The new base for HM Coroner’s Service for Cumbria has been officially opened.
The modern and fit-for-purpose accommodation at Allerdale House in Workington was officially opened by Chief Coroner for England and Wales, Her Honour Judge Alexia Durran during a ceremony on Friday 20 February.
The official opening event was attended by a number of local partner organisations who work closely with the Coroner’s service, the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Cumbria, the High Sherrif of Cumbria, and representatives from other coronial services in the north of England. During her address at the event, HH Judge Durran praised the new facilities and congratulated all those who’d supported their creation.
Picture shows members and staff of Cumberland and Westmorland & Furness Councils (back) with HM Senior Coroner for Cumbria Kirsty Gomersal (front, left) and HH Alexia Durran. Credit: Tom Kay Photographic.
Our latest video gives a glimpse into a typical day for our street scene team, tackling everything from litter picking and graffiti removal to cleaning bins, signs, and looking after our public areas whatever the weather.
They are a hardworking team who quietly make a big difference to our communities. Take a look at a typical day and the work they do.
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Report it online
You can report issues - such as fly tipping - to us online using our web forms.
Across the UK, reports of scamming methods in car parks are increasing. When paying for parking we ask all our customers to be vigilant. We will never:
- Display a QR code on any council payment terminal or notice board
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Place stickers on or over card readers
All parking payment apps should be downloaded via a trusted source such as the Apple App Store or Google Play.
While no such reports have been made about car parks in Cumberland, we ask that if you spot anything which appears unusual or suspicious then please let us know.
Help choose our next Member of Youth Parliament (MYP), with online voting opening at 8am on Saturday, 7 March.
Each candidate has shared a short manifesto explaining what they care about and what they hope to change.
What does an MYP do?
- Listen to what matters to young people in Cumberland
- Speak up for them at local meetings and national events
- Work with other young people to make positive changes
Voting closes on Sunday 15 March, and the winning candidate will be announced on Wednesday 18 March.
You can read the manifestos and find out more on the Cumberland Family Hubs website:
A grants scheme to help transform King Street in Whitehaven continues to be available.
Empty and dilapidated premises that cause an eyesore for the town centre have been identified as a key issue to tackle. The new Building Improvement Grants will support bringing vacant units back into use and improve the appearance of occupied properties.
The grants scheme is open to owners or businesses with properties on King Street. They can apply for a grant to help with the costs of improvements to their properties. For occupied properties owners or businesses can apply for a grant of 50% (up to a maximum of £5,000), for improvements to their shop fronts.
For vacant properties, grants of 50% (up to a maximum of £15,000) can be applied for, to improve the shop front and undertake internal works as well. The Cumberland Council grants are funded from Sellafield’s Social Impact Investment Fund.
Applications will close on 17 March. Anyone interested in applying for a grant is asked to send their contact details and property address to highstreetgrants@cumberland.gov.uk
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 Taste Cumbria food festivals brought around £6 million into the Cumberland economy last year, and plans for the 2026 programme are already underway.
The flagship Cockermouth festival led the way with £2.1 million generated in 2025, while Maryport’s Taste of the Sea event continued its rapid rise, bringing in almost £2 million - a 29% increase on 2024 and more than double its 2023 impact.
The long‑running Taste Cumbria Christmas festival also remains a major draw, attracting around 10,000 visitors and contributing nearly £1 million.
Carlisle’s newest event is growing fast too, with its 2025 economic impact reaching £406,025, triple the previous year.
These events are organised by Cumberland Council and the dates have just been released for the 2026 events.
Photo Credit: Tom Kay Photographic
We have another opportunity for someone to steer change through the Pride in Place programme. Could it be you?
£20m will be invested in Raffles and Morton over the next ten years, and that investment will be led by the community, through a Neighbourhood Board.
As voluntary chairperson, you will:
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be a champion for the programme
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convene and lead the Neighbourhood Board
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work closely with council officers, the MP and others
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champion community engagement
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ensure delivery of outcomes
This is a special chance to represent your community and shape the future.
The role is part-time and flexible, requiring around eight to 10 hours per month. Reasonable expenses will be reimbursed.
The closing date is Friday, 20 March.
We are urging members of the public to keep away from a section of the Oldside site in Workington as new fencing begins to be put in place ahead of work to clear the land for future development.
From Monday 9 March, a 10-acre area of the site will be fenced off and therefore no longer accessible to the public. The area to be fenced off encompasses the south of the site, closest to Port of Workington, and bordering the main private access road through Oldside. The private access road will remain available for those who have permission to use it.
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Successful Going for Growth event showcases Cumbria
More than 40 Cumbrian organisations showcased all the exciting opportunities the region has to offer at a packed economic showcase event at the Houses of Parliament this week.
More than 110 people attended Cumbria’s Going for Growth Showcase, held on Wednesday 4 March.
Political leaders, investors and industry representatives gathered together at the event that was designed to unlock the county’s next chapter of growth.
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Millom’s New Leisure Centre set to transform community health and wellbeing
Health leaders have met to discuss how a new, state-of-the-art leisure facility in Millom could transform community wellbeing across the area.
The new centre, currently under construction as part of Millom Town Deal’s Activating Community Health project, is being delivered by Cumberland Council.
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Adoption Cumbria Encourages LGBTQ+ Community to Consider Adoption During National Awareness Week
Adoption Cumbria is proudly taking part in LGBTQ+ Adoption & Fostering Week 2026, calling on LGBTQ+ individuals and couples across the county to consider whether they could offer a safe, stable and loving home to a child who needs one.
On Our Doorstep Art Buffet event will showcase Cleator Moor
A team of Cumbrian professional artists are serving up a tasty ‘Art Buffet’ and calling on the Cleator Moor community to come along and make their mark.
On Our Doorstep will see two days of art and craft activities, along with a free buffet, on Saturday 14 March from 1pm to 5pm and Sunday 15 March from 12pm to 4pm at the Crossfield Community Centre, Crossfield Road, Cleator Moor.
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Cumberland Go delivers new hospital bus link
Cumberland Council has launched a major upgrade to public transport across the area through its Cumberland Go improvement programme, including a new and enhanced 600 hospital route connecting Carlisle - Cumberland Infirmary – Wigton – Cockermouth – Whitehaven – West Cumberland Hospital, seven‑day‑a‑week.
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99% of Cumberland families offered one of their preferred secondary schools
We have been able to confirm that 99% of parents and carers have been offered a place at one of their preferred secondary schools for children starting in September 2026.
Of the 2,853 applicants living in Cumberland who applied by the deadline, 2,724 have secured a place at their first preference school – meaning, more than 95% have been offered their first-choice secondary school. Where families used all three preferences, 99% received an offer at their first, second or third choice.
Road Improvements in Cockermouth
There are a number of current and upcoming road improvements on Gote Brow, Station Road and Lorton Street in Cockermouth.
Essential Resurfacing Works on B5299: Welton
We began essential carriageway resurfacing on the B5299 Welton starting Monday 2 March. The works are expected to last for up to three weeks, subject to weather and site conditions.
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