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Bank holiday update
On the build-up to the bank holiday on Monday 25 August, we are reminding residents how to access our services.
Some offices - including Carlisle’s Civic Centre and Cumbria House, Allerdale House in Workington, and Market Hall in Whitehaven - are closed on Monday 25 August. Online services are available at www.cumberland.gov.uk
The main customer number (0300 373 3730) closed at 4.30pm on Friday 22 August and will reopen following the bank holiday on Tuesday 26 August at 9am. There is a recorded message advising of the closure period and out of hours contact numbers for Highways, Homelessness, and Adults and Children’s Social Care, should anyone be calling in an emergency.
Household waste and recycling collections
There will be no changes to refuse and recycling collections for those in other areas. If you have a scheduled collection on Monday 25 August, it will take place as normal.
Household Waste Recycling Centres will be open as usual.
The permit helpline is closed on bank holidays and weekends.
The Highways Hotline (0300 373 3736) will be unavailable on Monday 25 August.
Calls to this number will be diverted to an emergency line where a Duty Manager who will ensure urgent matters are addressed.
Residents can continue to report issues such as potholes, road damage, flooding, drainage, traffic lights, streetlights, pedestrian crossings, trees, vegetation, bollards, manhole covers, and more at: https://www.cumberland.gov.uk/parking-roads-and-transport/streets-roads-and-pavements
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Also in this week's edition:
Tullie, Carlisle
This weekend brings a series of dinosaur-themed events for visitors at Tullie to enjoy.
The Dinosaur Revolution exhibition will host their Sunday Relaxed Openings on Sunday 24 August from 11am to 12pm. During this hour, capacity is reduced, and the animatronic dinosaurs are switched off, creating a calmer environment. Normal admission charges apply, with booking recommended. Visitors with a DinoPass or children under four can select the appropriate option on the ticketing page. For advice on sensory aspects of the exhibition, the team is happy to help.
On Monday 25 August, Dino Tales offers interactive storytelling at 11am and 2pm. Included with adult admission, these sessions add a Jurassic twist to traditional tales.
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The Beacon, Whitehaven
The Beacon hosts a mix of playful and creative activities for families.
The Giant Soft Bricks Playland offers an indoor playground for children aged six months to eight years, filled with interactive zones and thousands of giant foam bricks. From climbing castles and exploring rainbow caves to toy cars, trampolines and imaginative building, there’s plenty to keep young visitors busy.
On Monday 25 August, the Bubble Magic Workshop takes place in the Beacon Portal at 11am, 1pm and 3pm. Children can step inside a giant bubble and learn simple balloon-modelling tricks in these lively sessions.
Please note that both adults and children need tickets for the workshop. Museum admission is not included, so visitors wishing to explore the museum before or after should purchase a ticket or bring a valid annual pass. As places are limited, early booking is recommended.
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Senhouse Museum, Maryport
The Senhouse Museum in Maryport invites visitors to step back 2,000 years and experience life on the edge of the Roman Empire.
Meet the Ancient Britons and find out what food and daily life were like when West Cumbria was under Roman occupation. Museum admission applies.
Visitors can also join one of the museum’s knowledgeable volunteers for a guided tour of the Roman fort at Maryport. These tours bring to life the stories of the Romans in West Cumbria and highlight the fort’s role at the western frontier of Hadrian’s Wall, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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Wordsworth House and Garden, Cockermouth
At Wordsworth House and Garden in Cockermouth, families can enjoy a bank holiday full of outdoor fun and discovery.
The gardens are alive with beetles, bugs and butterflies, and visitors are invited to help spot them all. With six different types of bumblebee living in the garden, there’s plenty to find. Young explorers can pick up a magnifying glass, bug pot and counters to help with their hunt, then record their discoveries on the daily board. And don’t forget to say hello to Fletch, the garden’s friendly perchcrow.
The walled garden also makes a perfect setting for a teddy bears’ picnic. Families are welcome to bring along a favourite toy and enjoy time together in nature. Picnic blankets, baskets and tea sets are provided, while children’s picnic sets can be borrowed from the welcome area. Just bring your own snacks, choose your spot, and enjoy a picnic whenever the weather allows.
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Make a splash!
A reminder that all schoolchildren aged up to 16 years old from the Cumberland area are able to go for a swim in a choice of five indoor pools for only 10p over the school summer holidays.
The discounted scheme is available until Sunday 31 August and has been put in place by Cumberland Council, with the support of GLL and Wigton Baths Trust.
Our scheme offers discounted swimming opportunities throughout the week, including weekends (at some of the venues).
It is available at the following leisure sites at allocated times during the school summer holidays:
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Cockermouth Leisure Centre: Monday to Friday, 1pm - 1.50pm each day.
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Copeland Pool and Fitness Centre (Whitehaven): Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 1pm - 1.50pm. Saturday: 12pm - 12.50pm. Sunday: 10am - 10.50am.
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The Sands Centre (Carlisle) - between 21 July and Wednesday 3 September. Monday to Friday and Sunday: 10am - 10.50am.
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Wigton Baths: Monday: 11am - 12pm and 3pm - 4pm. Tuesday: 11.15am - 12.15pm and 4.15pm - 5.15pm. Wednesday: 11.30am - 12.30pm. Thursday: 11am - 1pm.
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Workington Leisure Centre: week commencing 21 July, Monday to Saturday: 11am - 11.50am. From week commencing 28 July until 31 August Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday:11am - 11.50am.
The Holiday Activities and Food programme also provides children who are in receipt of benefits related Free School Meals up to 16 fully funded days, but paid places may also be available with some providers.
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No parking stress. No traffic jams. Just £3 a bus ride.
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Travel safe, simple, and affordable this summer with the single fare cap.
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Wasdale Explorer – FREE on weekends until 21 September
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Buttermere Shuttle – weekends until end of August, small fare
Whether it’s a day in the Lakes, a festival, or just getting from A to B, let the bus be your summer ride.
Work has now started on the new food court area in The Market Hall in Carlisle.
The project is led by Bearmont Group (the building's leaseholders) in partnership with the council (the owners of the building), who are funding the project and supporting it as part of its city-centre regeneration strategy. Cubby Construction are managing the build and Knightsbridge House Interiors are leading the design and fit-out.
It is expected to be completed in autumn 2025.
Work includes new flooring, improved lighting, upgraded facilities, and the demolition of existing stalls to create a refreshed, flexible open-plan layout designed to make the most of the building’s Victorian architecture.
The open-air event is being held in Carlisle city centre until Monday 25 August.
Organised by Market Place Europe, the award-winning International Market is supported by Cumberland Council, shoppers will be spoilt for choice with a huge mix of authentic continental treats in the city centre. Stalls are open between:
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Friday 22 August: 9am - 6pm.
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Saturday 23 August: 9am - 6pm.
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Sunday 24 August: 10am - 5pm.
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Bank Holiday Monday, 25 August: 10am - 5pm.
The market will be held outside the Old Town Hall in the newly improved city centre pedestrianised area. Funded by UK Government, the works are nearing completion. All works are expected to be finished by mid to late September.
An ancient Proclamation will be recited at the Market Cross on Saturday, 23 August at 10am. The Proclamation is a declaration of Carlisle’s rights to hold an annual Fair in August, originally granted to the citizens of the city in 1352 by Edward III.
A procession including The Mayor of Carlisle, Jeanette Whalen, the Chair of Cumberland Council, Cllr Andy Semple, Sword and Mace Bearers and other Civic dignitaries will make its way from Old Town Hall to the Market Cross in the city centre.
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Things may look a little quiet on the outside of The Old Bank, a Millom Town Deal project, but plenty has been happening behind the scenes.
Inside, the design for the lift shaft is now in place, ensuring the building will be accessible for everyone. The first fix plumbing is moving along well, setting us up nicely to begin the metal ceiling works next month. We’ve also introduced a new design for the beam and block flooring on the ground floor.
Externally, roofing works are progressing and, if all goes to plan, should be complete by the end of September. The old outer buildings have also been cleared, creating more space for visitors and improving access.
Looking ahead to next month, you’ll see some fresh updates as we move on to softwashing the building, painting the soffits and fascias, installing new guttering, and starting the first fix electrics.
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Great progress is being made at the Cleator Moor Activity Centre, a Cleator Moor Town Deal Project.
Inside the main building, key milestones have been reached - internal drainage work is complete, floors have been restored, and the full structural steel frame is now up. The roof is finished, including rooflights and an access hatch, and new UPVC windows are in place. First fix mechanical and electrical works, along with partition wall installations, are also moving along smoothly.
Outside, the construction of the Sustainable Drainage System pond and associated drainage is complete, and the area has been backfilled and seeded. Paving and kerbing near the Multi-Use Games Area and rear access are finished, with the running track and rear footpath also nearing completion. A bit more landscaping remains, but the transformation is taking shape.
Looking ahead, the focus will turn to installing the gas membrane, completing the internal slab works, and finishing the cladding and parapets. A final decision is also expected soon regarding the location of raised planters and boundary fencing in the COSC garden.
This project is part of our Healthy Town initiative. The wellbeing of residents in Cleator Moor was at the heart of the decision-making process when the Healthy Town project was developed. The ambitious scheme will provide the community with a modern, multi-purpose and inclusive sports facility at the Activity Centre.
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We recently saw the official opening of the new Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) and Play Park at Hammond’s Pond, Carlisle.
On Friday 8 August, the newly refurbished areas of the park were officially opened and celebrated by representatives from Cumberland Council and the Town Deal Board; Friends of Hammond’s Pond; and local community groups during a special community event.
Improvements included new fencing for improved safety, enhanced ball rebound, and reduced noise, along with a high-grip surface to minimise slips and a new cricket wicket. The children’s play park has been fully resurfaced with durable, wheelchair-accessible rubber wet-pour material, replacing the former bark surface for greater safety, easier maintenance, and a seamless connection with surrounding paths and green space—creating a safer, more inclusive environment for all.
Thursday 21 August was a big day for students across Cumberland, as months of hard work and revision came to a head with the release of this year’s GCSE results.
Pupils who sat their GCSEs this year were in year 6 when the first lockdown began and started secondary school shortly before schools closed to most pupils again in early 2021.
Cumberland’s results reflect the national picture, with a slight decline in the percentage of students achieving a grade 4 pass in both English and maths 58% and the percentage achieving a grade 5 pass in both is 37%. Nationally the percentage for grade 5 pass in both was 55%, and 70.5% for a grade 4 pass in both.
The results for disadvantaged students have improved significantly on the 2024 outcomes with almost 38% achieving a grade 4 in English and maths. This is also the case for disadvantaged pupils reaching grade 4 in English and maths separately and for students reaching grade 5 in both subjects.
More students achieved the top grade in maths English (Grade 7+) than last year with 14% reaching this standard. In English 14.3% reached the higher standard.
The proportion of students achieving at least a grade 4 in English is about the same as last year at 69.5% but in mathematics, there has been a slight fall to 65%. In English, the proportion of students achieving at least a grade 5 is 49.4% and in maths it is 46% a rise of more than 1% on last year’s figure.
Results are subject to change as they enter a period of validation, with the final collective performance of Cumberland students available later this year.
On Wednesday 13 August, Lakes Vape Station Ltd, King Street, Whitehaven, was fined a total of £32,673 after pleading guilty to multiple offences relating to the illegal sale and unsafe storage of fireworks.
Following complaints, officers visited the shop and discovered 658 kilograms of fireworks in the premises - whose primary business is the sale of vapes. The investigation found:
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The business was not licensed by the local authority to store fireworks.
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Fireworks were improperly dispersed throughout the premises, including placement next to flammable materials, in open containers, and in areas freely accessible to the public.
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Fireworks banned many years ago were being offered for sale.
The court imposed a £20,000 fine, plus costs and a victim surcharge amounting to £12,673, bringing the total penalty to £32,673.
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Join Team Cumberland
See if there is a job for you at Cumberland Council on our jobs page. You can also find out more about life at the council on our dedicated careers page.
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