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Call for views from children living near Maryport
We want to hear from young people who live near Maryport.
Those aged 10 - 16 are being asked to attend an event to share what activities, clubs or services they would like to see in their area.
The Lakes to Sea Community Panel is hosting the event at Crosscanonby Community Centre from 10am until noon on Saturday, 8 March.
There will be free drinks and snacks, some fun activities and a chance for young people to say what sort of projects they would like to see funded.
This Lakes to Sea panel event will particularly focus on what services are needed in the villages of Birkby, Crosby, Crosscanonby and Gilcrux.
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Update from our ceremonies team
Did you or someone you know say “YES” on Valentine's Day?
Our ceremonies team is here to help people say “I do” and plan their perfect day.
Bookings are now being taken for weddings and civil partnerships the rest of this year right through to 2027.
You can also meet their lovely team at the following wedding fayres:
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Sunday 23 February: Cumbria’s Premier Wedding Show, Carlisle Racecourse
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Also in this week's edition:
Families and local partners gathered at the Family Hub on the Harbour, Whitehaven this week, for a fun-filled event to celebrate the launch of Hub2U - Cumberland’s new innovative mobile family and young person’s support service.
The colourful, specially designed bus, made possible through a strong partnership of local businesses and organisations, will travel across the Cumberland area to bring essential family support services closer to those who need them.
The launch event was a family-friendly celebration, with guests exploring the bus, finding out more about the services on offer, and meeting the team behind the project.
Hub2U is the latest expansion of Cumberland’s Family Hub network, designed to make services more accessible and flexible. Hub2U will provide:
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Support for families of all ages - from early years guidance to resources for teenagers and young adults.
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Themed sessions and targeted programmes - in schools and community locations, covering topics such as emotional well-being, healthy relationships, and staying safe.
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A partnership approach - bringing together multiple local agencies to provide holistic support for families.
The innovative mobile service has been made possible thanks to the generosity of local partners, including Stagecoach, who donated the bus and carried out a full refit to transform it into a fully functional Family Hub on wheels. Additional funding and design support have been provided by Sellafield’s Social Impact Programme, organisations within the Decommissioning Delivery Partnership (DDP), and Copeland Community Fund - all of whom share a commitment to strengthening families and communities across the region.
Hub2U will now begin its journey, visiting schools, community spaces, events and rural areas, ensuring that children, young people, and families can access the support they need – right where they are. Families who couldn’t attend the launch will have other opportunities to see Hub2U in action as it visits communities throughout the year.
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You still have time to take part in our Start with The Park consultation.
The survey looks at the improvements to Hammond’s Pond, Carlisle as part of a wider regeneration programme.
The survey is open until Monday 24 February and the responses will help shape the future of this important community space.
Have Your Say
This major regeneration project in Carlisle, supported by £2.6 million in government funding from the Carlisle Town Deal, marks the first phase of the Greenway - a green travel route designed to connect key settlements of St Cuthbert's Garden Village (SCGV) with the city centre and surrounding countryside.
The Start with The Park project aims to bring a wide range of improvements to Hammond’s Pond, including upgraded play areas, a brand-new skate park, new tree planting, and enhanced footways. It will also address existing drainage issues and improve connectivity to Eden Valley Hospice. Additionally, in collaboration with Active Cumbria, the project will develop active travel walking routes and provide wayfinding information to support health and well-being.
Carlisle College has stepped up as part of our Litter Champions campaign, helping to keep our streets clean and litter-free. This initiative provides volunteers with litter pickers, gloves, high-visibility vests, and refuse bags, along with safety guidance to support community clean-ups.
By working together, we’re not just tidying up - we’re fostering a culture of pride and responsibility. Local businesses are also encouraged to adopt nearby areas as part of their well-being initiatives, making a real difference in our shared spaces.
Our campaign includes organised litter picks, targeted clean-ups, and community action days.
Do you know a local group or business that might want to help? If so, please get in touch by emailing wasteos@cumberland.gov.uk to join the effort.
Let’s work together for a cleaner Cumberland!
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The town’s new leisure centre has taken a major step forward with planning permission secured and a construction contract awarded to Thomas Armstrong Ltd.
The new activity and leisure facility also known as Activating Community Health is one of four projects that make up the Millom Town Deal which secured £20.6m from the UK Government’s Town’s Fund alongside match funding. Additional funding has been provided for this project by the Copeland Community Fund (£1 million), the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (£3.1 million), and contributions from South Copeland GDF Community Partnership, CGP, Millom School, and Millom Town Council.
This is a huge milestone for Millom, bringing us closer to a modern, high-quality leisure and activity space that will benefit the entire community. Watch this space -exciting times ahead!
Are you a local leisure, health and well-being or sports provider? Would you like to find out more about our Activating Community Health project?
We’ll be holding a workshop on Thursday 27 February providing an update on the Activating Community Health project.
The approved plans for key public realm improvements at Carlisle Station’s Court Square signal a major milestone in the £27 million Carlisle Station Gateway project.
The initiative aims to enhance the station’s surroundings, making it more welcoming and accessible for residents and visitors.
Backed by £20 million from the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal, along with funding from Network Rail and Cumberland Council, the project includes:
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Public realm enhancements.
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Pedestrianisation of Court Square.
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Relocation of Lawson’s Monument.
Originally moved in 1936, Lawson’s drinking fountain will be returned to Court Square, restoring an important piece of Carlisle’s history.
Work is set to begin in autumn 2025, following the completion of other city improvements. Future plans for station parking at George Square will be considered in the spring.
The outdated wall-mounted LED lights will be replaced with sleek architectural lighting, enhancing the street’s appearance by highlighting upper-floor details.
To install this new system, overnight roadworks will take place from Sunday 2 March, for one week (starting from 8pm - 5am). Devonshire Street will be closed to vehicles during these hours, with a clearly marked diversion in place. Pedestrian access will be maintained.
This lighting upgrade is part of a £2.29 million investment from the Future High Street Fund and United Utilities Green Recovery Funding, which has already delivered wider pavements, new seating, cycle racks, and improved traffic flow.
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Local leaders, organisations, and community members recently came together at the North Cumberland Community Health and Wellbeing Conference at the Market Hall, Wigton.
Organised by Cumberland Council and CALC, the event featured inspiring discussions on social prescribing, rural crime, community-led action, and the role of councils in public health.
A huge thank you to all of our guest speakers, including Cllr Mark Fryer, David Allen, Colin Cox, James Baggley, Cllr Gillian Telford, and David Wilson, for their insights. Attendees also connected with incredible local organisations like Active Cumbria, Age UK North Cumbria, Andy’s Man Club, Food Cumberland, Growing Well, RABI, Rural Wheels, Take Charge, Watchtree Nature Reserve and more.
A South Cumberland Health and Wellbeing Conference is planned for March, offering another great opportunity for CALC members to connect and collaborate. Stay tuned for details!
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Multi-million pound plans that will result in substantial regeneration improvements in the Cumberland area were all approved yesterday (Wednesday, 19 February 2025).
Plans for areas including Carlisle, Millom and Workington were all given the go-ahead at Cumberland Council’s Planning Committee. These included:
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Listed building consent for internal improvements at Carlisle Market Hall. This includes the potential removal of two clusters of market stalls to form an open space seating area. Cumberland Council is currently progressing the scheme and working alongside the new leaseholders of the site, Bearmont Group.
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Borderlands funded plans for Carlisle Station Gateway. This includes a new public car park and square to the south of Carlisle station, at Court Square. The development is a key part of the £27 million Carlisle Station Gateway project, which aims to enhance the station and create a more welcoming environment for both residents and visitors.
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Devonshire Street, Carlisle improvements. Approval was granted for the removal of six existing wall-mounted lights (three on each side of Devonshire Street). The outdated LED lamp units, along with their associated cabling and junction boxes, will be replaced with sleek, modern architectural lighting. The new system will feature external LED lighting bars designed to highlight the upper floors of the buildings, adding a striking visual element to the street's appearance.
The Cumberland Council regeneration schemes have all been supported by UK Government funding and other than the Market Hall plans - which are still under discussion - are under development.
Leaders of Cumberland Council have agreed budget proposals for 2025/26 which will deliver millions of pounds of investment into the area and improve key services for the public.
The Council’s Executive agreed to the proposals at their meeting in Whitehaven earlier this week. These will now be considered by the full Council in March.
Members agreed a revenue budget of over £700m of which the net budget of £358m is paid for through council tax, business rates and government grants. This all pays for the day-to-day delivery of services on which the people of Cumberland rely.
Central to the plans is £298m of capital investment. This includes money to deliver improvements to schools, roads, children’s services, care homes and town regeneration projects for communities across Cumberland.
We’re committed to keeping Cumberland clean and safe, and our latest successful prosecution proves it.
A resident was fined £1,002 after being caught on CCTV dumping a mattress on Eastern Way, Carlisle. This covers both the fine and the cost of proper disposal.
Fly-tipping is more than just an eyesore - it harms the environment, attracts vermin, and creates hazards for our community. We all have a role to play in keeping our area beautiful, and we want to thank everyone who disposes of waste responsibly.
The Government launched a public consultation on Monday (17 February) in areas chosen for the Devolution Priority Programme (DPP).
The consultation is seeking views on a proposal to form a Mayoral Combined Authority for the local government areas of Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness.
The cut-off date for the consultation is 11:59pm on 13 April 2025.
A consultation into ward boundaries in the Cumberland Council area closes next week.
The consultation is being run by the Local Government Boundary Commission and looks at potential new ward boundaries.
The commission wants people’s views on where they live, to help make sure that the new wards reflect the size and shape of local communities.
An electoral review is being carried out to make sure that each local councillor represents about the same number of electors, and that the wards they represent reflect community identities.
The commission has decided that the number of councillors in Cumberland Council should be 55. This is a change from the current council, which has 46.
There are some key deadlines next week ahead of the election of two councillors for Ennerdale and Kinniside Parish Council which will take place on Thursday 13 March 2025.
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Applications, amendments or cancellations of postal votes must reach the Electoral Registration Officer by 5pm on Wednesday 26 February 2025.
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Applications to vote by proxy at this election must reach the Electoral Registration Officer by 5pm on Wednesday 5 March 2025.
- Applications to vote by emergency proxy at this election must reach the Electoral Registration Officer by 5pm on Thursday 13 March 2025
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If you live in Cumberland and are over 18, we’re here to help you kick the habit for good!
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Join Team Cumberland
Find out more about working at Cumberland Council and if there is a job for you on our dedicated careers website.
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