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Also in this weeks edition:
Ground investigation surveys are underway at the Cumberland Sports Village site in Workington - marking an important step in the development.
The initial works are designed to gather detailed information about the ground conditions before construction gets underway.
While the work is taking place, residents and visitors may notice specialist drilling equipment and see engineers carrying out tests, including drilling small holes, digging trial pits and taking samples.
The work is being delivered by specialist contractors RG Civil Engineering and Surveying Ltd and Curtins Consulting Ltd and will move around the site as different areas are checked and will only be in place for a short time. The surveys are due to start on 29 June and will take place during normal daytime working hours. They are expected to last for a few weeks.
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 A big thank you to everyone who joined us in Carlisle city centre on Saturday to mark Armed Forces Day.
It was fantastic to see so many people come together to recognise the contribution of our Armed Forces community, with a great atmosphere throughout the day.
Events also took place right across Cumberland during Armed Forces Week, with local communities showing their support in lots of different ways.
Thank you to all the organisations, volunteers and partners who helped make it such a meaningful occasion.
Photo credit: Stuart Walker Photography
Do you know a young person who deserves to be celebrated for the difference they make?
The Flying High Awards are now open for nominations, recognising children and young people aged 8 to 25 from across Cumberland.
The awards celebrate young people who are doing positive things in their community, helping others, overcoming challenges, learning new skills, caring for someone, achieving in sport or the arts, or speaking up to make a difference.
Whether you're a parent, carer, family member, friend, teacher, youth worker or community volunteer, you can nominate a young person whose efforts and achievements deserve recognition.
Nominations are open from 1 July until 31 July 2026.
If you know a young person who makes you proud, take a few minutes to nominate them today. Find out more and submit a nomination on the Cumberland Family Hubs website.
The NHS Mobile Cervical Screening Bus will be visiting Millom this summer, offering eligible residents the opportunity to attend cervical screening closer to home on:
- 16 July and 13 August 2026
- 11am - 4pm
- Millom Recreation Centre car park
The service is available on a drop-in basis, with no appointment required, making it easier for people to attend at a time that suits them.
Cervical screening helps prevent cervical cancer by detecting changes before they become serious. It is offered to people aged 25 to 64 with a cervix, including women, trans men and non-binary people. Everyone with a cervix is encouraged to attend cervical screening when they are eligible.
Cervical screening is a preventative test that helps identify changes in the cervix before cancer develops. Eligible people are routinely invited for screening by the NHS, typically every five years.
It is important to note:
- Screening is still recommended even if someone has had the HPV vaccine.
- People who have missed a previous screening appointment do not need to wait for a new invitation and can attend the mobile clinic.
- Anyone with a cervix may be eligible for screening, including trans men and non-binary people, depending on their GP registration.
Early detection through screening prevents the majority of cervical cancer cases, making increased screening uptake a key public health priority.
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Looking for something a little different this weekend? Colleagues, friends and family are invited to enjoy a range of free activities in Lowca as part of a community event organised by Walk Wheel Cycle Trust.
Whether you'd like to dust off your bike, discover local nature, get creative or try an e-bike for the first time, there's something for everyone:
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Dr Bike - Saturday 4 July, 9am - 1pm, Lowca Village Hall Drop in for a free bike safety check and minor repairs from trained mechanics.
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Nature Walk and Poetry Workshop - Saturday 4 July, 2.30pm - 5.30pm, Lowca Rugby Club Join local artist Melissa Davies for a guided walk and creative writing session inspired by the local landscape. Book your place via Nature Walk and Poetry Workshop.
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E-bike Exploring - Sunday 5 July, 10am - 3pm, Lowca Village Park Take a guided ride along National Cycle Network Route 72 and experience the benefits of an e-bike. Book a place via E-bike Exploring.
All activities are free and celebrate the recent improvements to walking, wheeling and cycling routes in Lowca, helping more people enjoy active and sustainable travel.
Why not get outdoors, try something new and explore one of Cumberland's great local routes this weekend?
Families across Cumberland can now book free holiday activities and meals for children and young people this summer through the Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programme. Eligible children can enjoy fun, safe activities and a healthy meal, all at no cost.
Take a look at what’s available and book online at https://eequ.org/cumberlandhaf
This programme is fully funded by the Department for Education.
Residents across Cumberland are being encouraged to make sure their details on the electoral register are correct.
We have started our annual canvass of electors - a process which looks to ensure the details it has on the electoral register are correct. The process also helps identify any residents who are not registered to vote, so that they can be given the opportunity to register.
Each year the council contacts every household in Cumberland to check whether it has the correct people registered to vote and to ask residents to inform it of any changes.
Residents may therefore receive emails or letters over the coming weeks asking them to check who it has on the register and how to inform the council of any changes.
It is important to keep the information on the register up to date as elections can be called at any time, however, the next scheduled elections for residents in Cumberland are in May next year. These elections will be for Cumberland Council and the new elected mayor for Cumbria.
Have you ever wondered what it really feels like to live with dementia?
Join us for a powerful 15-minute Virtual Dementia Tour and experience first-hand:
- Memory loss.
- Confusion.
- Sensory changes.
- New perspectives.
- Emotional impact.
Walk in the shoes of those you support and gain valuable insight to improve care, confidence, and understanding.
- Wednesday 8 July 2026 Water Street Car Park, Wigton 10am - 4pm
- Wednesday 15 July 2026 Allerdale House Car Park, Workington 10am - 4pm
Guided reflection is included to help you turn this experience into meaningful learning. Local dementia support services will also be on hand.
Book your slot by emailing joanne.rayson@ageuknorthcumbria.org.uk or feel free to pop in on the day (spaces permitting).
Please arrive 5 - 10 minutes early to register.
We’ve published an updated timetable for preparing the new Cumberland Local Plan, in line with recent changes to government regulations.
The Local Plan will set out the long-term vision for development across Cumberland, helping ensure future growth is well planned and supported by the right services and infrastructure.
A formal Notice to Commence Plan Making has also been issued, marking the start of the plan-making process ahead of the first stage of public consultation in September 2026.
We’ll be working closely with communities, businesses and stakeholders as the plan develops, with opportunities to get involved and help shape the future of Cumberland.
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We’re inviting local residents to have their say on the future of the Connected Cleator Moor project.
Join us at Cleator Moor Civic Hall on Tuesday 14 July, between 4pm and 7pm, to view the latest plans and speak to the project team. Your feedback will help shape the final designs, so do come along and get involved.
We’ve recently appointed WSP to develop the detailed designs, which aim to better connect Cleator Moor to employment, education and healthcare opportunities beyond the town, while enhancing its character as a vibrant and forward-looking place to live, work and visit. As part of the proposals, several locations across the town have been identified for potential investment, helping to make it easier and safer for people to travel around the town and connect to wider destinations.
July is a great time to visit The Beacon Museum in Whitehaven, with plenty on offer for residents and visitors alike.
From engaging exhibitions to family-friendly activities, the museum continues to provide a high-quality visitor experience, reflecting its strong reputation for welcoming, accessible heritage and culture in West Cumbria.
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A vacancy has arisen for a councillor for the Harraby South ward of Cumberland Council following the resignation of Cllr Lucy Patrick. Casual vacancies are usually filled through a by-election.
A by-election will only take place if it is requested by local government electors for the Cumberland Council area.
More information can be found at Casual vacancies | Cumberland Council
The opportunity to have a say on Carlisle’s long-term future is available following the launch of a consultation.
Public engagement on the draft Carlisle Masterplan is now live. Residents and businesses have until 31 July 2026 to get involved.
The Carlisle Masterplan is an ambitious plan that sets out the future of the city over the next 25 years and beyond.
The plan sets out a vision, strategy and a wide range of potential projects that respond to earlier phases of consultation. The projects vary in scale and complexity.
Find out more and have your say at www.cumberland.gov.uk/Carlisle-Masterplan
Engagement events will also be held at the Assembly Rooms in the Old Town Hall Carlisle on:
- Wednesday 15 July, 3pm - 7pm
- Monday 20 July, 10am - 1pm
- Wednesday 22 July, 2pm - 6pm
Cumberland Council will take a leading role in delivering the masterplan, working with partners, key stakeholders and the wider community and businesses to help shape a positive future for Carlisle.
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 Major improvements to Workington town centre are nearing completion, marking a significant milestone in the town’s ongoing transformation.
The Workington Town Centre Public Realm and Connectivity Project, delivered by Thomas Armstrong Ltd, is creating a more vibrant, pedestrian-friendly town centre, developing safe, attractive public spaces that will support local businesses, encourage more visitors and attract further private investment.
Works across the town on Murray Road and Central Way are now in their final stages.
Only the final raised crossing and surfacing works remain, due to be completed in early July, alongside a small number of overnight closures.
To support the final stages, a temporary road closure will be in place from the entrance to the multi-story car park Central Way (nights only - from 7pm to 7am) from Monday 6 July to Saturday 11 July, to allow essential carriageway resurfacing works to take place.
We will be carrying out essential carriageway resurfacing works on the B5299 through Dalston village.
The works are scheduled to begin on Monday 20 July 2026 and will take place over 35 nights, subject to weather and site conditions.
To ensure the safety of both the workforce and road users, the scheme will be carried out under overnight road closures, with working hours between 6pm and 1am each evening, and the road remaining closed until 3am to allow for site clearance and material curing.
The programme will be delivered in two phases:
- Phase 1: Caldewhurst to Station Road – 20 July to 7 August
- Phase 2: The Square to Bridge End Inn – 10 August to 4 September
There are some important changes to Royal Mail’s 2nd-class letter delivery service.
- No Saturday deliveries for 2nd class mail.
- Deliveries will now take place on an alternate weekday schedule (Monday to Friday), rather than every day.
- The target delivery timeframe remains within three working days.
Please take this into account when planning any letters that you send out. Delivery schedules may vary, so it’s important to factor this into your timelines to ensure your communications arrive when needed. First-class letters, tracked services and parcels are not affected by these changes.
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