Attend an adoption event during Pride Month
Cumbria Adoption is inviting members of the LGBTQ+ community to attend an online adoption information event on Wednesday 21 June and find out more about starting their family through adoption during Pride Month 2023.
The adoption service, which works on behalf of Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council, welcomes enquiries from members of the LGBTQ+ community and has already helped many same-sex couples and single LGBTQ+ people to adopt.
Cumbrian adopters Andy Bond and his husband Steve started their journey in 2018 and their family of two grew to a family of four when they adopted brothers, then aged 1 and 2 that very same year.
Andy said: “Our adoption experience was a very positive one and it all ran very smoothly. Within just three months of being approved our sons were living with us and it completely changed our lives.”
If you've been thinking about adoption but aren't sure where to start, our adoption information events are the ideal introduction.
Our next event takes place on Wednesday 21 June at 12.30pm. To book onto our upcoming event please email events@cumbriaadoption.org.uk stating which date you would like to attend and one of our team will send you the Teams link for the event.
Visit cumbriaadoption.org.uk for full details on all upcoming events or to register for a private one to one appointment.
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News from our Highways Teams
We are inviting opinions on our highways and transport services – from the condition of roads and footpaths to the quality of cycling facilities. Their answers will be compared with the views of other members of the public across England & Scotland, thanks to the National Highways and Transport Public Satisfaction survey.
The questionnaire will be sent to a minimum random sample of at least 3300 of Cumberland Council residents from Friday 16 June, followed by a reminder, with local and national results to be published in late-October 2023. Since the survey is based on a sample, residents that receive a copy are being urged to take part.
Residents that receive the questionnaire can complete the survey online if they prefer, a short URL link will be printed on the front of the questionnaire, and they will be required to enter a code before completing the questionnaire.
The results will enable us to find out what people our area think about these important services. This will provide one of several ways Cumberland Council can assess how it is performing. It gives the public an opportunity to say which services they think the council should prioritise and improve.
...We’re also being innovative with our jet-patching of potholes
We are sending out a fleet of jet patching machines over the coming weeks to repair potholes across the area. The Highways Team have already been using the innovative jet patching machines to fix potholes in a number of villages. Keep an eye out for it in your community.
Tar very much - £175,000 investment for Southerfield and Smart Hill Southerfield
We’re also pleased to announce that the local areas of Southerfield and Smart Hill Southerfield, Abbeytown are to benefit from an investment of £175,000 in our road networks. This month will see our Highways Team start improvement works at Southerfield and Smart Hill Southerfield, with a sticky solution for recycling tar bound road planings.
£200,000 invested in roads near Keswick
We’re also investing more than £200,000 to improve the roads between Little Braithwaite and Newlands Pass.
The work started on Monday 5 June, and is expected to be completed within two weeks, by local partners DSD Construction.
Work starts on historic site in Maryport
Contractors are on site starting the transformation of one of Maryport’s most historic buildings.
Christ Church on King Street is becoming a new home for Maryport Maritime Museum and work has now started on site.
The Grade II listed building, which dates back to 1872, was empty for a number of years before being purchased by the former Allerdale Council in 2020. Cumberland Council is now forging ahead with the exciting project to make this landmark building into a museum and visitor experience. The project is being paid for by the Government’s Future High Streets fund and will cost in excess of £1 million.
Work starts at historic Maryport landmark | Cumberland Council
Other regeneration news
Millom drop-in events
A chance to find out more about Millom’s exciting Town Deal as it reaches a key stage in the programme will take place later this month.
The informal sessions will be held on Wednesday, 28 June at the following venues:
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Haverigg Lighthouse Centre, in Atkinson Street, Haverigg, from 3pm - 4.30pm.
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Millom Baptist Church, in Crown Street, Millom, from 6pm - 7.30pm.
Cleator Moor drop-in events
Excitng plans designed to help Cleator Moor and its communities to thrive for generations will also be on show at a special drop-in event.
The informal event will take place on Tuesday, 27 June at Cleator Moor Civic Hall, The Square, between 3pm and 7.30pm.
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Weather advice
Despite the slight cooling in temperatures in recent days, it remains warm. The UK Health Security Agency has advice on how to stay safe in this warm weather, and colleagues at the Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service have advice on staying safe in water and the risk from wildfires.
The change in weather has prompted the Met Office to issue a yellow warning for rain on Sunday (18 June) evening.
The 10th Annual Children in Care Council Awards | nominations open now!
The Children in Care Council Awards is an opportunity to celebrate and recognise the achievements of children and young people who are looked after and the people who support them.
Previously hosted by Cumbria County Council, the awards this year will be hosted by Westmorland and Furness Council and Cumberland Council on Saturday 7 October.
Nominations are now open. Winners will be chosen by a judging panel made up of children and young people from the Children in Care Council.
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Environment news
We mark Clean Air Day
June 15 was Clean Air Day.
The focus of the day was on combating air pollution and we were sharing ways we can all help to enhance air quality.
As part of the day, residents and businesses were asked to help share messages, make their own Clean Air Day pledge, and use the UK’s first personal air pollution calculator to understand how to reduce their air impact.
The Great Big Green Week - what’s going on in your area?
It was also Big Green Week this week, with event all over Cumberland.
Find out more about this and other environment news on the Zero Carbon Cumbria website.
Armed Forces Day
An event to commemorate Armed Forces Day, a national celebration of the UK's Armed Forces - past, present and future - will be held in Carlisle’s city centre pedestrianised area on Saturday, 24 June.
Organised by Cumberland Council, with the support of local armed forces organisations, it will be held between 10am and 4pm in Carlisle city centre.
Organisations represented will include: the Cumbria Museum of Military Life, the Military Vehicles Trust, Cumbria Army Cadet Force, Duke of Lancs, The Solway Aviation Museum, The Carlisle United Trust, the Sea Cadets and the Royal British Legion.
The Armed Forces Day programme will also include live music provided by the Border Concert Band. The Chair of Cumberland Council, Councillor Carni McCarron-Holmes will also speak about the council’s commitment to the Armed Forces.
Armed Forces Week will conclude with the flag-lowering ceremony on Saturday 24 June at 3.30pm.
Our Community Panels
Our Council Plan outlines how we want to ensure our communities are at the heart of decisions that affect them. That's why our Community Panels are so important.
They have continued to have their inaugural meetings this week – with the Fells and Solway panel and the Lakes to Sea panel sharing the limelight.
Next week it is the turn of Carlisle West Community Panel.
Investing in Aspatria
Drop in event for new Aspatria Community Hub
As work on the new Community Hub for Aspatria gathers pace, Cumberland Council is inviting the community to drop-in at their upcoming engagement event to find out more about how the new hub will benefit their community.
The engagement event will take place on Monday 19 June between 3pm and 6pm at Aspatria Rugby Club on Station Road. Residents are being encouraged to come along, browse the building designs, and ask any questions.
Building plans include the renovation and extension of the Aspatria Library building on Market Square. The new hub will bring together the town’s library and Children’s Centre under one roof in a fit-for-purpose, modernised building.
...and a new Town Centre Facelift Scheme launches in Aspatria
Aspatria is to get a spruce up from Cumberland Council’s Facelift Grant Scheme.
Business and homeowners which have a frontage facing the street within the defined town centre area of Aspatria can apply for funding to help pay for improvements to look of their property.
The Facelift Scheme, funded by the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund, provides up to £1,000 for each property, with the property owner match-funding this with 10% of the grant total. Therefore a £500 grant requires match funding of £50.
The money can go towards things like materials such as paint and any labour costs, the repair or replacement of damaged items like drain pipes or guttering, and any external lighting. The grant is not eligible for some work, and it is best to consult with the council before making an application. More details on the application process here.
Gambling Harm Awareness
During this week a number of frontline organisations in Cumbria will be joining together to tackle gambling related harms within their local communities.
This initiative has been developed in partnership with the Cumbria Gambling Harms Prevention Group
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