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Also in this week's edition:
 After a thrilling 2-1 comeback win over Italy in the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 semi-final, England are heading to the final this Sunday, 27th July.
To mark the occasion, licensing hours in England and Wales will be extended by 2 hours for certain venues - allowing places normally open until 11pm to stay open until 1am.
This extension applies only to venues already licensed to serve alcohol until 11pm, and does not apply to takeaway alcohol, entertainment, or food sales.
Whether you're out watching the match or celebrating the result, please stay safe, look out for one another, and plan your journey home. Let’s make it a night to remember for all the right reasons.
To kick off the weekend and to show our support for the England Women’s Football Team ahead of Sunday’s UEFA Women’s Euro Final, we’re proudly flying the St George’s flag outside several of our buildings!
We wish them the very best as they head into the final.
Let’s get behind the Lionesses - Come on England!
Big changes are taking shape at Millom Leisure Centre, as part of the Millom Town Deal.
The 3G pitch is now complete and already in use, alongside the new long jump facility. Drainage works on the running track are helping to improve conditions ahead of final landscaping this summer.
At the front of the site, demolition is complete, and excavation work has begun in the front car park.
Work on the former pool area has also resumed, and preparations are underway for the new leisure centre foundations and utility connections. Exciting changes are taking shape.
The facility is planned to open to the public in autumn 2026.
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 A new full-length, Sport England compliant, long jump facility has been installed at Millom School as part of the town’s wider regeneration project.
Linking in with the building of the Town Deal funded Community Leisure Centre, the main contractor - Thomas Armstrong - has relocated and installed a long jump facility for the benefit of the school and community.
The previous facility was moved for the leisure centre's construction, and the new one is now next to the Millom Community track.
The new long jump will be used by students during school hours and be open to the community outside of school times in line with the operating arrangements for the Millom Community Track.
In celebration, Millom Striders Running Club hosted a special coaching session for juniors aged 8 - 16 years old, led by English Athletics National Jump Coach, Carl Foster.
Social value refers to the additional positive effects a project contributes to a community. These may include benefits such as job creation, enhancing community engagement, or offering opportunities for education and skills development, recreation and health and wellbeing.
In the case of Millom and the long jump, the contractor has provided the long jump at no cost, aiming to support the positive outcomes of the Activating Health Project.
Photo credit: Stuart Walker
We've invested in a military trail for Silloth - and some other fantastic community projects too.
Read about the Fells and Solway Community Panel’s latest investments here:
Cumberland Council’s Food Partnership, in collaboration with Futureproof Cumbria, is inviting applications for funding to help local groups host Harvest Fest events during autumn 2025 - celebrating the season’s end with food, community and climate-friendly choices.
Grants of up to £150 per project are available for constituted groups planning events that promote local food, healthy eating, and low-waste, plastic-free celebrations.
Menus might include locally sourced meat, seasonal vegetable dishes, and other low-carbon, climate-conscious options - all served without single-use plastics.
The initiative supports the aims of the Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership, which is working to reduce carbon emissions across the region.
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Our programme of open-air theatre events continues in Carlisle this summer with a performance of Hamlet by The Pantaloons theatre company.
This performance will be held at Talkin Tarn Country Park, Brampton, CA8 1HN on Thursday 31 July and begins at 7pm.
This performance is suitable for all ages. Please bring along seating and a picnic as the events will be held on the hard standing on the waterfront. The tearoom kiosk will be open serving a selection of tasty treats.
Tickets cost £15 per adult and £9 per child. Buy them online from The Pantaloons website. Tickets are also available at the venue, on the night of the performance.
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The new Community Diagnostic Centre in Workington has opened its doors to its first patients. The new centre is set to improve access to a range of diagnostic tests, bringing healthcare closer to home.
North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust revealed plans for the project last year with the finished build being handed over by building contractor GRAHAM earlier this month.
Teams have been busy behind the scenes to get the building operational and ready to welcome patients and staff to the state-of-the-art centre. Services include MRI, CT, X-Ray, Ultrasound, Echocardiogram and Lung Function Testing.
Thousands of people can now receive these tests away from busy hospital sites.
The CDC is located in the heart of Workington town centre, making it easily accessible and works to support health inequalities and giving local people much easier access outside of hospital settings.
Patients will be referred to the CDC for tests by their GP or specialists and will focus on planned care, which will free up diagnostic testing at the Cumberland Infirmary and West Cumberland Hospital sites for more urgent care.
A project, designed to unite communities across Cumberland, through the power of art, self-expression, and collective imagination is set to get underway.
Cumberland Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC) has announced upcoming dates for their community project, The Art of Wellbeing, in partnership with Rosehill Theatre.
Led by acclaimed artist Stefan Escreet, it will offer a series of free, interactive art workshops that invite participants to explore themes of health, wellbeing, and community.
The workshops are free to attend, and everyone is welcome to participate - no prior art experience required. For more information or to register, please visit: cumberland.hdrc | Instagram, Facebook | Linktree
Workshop Dates:
- Monday 4 August - Harraby Community Centre, Harraby, 4pm - 6pm
- Monday 11 August - St Bees Parish Hall, St Bees, 6pm - 8pm
- Thursday 14 August - The Closet, Carlisle, 3pm - 5pm
- Wednesday 3 September - Aspatria Library, Aspatria, 12pm - 2pm
- Friday 5 September - Millom Library, Millom, 11.30am - 2.30pm
- Wednesday 10 September, Walkmill Woods, Whitehaven, 4pm - 8pm
- Thursday 11 September, Florence Mine, Egremont, 1pm - 2.30pm
- Thursday 11 September, Soundwave, Whitehaven, 3pm - 5pm
- Friday 12 September, Kirkgate Arts Centre, Cockermouth, 5pm - 7pm
- Wednesday 17 September, Yam Frae Yam, Gosforth, 5pm - 7pm
- Friday 19 September: Carnegie, Workington, 5pm - 7pm
- Friday 26 September: Settlement, Maryport, 5pm - 7pm
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Congratulations to Raise: Cumbria! They’ve been named Forest of the Year by England’s Community Forests.
This national recognition highlights Raise’s inclusive, community-led approach to woodland creation and its continued commitment to environmental and social impact across the region.
The announcement was made at this year’s England’s Community Forests conference in York.
Raise is one of 15 Community Forests across England working with a shared vision: to plant trees where they are most needed - near the towns, cities and communities that will benefit from them most - creating greener, healthier and more connected places for people and wildlife. Since 2022, they have supported planting over 330,000 trees.
We’ve recently given our backing to the RAISE Cumbria Community Forest Plan. It aims to create substantial new forest land in Cumbria and the National Park.
The Forest Plan is the first for the Cumbria Community Forest. It sets out the visions and goals over the next 25 years (2025-2050).
Find out more at Forest Plan | Raise: Cumbria Community Forest
We look forward to continuing our partnership with Raise to support their long-term vision to expand tree cover, restore habitats and increase access to woodland for all.
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 Click on the image above to view our update video.
We have approved plans to procure and commission a major expansion of local bus services - thanks to £3.5 million in Government funding through the Bus Services Improvement Plan (BSIP).
This exciting move means:
New routes connecting rural and coastal communities
More frequent services where demand is high
Better links to hospitals, jobs, and key destinations
Support for tourism and reduced car dependency
Just a few of the planned improvements include:
- Carlisle - Anthorn (including Sunday service!)
- Whitehaven - Ravenglass (new coastal route)
- Carlisle - Cockermouth (upgraded express link
- Cockermouth - Maryport (peak enhancements + new town service)
- Hadrian’s Wall route to boost tourism
- Whitehaven Town Loop with better town connectivity
...and many more!
This decision follows extensive public engagement to ensure the improvements meet real community needs.
These changes will help reduce emissions, promote healthier travel choices, and support access to work, education, and healthcare.
We are inviting residents to share their views on a proposal to extend the existing Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) to include three key locations in Carlisle: Rickerby Park, Botchergate, and the Sheepmount.
The PSPO aims to help tackle anti-social behaviour and improve public safety and enjoyment of shared spaces. It currently applies to several parts of the city and allows the Council and police to deal with a range of issues such as street drinking, noise, nuisance behaviour, unauthorised camping, and reckless use of vehicles or e-scooters in public areas.
The survey is quick to complete and open to anyone with an interest in the area. It asks for views on a range of activities and behaviours that could be addressed under the extended PSPO, including:
- Anti-social behaviour by individuals or groups
- Street drinking and public intoxication
- Unauthorised camping or overnight stays in public spaces
- Nuisance from loud music, revving engines or large gatherings in car parks
- Misuse of scooters, skateboards or vehicles in pedestrian areas
- Unregulated street performances or sales
The consultation is open now and will run until Tuesday 5 August 2025. To complete the survey, visit:
We’re gathering ideas to help shape a new Masterplan that will support Whitehaven’s future growth and regeneration.
Join us at a public drop-in consultation event and have your say!
Save this date in your diary:
📅Tuesday 5 August 2025
🕑2pm - 7pm
📍United Reform Church, James Street, Whitehaven, CA28 7HZ
All welcome.
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