All schoolchildren aged up to 16 years old from the Cumberland area will be able to go for a swim in a choice of five indoor pools for only 10p over the Easter school holidays (30 March - 10 April).
The discounted scheme has been put in place by Cumberland Council, with the support of Everyone Active, GLL and Wigton Baths Trust.
The council scheme will offer discounted swimming opportunities throughout the two weeks.
It will be available at the following leisure sites at allocated times during the Easter school holidays:
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The Sands Centre (Carlisle): Weekdays (except bank holidays), 10am - 10.50am.
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Cockermouth Leisure Centre: Weekdays, 1pm - 1.50pm.
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Workington Leisure Centre: Monday 30 March and Wednesday 1 - Friday 3 April, 10am - 10.50am. Tuesday 31 March, 1pm - 1.50pm. Monday 6 - Friday 10 April, 10am - 10.50am.
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Copeland Pool and Fitness Centre (Whitehaven): Weekdays (except Wednesday 1 and 8 April) 1pm - 1.50pm.
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Wigton Baths: Monday 30 March, 3pm - 4pm. Tuesday 31 March and 7 April, 11.30am - 12.30pm and 3.45pm - 4.45pm. Wednesday 1 April and Wednesday 8 April, 3.15pm - 4.15pm. Thursday 2 and Thursday 9 April, 3pm -4pm. Friday 10 April, 11am - 12pm.
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Families across Cumberland can enjoy free Easter holiday activities at local Family Hubs. Sessions include creative play, crafts and fun activities designed to help children learn, socialise and enjoy time together during the school holidays. Activities are welcoming, friendly and run by experienced teams who support families all year round.
Places are free but booking is required, and sessions are available in different locations across Cumberland.
Join The Beacon Museum in Whitehaven for a trip back in time with new exhibition; I Grew Up 90's, a vibrant and immersive exhibition celebrating one of Britain’s most iconic decades.
Opening in the Harbour Gallery on 28 March and running until 21 June 2026, the exhibition showcases more than 200 original objects and artworks that defined the era for a generation.
Curated by collector and cultural commentator Matt Fox, I Grew Up 90's offers a unique look at Nineties Britain through the lens of youth culture. From Britpop and Cool Britannia to the rise of global pop icons, visitors will rediscover the toys, video games, fashion, food, films and unforgettable music that shaped the decade.
Revisit the days of Britpop and Cool Britannia, and discover the cultural treasures that 90s youth held dear. From the Spice Girls to Lara Croft, Power Rangers to Pokemon, Trainspotting to Teletubbies.
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Cumbria Combined Authority (CCA) held its inaugural meeting on Wednesday 18 March marking a major milestone for Cumbria’s future.
The meeting took place at Redhills, Penrith, bringing together members from across the county to formally establish the authority’s first leadership team and begin shaping priorities for economic growth, transport, skills, housing, and long‑term investment.
For the first time, the meeting was also live‑streamed, with a full recording available at www.cumbria-ca.gov.uk. This reflects CCA’s commitment to transparency and public engagement from day one.
During the meeting, Cllr Mark Fryer was elected as the first Chair of Cumbria Combined Authority, with Cllr Jonathan Brook appointed Vice Chair. In addition, John Barradell was formally appointed as the authority’s Interim Chief Executive.
We will be joining the West Cumbria Rivers Trust for the Great British Spring Clean at Mirehouse, Whitehaven on Tuesday 24 March from 12pm to 3pm.
We will be helping to spruce up the beautiful green spaces along the cycle track, making the most of this well‑used community area. If you’re able to join us, we’d love to see you there.
Meet at the Mirehouse Community Centre, 19 Seathwaite Avenue, Whitehaven, CA28 9SW.
Use What 3 Words? Then use: bowhead.tripods.kiosk to find the location.
If you join us late, take a walk along the cycle track & find us.
Join us to help make this space beautiful for everyone.
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Clearing away litter...
Our street cleaning team have been out and about this week, and will be next week too, clearing litter on the grass verges across Carlisle. These areas have been identified as litter hotspots, and we’re committed to making a visible difference.
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... tackling dog fouling...
Our Environmental Crime Team have also been out on Lowca Line carrying out a dog‑fouling patrol.
They cleared away multiple bags that had been left on the ground or hung from trees.
Dog fouling isn’t just unpleasant - it’s illegal. Please do the right thing and pick up after your pooch and bin it responsibly.
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...and man fined for abandoning car
We have also successfully prosecuted an individual for abandoning a vehicle, resulting in fines and costs totalling £1,700.
If you spot an environmental crime, please report it via our website.
Residents across Millom are being invited to help name the town’s brand-new leisure facility.
A public vote opened on Monday 16 March to decide what the landmark centre, which is set to open later this year as part of Millom Town Deal’s flagship Activating Community Health project, will be called.
Three potential names have been shortlisted, each capturing a different aspect of the facility’s identity:
- The Salthouse Centre
- Millom Sports Village
- Millom Leisure Centre
Residents are encouraged to cast their vote and help shape the new centre’s identity.
The inclusive public vote will run for two weeks, between Monday, 16 March and Friday, 27 March giving everyone in the community time to have their say.
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Online poll: click on the online consultation
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Paper voting: Collect a paper voting slip and post it in the voting box at Millom Library in Salthouse Road and Story Contracting Project Office in Market Square or Londis in Haverigg.
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School voting: Pupils at Millom School and the five local primary schools can select their preferred name using paper voting slips and post it in a voting box available in each school
Once the voting closes, all votes will be counted with the winning name to be announced publicly in the coming weeks.
Whitehaven residents and businesses are once again being given the opportunity to have their say on how they think the town should grow and thrive in the future.
Cumberland Council has organised another public drop-in event on Tuesday 24 March 2026 between 2pm and 7pm at the Civic Hall, Whitehaven. The event is open to all.
Following on from the event last year Cumberland Council is now in a position to share a new vision for the town and the set of principles that will underpin the new plan and the future development of the town, these include:
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Celebrating heritage and waterfront identity
- Rebalance movement to put people first
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Activate the harbour and town centre
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Define Whitehaven’s identity as a coastal destination
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Support Employment, Learning and Sustainable Living
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Enhance Public Realm and Green Infrastructure
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A new milestone was met for the Carlisle Southern Link Road this week, with the installation of two steel sculptures.
Crafted by local artist Ellie Barden of Grace Forge, the installations at the new Durdar and Brisco roundabouts serve as a strong visual indicator that the major infrastructure project is taking definitive shape.
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Hundreds of colourful creations have been made at the On Our Doorstep Art Buffet in Cleator Moor, celebrating local community life through art.
Held at Crossfield Community Centre, the event focused on wellbeing, recognising that taking part in creative activity can support mental health and bring people together.
The artworks will now be curated into an exhibition, due to go on display at a public venue this summer.
The On Our Doorstep project is led by Cumberland Council, with funding from the Sellafield Social Impact Fund.
Photo credit: Anne Waggot
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Staying on top of your child’s vaccinations helps protect them from serious diseases.
Our new video walks parents and carers through the benefits of routine immunisation and where to get further information.
Community partners came together recently to plant 200 new trees at Hammond’s Pond.
Thanks to the fantastic support of Upperby Primary School, Newman School, Friends of Hammond’s Pond, The Model Engineers, Riverside, Police Community Support Officers, Eden Valley Hospice, The Rock Youth Project and Stomping Ground, the total number of newly planted trees has now reached 300.
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We have received reports of residents receiving unexpected phone calls offering to conduct Government Sponsored safety improvement works to their homes.
Such callers may also offer maintenance plans and request a home visit during the call.
Please do not agree to a home visit, improvement works or make payments over the phone to cold callers.
Our advice is to:
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Say no to cold calling
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NEVER agree to works or give out financial/personal information to a cold caller
Cold calling can be reported to us via the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133 or visit www.adviceguide.org.uk
Night-time road closure for resurfacing works on Scotby Road
We will be carrying out carriageway resurfacing works on Scotby Road in Scotby, to help maintain the condition and safety of the local highway network.
The works are due to begin on Monday 23 March 2026 and will take place over five nights, subject to weather and site conditions.
Resurfacing works on Hespek Raise, Carlisle
We will also be carrying out carriageway resurfacing works on Hespek Raise in Carlisle to help maintain the condition and safety of the local road network.
The works are scheduled to begin on Monday 23 March 2026 and will take place over three days, subject to weather and site conditions.
Improving the pedestrian crossing on King Street, Wigton
Our teams will also be carrying out planned highway improvement works on King Street, Wigton, to repair and improve the pedestrian crossing.
The works are scheduled to begin on Monday 23 March 2026 and are expected to take five days, subject to weather and site conditions. Construction will take place between 8am and 4pm each day.
Resurfacing Works on B5300 Allonby
Resurfacing on the B5300 in Allonby begins on Monday 23 March. These works are part of our ongoing commitment to maintain and improve the local highway network.
Wasdale Hall cattle grid to undergo scheduled repairs
Scheduled repair works to the side wall of the Wasdale Hall cattle grid will be carried out between Monday 23 March and Wednesday 25 March.
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