learning disability services.
01228 602000
•North West Ambulance Services NHS Trust
Includes Ambulance and Patient Transport Services
01228 596909
For all Trusts: cumbria.nhs.uk
01228 599426
YourCumbria 27
A–ZGuide
A–ZGuide
Your A–Z guide to council services in Cumbria
Your A–Z guide to council services in Cumbria
Important: For all services highlighted in blue please see district council section for your local council number
Important: For all services highlighted in blue please see district council section for your local council number
Neighbourhood Development
Community information including rural matters, neighbourhood
forums, grants and funding, local councils, volunteering,
voluntary sector support and multi-cultural centre.
Allerdale and Copeland
01900 706015
Barrow and South Lakes
01229 407578
Carlisle and Eden
01228 227646
‘Neighbourhood Watch in Cumbria’ - information can
be obtained from the Cumbria Neighbourhood Watch
Association website at cumbria-nhw.org or by contacting
your local policing team officer through the non emergency
Police number - 0845 3300247.
O
Open Access
Outdoor activities
01228 221052
01768 772816
P
Parish council – Cumbria Association of Local Councils
For your parish council contact
01768 812141
Parks, open spaces and play areas
contact your district council
Parish Paths Initiative
01228 226605
Phoenix Youth Project
01946 814555
Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
01900 705005
Pest control
Allerdale Barrow
Carlisle
Copeland
Eden
South Lakeland
Phoenix Youth Project
Planning
Police – non emergencies
Print services and photocopying
Product safety
Property
Public conveniences
Public rights of way Public transport contact your district council
contact your district council
contact your district council
contact your district council
contact Rentokil 0800 2182210
please refer to the yellow pages
01946 814555
contact your district council
0845 3300247
01228 226420
see trading standards
contact your district council
contact your district council
0845 609 6609
0871 2002233
Recycling contact your district council
General information and advice 0845 0551118
Email info@recycleforcumbria.org
Household waste recycling centres 01228 227644
Household collections services
contact your district council
Recycle points contact your district council
(eg supermarkets, village halls, pubs etc)
Registration services
Cumbria Registration Service are responsible for the
registration of births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships.
The services also provides copies of births, deaths, marriages,
and civil partnership certificates for those registered
in Cumbria.
Details of all our services, office locations and opening times
can be found be visiting cumbria.gov.uk/registration
Marriages, civil partnerships, copy certificates
Barrow 01229 407511
Carlisle 01228 227432
Cockermouth (including Maryport/Workington) 01900 706960
Kendal 01539 713567
Millom 01229 772357
Penrith 01768 242120
Ulverston 01229 404170
Whitehaven 01946 506190
Wigton
01228 223446
Registration of births and deaths
Barrow 01229 407511
Carlisle 01228 227430 or 227433
Cockermouth (including Maryport/Workington) 01900 706068
Kendal 01539 713566
Millom 01229 772357
Penrith 01768 242121
Ulverston 01229 404171
Whitehaven 01946 506191
Wigton 01228 223447
Residents parking permits
contact your district council
Respite care see Adult Social Care and Children’s Services
Residential homes see Cumbria Care and Adult Social Care
Road safety education/training
01768 812336
For highways safety matters
0845 609 6609
Road safety general
01228 221751
Roads 0845 609 6609
Rural wheels
01228 226721
S
Samaritans UK wide
Governor Support Team
08457 90 90 90
see Children’s Services
School Places
Allerdale and Copeland
Barrow and South Lakeland
Carlisle and Eden
School transport – north
To include Alston, Carlisle, Kirkby Stephen and Penrith
School transport – south
To include Barrow, Kendal, Ulverston and Windermere
Refuse and special collections
28 YourCumbria
contact your district council
School transport – west
01228 221582
01228 226775
01228 221198
01228 226008
01228 226044
01228 226045
Scouts Association
01768 862040
Shelter (housing charity)
0808 800 4444
Social Services see Adult Social Care and Children’s Services
South Cumbria Award Initiative
01539 742605
South Lakeland District Council 01539 733333
southlakeland.gov.uk
Spirit of Youth in partnership with Young Cumbria 015395 36032
Sport and recreation
contact your district council
Cumbria Stop Smoking Service 01900 324222
cumbria.nhs.uk/healthinformation/givingupsmoking
Street cleaning
contact your district council
Street lighting
0845 609 6609
Student support services 01228 226775
Sure start
0845 712 5737
Sustainability
01228 226314
Swimming pools
contact your district council
T
Theatre by the lake 017687 74411
Tourist information centres
contact your district council
Town twinning
contact your district council
Town council – County Association of Local Councils
For your parish council contact
01768 812141
Trading standards
Animal health licensing
Consumer advice
Cumbria CVS - Volunteer Centres / Area Offices
Barrow
01229 823144
Carlisle
01228 512513
Eden
01768 800350
South Lakes centre 01539 742636 - office 01539 742627
West Cumbria
01900 819191
Voting
W
Waste management
Traveline (public transport)
(Calls from landlines cost 10p per minute)
Traffic lights Tullie House
Website (Cumbria County Council)
Wheels to Work
Whitehaven Harbour Youth Project
Wigton Youth Station
Windermere ferry enquiries
01228 226332
01946 820462
01946 690404
016973 44200
0845 609 6609
Y
YMCA Carlisle
YWCA Cumbria Young Women’s Project
01228 815412
01228 525817
01539 713137
08454 040506
01539 713594
01228 227447
01900 706072
01539 713577
01229 404040
0871 200 2233
0845 6096609
01228 534781
Young Carers
Carlisle
Eden
Furness
West Cumbria
South Lakeland
01228 542156
01768 890280
01229 822822
01900 810101
01539 815970
Young Cumbria
Keswick (head office)
West Office
Eden Office
South Lakes Office
017687 75085
07895 766326
01768 867456
015395 36032
Young Farmers
Youth forum
How to...
01228 227644
For household collection service enquiries please contact your district council
(For other trading standard issues contact your local office)
Headquarters
Carlisle
Cockermouth
Kendal
Ulverston contact your district council
01768 866550
contact your district council
CATCH A TRAIN
Finding out train times couldn’t be easier, there is one place
you can go to for all timetable enquiries. Call National Rail
Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50 - 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week. Alternatively visit nationalrail.co.uk
U
United Utilities Unsafe goods
V
VOICES Project
Voluntary Action Cumbria
Youth Offending Service
Headquarters
North office
South office
West office
Youthtastic, Workington
01228 227179
01228 227090
01229 826080
01900 813531
01900 842993
0800 195 4141
see trading standards
01229 870150
01768 242130
Youth Work Development Co-ordinators
Allerdale and Copeland
01900 706375
Carlisle
01228 226939
Eden 01768 242071
South Lakeland and Barrow
01539 713135
To include Aspatria, Cockermouth, Keswick, Millom and Whitehaven
YourCumbria 29
YourHealth
Case Study
NHS Foundation Trust
Sam Cleasby
Reablement Support
Worker
Sam Cleasby has worked as a
support worker with Cumbria
Care for five years.
In December 2010, Sam was
one of the first people to join
the Reablement team as a
Reablement support worker.
“When I was approached
about specialising in Reablement
I said yes immediately. I saw it
as an exciting opportunity to
help people get back on their
feet after a disability, accident or
illness.
I really enjoy helping people
rediscover how to live their lives.
This can range from supporting
people to get dressed to helping
them back into employment or
a leisure activity. Once a week I’ll
sit with service users and review
their Reablement package and
let them know about any other
services available to them.
Every now and again I’ll bump
into one of the people who I’ve
supported through the service.
It’s fantastic to see them out
and about and managing
independently. Knowing that I’ve
played a part in that gives me a
huge sense of achievement.
I’ve been a Reablement Support
Worker for almost a year and
every day I look forward to
helping more people to regain
and retain their independence.”
30 YourCumbria
Helping people
back to their feet
P
eople in South Lakeland who are recovering from injury or illness
will get help regaining their independence thanks to a new service
from Cumbria County Council.
The county council’s Adult Social Care department has launched Reablement
– a free scheme aimed at helping those who need assistance following disability,
illness, injury or loss of their personal support network.
Lasting for a short period of time – usually no longer than six weeks –
Reablement will work with them and their carers to focus on their strengths and
abilities and help build up their confidence in doing things for themselves including:
• Getting up, washed and dressed
• Preparing meals and snacks
• Taking medication
• Getting around in and out of the home
• Doing household tasks such as shopping and laundry
• Getting involved in social and leisure activities.
The service is currently available to people in South Lakeland and will be
available across the county in the coming months.
People who are interested in the scheme should get in touch with their local
Adult Social Care office and a member of the team will meet with them to
discuss their situation.
Cumbria County Council’s Adult Social Care department in Cumbria can be
contacted at County Offices, Kendal, LA9 4RQ, telephone: 01539 713377 or
email kendalssd@cumbria.gov.uk
Becoming a Foundation Trust member
couldn’t be simpler...
Want to know what is going on
in one of your local hospitals?
Want to be consulted on our
future plans?
Sign up or
find out more
via our website, email or by
calling us:
Want to receive invites to special
member events?
www.uhmb.nhs.uk
Become a Trust member
01539 716666
Members of our Trust are also eligible to sign
up for www.nhsdiscounts.com
FTmembershipOffice@mbht.nhs.uk
Our hospitals are: Furness General Hospital in
Barrow, Westmorland General Hospital in Kendal
and the Royal Lancaster Infirmary.
a brighter future
Over 20 years’ experience of
delivering degree level courses
Realistic work environments such as the
new Castle Dairy restaurant and gallery
Stunning facilities including
conference and seminar rooms
Apprenticeship training in a wide range
of vocational areas
www.kendal.ac.uk
01539 814700
110929 - yourcumbria ad.indd 1
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