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Also in this week's edition:
Great progress is being made! A large part of the area has now been completed in time for the International Markets held over the weekend.
• Porphyry paving is almost finished
• Cathedral access has been resurfaced
• Feature benches and handrailing are now in place
• Lighting installed, with testing and commissioning planned for mid-September
• Works will start this next week to remove the temporary tarmac between the war memorial and compound as they work their way out the site
As a reminder, our contractor, Eric Wright Ltd, will be installing lighting points along Castle Street, St Albans Row, and St Cuthberts Lane: featuring lit columns, glass pod benching, under-bench lighting, and illuminated handrails.
• Thursday 28 August – Lighting testing on St Cuthberts Lane only
• Wednesday 10 September – Lighting commissioning (night works only)
Things are really starting to take shape — thank you for your patience as we move closer to the final result!
Following the withdrawal of Ellenvale Coaches’ 68 service, from Monday 1 September there will be a temporary replacement service, operated by Reay’s Coaches.
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Dates: Monday 1 September – Friday 31 October 2025
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Maryport Cockermouth (via Dearham, Great Broughton, Little Broughton)
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Please note: this service does not serve Broughton Moor (this is already covered by the 60).
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Maryport to Cockermouth: 09:30 | 12:30 | 13:30
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Cockermouth to Maryport: 10:00 | 13:00 | 14:00
Fares: £3 single £5 return
ENCTS / NoWcard bus passes accepted.
Find out more about bus services in Cumberland on our website.
The Baton of Hope, a powerful UK-wide campaign to raise awareness of suicide and encourage life-saving conversations around mental health, will visit Cumbria on Sunday, 7 September.
Founded by Mike McCarthy and Steve Phillip after the loss of their sons to suicide, the baton will travel along the A66 from west Cumbria, stopping at Penrith before continuing to Carlisle later that day.
Both Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council are supporting the event as part of ongoing efforts to raise awareness of suicide prevention and reduce the stigma around mental health.
Teams from both Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council alongside NHS colleagues are inviting families across Cumbria to come and learn more about protecting children from childhood diseases and the importance of vaccination.
As part of the “Be Wise, Immunise” campaign, teams will be present at a series of community events and shopping locations to provide trusted information, answer questions, and guide parents to local vaccination services.
Families will have the opportunity to meet health professionals in an informal setting, ask questions about the childhood vaccines, and get clear advice on how to keep children safe and protected.
Earlier this summer, a comprehensive survey and engagement programme regarding the future of Cumberland’s Library Service closed, with more than 1,500 residents providing feedback and numerous more through face-to-face engagement and workshops.
The team behind the programme are now preparing for the next stage of the process and an update has been released by Cllr Anne Quilter, the Vibrant and Healthy Places Portfolio Holder to provide information to residents and library members.
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Three property agents have been appointed to promote operator lease opportunities for two Millom Town Deal projects.
New operators are being sought for the exciting new regeneration sites in the town.
Corrie and Co, Home and Finance, and Carigiet Cowen have been appointed to help find operators for:
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The Old Bank - Millom’s former NatWest Bank now with its new name “The Old Bank” is progressing well, marking another exciting milestone in the £29.3m Millom Town Deal programme.
Located at 4 Market Square, the building is currently undergoing sensitive refurbishment to bring it back into community use. When complete, The Old Bank will provide a vibrant space for local businesses, artists, and community groups, helping to support enterprise and improve access to arts and culture in Millom and Haverigg
The centre will include a café, offices spaces, business enterprise units, and exhibition and retail display areas, creating new opportunities for people to work, learn, and connect. The project is being delivered through the Town Deal’s Reactivating Heritage Buildings project and is designed to preserve the character of the building while delivering new uses that benefit the wider community.
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A new Visitor Centre and Café - a major part of the £10 million Iron Line project in Millom and Haverigg.
The new purpose-built facility, located at Hodbarrow Nature Reserve on the Duddon Estuary, is part of the UK Government funded Millom Town Deal programme.
Designed to eco-friendly standards and set in a stunning coastal location, the two-storey Visitors Centre includes a café with panoramic views, a multi-purpose group and education space, volunteer facilities, and customer toilets including changing places provision. It is served by a formal car park with electric vehicle charging.
The operator will manage the day-to-day running of the café and visitors centre under a lease agreement with Cumberland Council. The building is designed to be flexible and adaptable, with indoor seating for 70 covers and seasonal outdoor seating for 30 covers on a large balcony. The operator will also be responsible for the café and retail offer, with space to shape the group space and display areas to suit their vision.
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We’re inviting Carlisle and district residents to join us for an evening of discussion on community resilience during emergencies and beyond.
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Share your experiences of how communities come together.
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Tell us what support you need in future.
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Help shape how we can work with you when your community needs it most.
The event will be held on Thursday 4 September, between 6pm and 8.30pm at Carlisle Utd Foxy’s Lounge.
The event will include introductions, presentations, tabletop sessions, and plenty of time for conversation over tea and coffee.
Please note: this event is about resilience and community planning - not lobbying on specific flood issues.
We’d love to hear your feedback!
By completing our short survey, you’ll help us improve future activities for children and families in our community.
Plus, everyone who takes part will be entered into a prize draw to win a £50 High Street Voucher!
We know how important it is for older adults to feel safe and supported at home.
That’s why we’re piloting Ethel - a smart, easy-to-use device that connects your loved one with a friendly carer via video.
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Food and drink check-ins.
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Post-hospital recovery support.
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In reaction to the news this week from the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority group of government funding to develop specialised capabilities to enable the disposal of the UK’s civil plutonium inventory, Cllr Mark Fryer, Leader of Cumberland Council, said:
“We welcome this initial investment in additional research capability at Sellafield. We also recognise that there will need to be further investment in skills, education and training in Cumberland to ensure a suitably qualified workforce and supply chain is in place to support delivery of this major long term programme.”
"Work to immobilise plutonium will, of course, need to be carried out alongside other existing high priority legacy waste retrieval and hazard reduction programmes at the Sellafield site. We intend to work collaboratively with the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and Sellafield Ltd on all these nationally significant programmes and will look to ensure our local economy, infrastructure and community receives maximum value and benefit from them.”
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Organisations are being invited to bid to support a new Cumbria-wide scheme that will help people with complex needs get into employment.
Connect to Work is a new government-funded programme to break down barriers to employment.
Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council are collaborating through Enterprising Cumbria on the new initiative which is set to launch in January 2026.
The Cumbria Connect to Work Invitation to Tender (ITT) has now been published and is open for submissions. The procurement opportunity forms part of the shared commitment to increase employment and bolster economic inclusion across Cumbria.
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