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Also in this week's edition:
Last month, our Street Cleaning team carried out Carlisle’s annual verge litter pick - a major operation to keep local highways clean, safe and better for the environment.
Focusing on key litter hotspots across the city, the team achieved some impressive results:
- 94 miles of grass verges cleaned
- 1,500 black bags filled
- 3.4 tonnes of litter collected
- 6 car tyres removed
- 1.1 tonnes of fly‑tipping cleared
Thank you to everyone involved - and a reminder to residents and motorists to dispose of waste responsibly and help keep our roadsides clean.
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Homestays is a supported housing option for young people aged 16–21 who need a safe, stable place to live as they move towards independence. Across Cumbria, more young people need this kind of support than ever before - including those leaving care, at risk of homelessness, or separated from their families.
To meet this growing need, we are looking for more people who can offer a supportive home environment and practical guidance at a crucial stage in a young person’s life.
If you’re interested in Homestays but not sure where to start, join our online Homestays information session on Wednesday 29 April, from 12–1pm. To register for our event visit our event booking page
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The session is friendly, informal and with no obligation, and open to anyone who is curious. You’ll learn how Homestays works, the different ways you can get involved - including Homestays Outreach, where young people live independently - and hear about the real difference this support makes across Cumbria.
Homestays providers offer stability, encouragement and everyday support, helping young people build confidence and life skills as they move into adulthood. You don’t need previous fostering experience - just a caring approach and a willingness to support a young person at an important time. Homestays is flexible, fully supported and incredibly rewarding.
Food, drink, crafts and gifts, family fun and live music - it’s all going on at Taste Cumbria in Wigton on Saturday, 25 April.
From 10am to 5pm, everyone will be able to enjoy the free attractions right in the heart of the town, designed to boost the local economy and give visitors a great day out.
The Producers’ Market, hot food court, music stage, climbing wall and children’s rides will be located in Water Street car park, while the neighbouring Market Hall will host a craft market packed with local traders. There will be children’s entertainment from the fabulous Liam Moorhouse, and Wilmot’s Attractions will bring their climbing wall and fairground rides for young children. Live music will take place all day and there will be hot food and drink, and cold beers and cocktails, to enjoy in the picnic area.
...and view exciting plans for the town
Wigton residents are invited to find out more about exciting plans to transform the town, supported by £3 million from the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal.
- Taste Wigton: Saturday, 25 April
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Wigton Library drop‑in: Monday, 27 April, 2pm - 7pm
You’ll see the latest designs, chat with council officers, and learn more about proposals including:
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A new events space at Water Street Car Park
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Improvements to the King Street / Station Road junction
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Upgrades at Throstle Park – including natural play structures, leisure facilities and a new footbridge
Can’t make it? The plans will be on display at Wigton Library until 11 May.
Distington Walled Garden Spring Fete returns on Saturday 25 April 2026 from 10am to 4pm, with plenty to enjoy throughout the day.
Browse a range of artisan stalls, listen to a brass band and make the most of the garden setting.
The café will be open from 10am–2pm serving food and refreshments, with cakes and refreshments available again from 2pm–3pm. There’ll also be a retro drinks trolley on hand for those who fancy a tipple.
Visitors can take part in our Find Me card activity, spotting items from each stall as they go. Completed cards will be entered into a prize draw, with one lucky winner chosen at the end of the day.
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Be in with a chance to win a £50 high street voucher by sharing your views on the HAF programme to help us continue to improve the programme.
The survey takes around 5 minutes to complete
We have been officially recognised as providing safety and welcome for those seeking sanctuary.
Council of Sanctuary status means we strive to ensure everyone has equal access to health, education, housing, and employment, and our actions reflect a desire to make everyone feel welcome and safe.
The vast majority of parents and carers applying for a reception school place for September 2026 have been offered a place at one of their preferred schools.
99.6% of children starting school in September 2026 were offered a place at their first preference school, and 99.8% received an offer at one of their top three preferences.
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Last week, we handed over the brand new Innovation Centre in Workington to Oxford Innovation Space.
The new facility will provide purpose-built accommodation for entrepreneurial businesses, as well as bringing new modern office accommodation to Workington, something currently lacking in the town with the aim to attract start-ups ready for incubation, as well as ambitious small businesses with clear growth potential.
It will also complement another Workington Town Deal project, the Digital Accelerator Hub at Lakes College. It is prioritising skills and employability to strengthen a new generation of digital expertise.
Businesses interested in locating at the Innovation Centre are encouraged to register their interest ahead of the summer 2026 opening by emailing info@workington-ic.co.uk
Improvement plans for Cleator Moor have moved forward with the planning approval of plans to create a new community hub.
Revitalised Town, part of the Cleator Town Deal, aims to tackle the issue of underutilised buildings and improve the presentation and perception of Cleator Moor town centre, making the town more attractive to investors and providing skills and employment opportunities for local people. A new public services and cultural community hub will be created by reconfiguring and linking two existing buildings in the Town Square - the library and the former Credit Union building.
A new café annexe will incorporate a commercial kitchen to the lower ground floor. The hub will look to provide a range of new facilities such as exhibition and arts space and services for youth provision.
The library will be reconfigured with improved reading space and internet access. There will also be a programme of work to enhance the appearance and ambience of the Town Square.
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If you live in Longtown, join us to see the latest plans to improve the A7 corridor and the town’s community centre.
We’re hosting two events, on Tuesdays 21 and 28 April, from 2pm until 7pm at the community centre. You will be able to see the designs and chat to those involved.
The bid for £3 million from the government’s Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal programme is led by Cumberland Council and Longtown’s Town Team.
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We welcomed representatives from the Department for Transport (DfT) to the area, recently, as part of ongoing work on a new government‑funded pilot exploring innovative approaches to delivering rural bus services.
Cumberland Council, working in partnership with Westmorland and Furness Council, has secured national funding to investigate current challenges, identify opportunities, and develop and test new models of local bus service delivery tailored specifically for rural communities.
Lorton Street, Cockermouth
We’re pleased to say that works on Cockermouth’s Lorton Street were completed on Friday 10 April.
Thank you to residents, businesses and road users for your patience while these essential repairs were carried out!
Check out how it looks on our Facebook reel:
Corney Fell - reopened
Corney Fell (Broad Oak to the C4026 at Beckfoot) is now open.
The road has reopened to traffic following emergency carriageway and drainage works.
A fund to support eligible households who are struggling with the cost of heating oil is open for applications in Cumberland.
The price of kerosene - the fuel used for heating oil - has been especially affected by the recent conflict in the Middle East and has risen faster than other fuels such as petrol and gas.
The Government recently announced a targeted support package for low-income families which is to be distributed by local councils.
Cumberland Council’s Heating Oil Support Fund is open for applications from eligible low‑income households who use heating oil as their primary source of heating.
Next phase of University of Cumbria Citadels regeneration project begins
Progress is visible at Carlisle’s historic Citadels site, as the advanced works phase of the University of Cumbria’s flagship regeneration project, supported through the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal, gets underway.
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