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£2 million boost for Cumberland economy

The 2024 Taste Cumbria food festival in Cockermouth brought £2.2 million into the local economy, independent research has revealed. The event, held over the last weekend of September, attracted more than 25,000 visitors to the town. The research figures show a return on investment of nearly £40 for every pound we spent on delivering the event. An amazing 99% of these said they would return to another Taste Cumbria event, with 65% rating it as ‘very good’, up from 62% last year, and 35% scoring it as ‘good’. Nobody surveyed gave the festival an ‘average’ or negative rating.

More Taste Cumbria events

More Taste Cumbria events are planned this autumn and winter.

A Taste Carlisle event will be held in the Cathedral grounds on Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 November, followed by a Taste Christmas event in Cockermouth on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 December.

More information is available at https://visitallerdale.co.uk/taste-cumbria-home/

Storm Ashley

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for strong winds for the Cumberland area, on Sunday 20 October. 

Keep up with the latest on the Met Office website, and for details on how to report a power cut go to the Electricity North West website.  

Fostering is…Everything

Fostering can mean everything to those involved. That is the message of Cumbria Fostering’s emotive new short film, created in collaboration with over 100 councils.

Launched on Thursday, it is the seventh film produced by a growing partnership of councils and children’s trusts to promote local authority fostering.

Elections update

Voters in Keswick ward and Wetheral ward went to the polls on 17 October to vote for their representative on Cumberland Council.  You can find the results of both elections on our website.  Workington Town Council election We also published a Notice of Election for the Workington Town Council seat of Stainburn. If you wish to stand for the election you have until 4pm on Friday 25 October to submit your application. Find out more on our website.

More community funding for Fells and Solway

A BOWLING club is a step nearer becoming solar-powered, thanks to Community Panel funding. The investment was one of several made by Fells and Solway Community Panel at their recent meeting: £750 was awarded to Dalston Parish Council towards a permanent beacon. It will be lit for celebrations and commemorations, including the village's annual festival. £5,000 was given to Port Carlisle Bowling Club towards solar panels and battery storage. This will help the financial stability of the club, and allow it to form a Community Renewable Group to demonstrate and promote solar energy use. £5,000 was awarded to Cumbria Addictions Advice and Solutions to train three staff in smoking and vaping cessation/prevention and deliver workshops in this to school children

You can find out more about our Community Panels on our website. 

Pension credit

Anyone over State Pension age could be able to claim Pension Credit to top up their income. It gives them extra money to help with their living costs if they are on a low income.  Please check eligibility by following this link https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit/eligibility or calling the Pension Credit claim line on 0800 99 1234. To find out more information go to: Citizens Advice, Age UK and Copeland Age and Advice Service.

Highways news

Road Improvement Works on A597 Workington Viaduct

We begin resurfacing works on the A597 Workington Viaduct starting Monday 28 October. These works form part of the council's ongoing efforts to improve the local road network.

The resurfacing will be carried out in three phases and is expected to last three weeks, weather permitting. Work will take place Monday to Friday, from 7.00am to 7.00pm, with no weekend work planned.

The council confirm that the road will be made safe and reopened to the public on weekends.

Read more on our website. 

A5086 in Frizington

Due to unforeseen circumstances, some additional works will need to take place on Sunday 20 October, as the council continue improving this important route. Details are provided below:

• Sunday 20 October to Monday 21 October:
  A full road closure will be in place from Church Street to the Frizington Household Waste Recycling Centre – HWRC (the tip).
   
• Tuesday 22 October to Thursday 24 October:
  Two-way traffic lights will be in place at various location on Frizington road, from Church Street to Kenmare Tyres.
   
• Friday 25 October:
  A nighttime road closure will be in place from Church Street to Kenmare tyres. Access for residents will be maintained when safe to do so.

Read more on our website.

Resurfacing works on A6071 in Brampton

We will begin essential resurfacing works on the A6071 in Brampton. 

The works are scheduled to start on Sunday 20 October 2024, until Friday 25 October. The work will take place daily from 7am to 6pm, weather permitting.

During this time, the A6071 will be closed from The Sands (in Brampton), on the Newcastle Road, to the A69 junction for the entire duration.  A clearly marked diversion route will be in place, and all road users are advised to follow the signage and plan their journeys accordingly.

Read more on our website.

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