Colleagues, partners and stakeholders came together last week to celebrate the transformation of Carlisle Library following its successful reopening to the public in August.
Guests enjoyed guided tours of the refurbished building and explored the wide range of services now available, including digital archive services, Adult Learning opportunities, family activities and the Jackson Collection's new permanent home.
A highlight of the evening was the unveiling of the new M.W. Craven Room, named in honour of Carlisle-born bestselling author and Library Ambassador Mike Craven. The dedicated space will inspire future generations of readers and writers while recognising Mike's contribution to literature and libraries.
The event was an opportunity to thank everyone involved in delivering the project and to celebrate the library's future as a modern hub for learning, culture and community life in the heart of Carlisle.
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Check out what is on offer at Carlisle Library and all our libraries on our website.
Did you know you can get access to hundreds of books, audiobooks, magazines, and newspapers online all for free via our BorrowBox service.
Also in this week's newsletter...
 The organisers of the Tour de France Grand Départ in 2027 have given their support for the upcoming Carlisle Fireshow.
This year’s Fireshow will celebrate Cumberland's countdown to the Tour de France. The Fireshow will be held in Bitts Park on 31 October 2026, with the show starting at 6:30pm.
The world's largest annual sporting event attracts millions of spectators along the route and a global television audience. The 2027 Grand Départ will begin in Edinburgh before finishing its opening stage in Carlisle on Friday 2 July. Stage Two will start in Keswick on Saturday 3 July before travelling through the Lake District and Lancashire to Liverpool.
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Excitement is building ahead of the Tour de France coming to Cumbria. To make sure you don't miss any news, announcements or event updates, sign up for our dedicated Tour de France newsletter. You'll receive the latest information straight to your inbox as we count down to the big day.
Work is now underway on the next phase of the Cumberland Sports Village in Workington, marking another important step forward for the major sports and community development.
Enabling works have begun at the Borough Park site to prepare the area for the main construction phase of the project. The works are being carried out by Story Contracting Ltd and are expected to take around three months to complete.
This phase will include the installation of site security measures and temporary fencing, the creation of a construction compound and laydown area, asbestos removal, utility diversions and disconnections, and the removal of existing infrastructure and equipment.
Once complete, the Cumberland Sports Village will provide a shared stadium for Workington AFC and Workington Town RLFC, creating a modern sporting and community hub for Workington and the wider area.
The Edge, Cumbria’s Coastal Activities Centre in Whitehaven, has received further recognition after being nominated for a national Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Award.
Earlier this year, the development won Excellence in Planning for a Successful Economy at the RTPI North West Awards for Planning Excellence 2026. Following that success, The Edge has now been nominated in the same category at this year’s national awards.
The award recognises projects that make a significant contribution to economic prosperity, celebrating outstanding work across areas including regeneration, commercial development, infrastructure and public realm improvements.
The Edge was funded by Sellafield Ltd through its SiX (Social Impact Multiplied) fund and the Coastal Communities Fund, with Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners leading the development.
Cumberland Council submitted the project for the awards in recognition of its role in supporting economic growth, attracting visitors and creating new opportunities for the local community through the planning system.
The project will find out if it has taken home the national award at the RTPI Awards ceremony in London this December.
Looking for something fun to do with the kids this October half term? Cumberland Family Hubs have plenty of free Halloween fun for families to enjoy.
Spooky Family Fun sessions are open to children and young people aged 0 to 19, with spooky crafts, messy play and games to enjoy together.
For little ones aged 0 to 5, Spooky Stay and Play offers seasonal crafts, sensory activities, songs and lots of opportunities to play and make new friends.
Sessions are taking place at Family Hubs across Cumberland from Monday 26 to Friday 30 October, so there are lots of opportunities to join in.
Find an activity near you and make some spooky memories together this half term!
Young people aged 8 to 16 from the North Allerdale Development Trust's Friday Night Youth Club in Silloth recently took part in the Great British Beach Clean, helping to care for their local coastline.
Delivered in partnership by the North Allerdale Development Trust and the Solway Coast National Landscape, the session gave participants the opportunity to collect litter from the beach while learning about the impact waste can have on coastal wildlife and habitats.
The Great British Beach Clean is an annual campaign that sees thousands of volunteers take part in beach cleans across the UK. As well as removing litter from the coast, participants collect information about the items they find, helping to build a national picture of marine litter and support campaigns for cleaner seas and beaches.
During the Silloth beach clean, the young people recorded the litter they found as part of the Marine Conservation Society's national survey. The data collected during the session was submitted to the Marine Conservation Society by the Solway Coast National Landscape Officer, helping to contribute to the charity's ongoing monitoring and research into marine litter around the UK's coastline.
The event gave young people the opportunity to take practical action for the environment while developing a greater understanding of the importance of protecting the Solway coast. Their efforts helped keep the beach cleaner for both wildlife and the local community, demonstrating how small actions can make a big difference.
The Solway Coast National Landscape was pleased to support the North Allerdale Development Trust in delivering the session, helping local young people connect with and care for their coastline through this hands-on conservation activity.
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Britain's weather is changing and we can’t afford to be complacent.
Right now, 6.3 million properties in England are in areas at risk of flooding; and as our climate keeps changing, that risk keeps growing. Many of those properties are in Cumberland. Between April 2025 and March 2026 alone, the EA issued over 3,400 flood alerts, around 1,000 flood warnings, and 3 severe flood warnings nationwide.
Yet most people don't see the danger on their doorstep. Polling shows almost 50% of the public have not looked up the flood risk for their home. That's a big gap between risk and readiness. Everyone deserves to know their risk, and what to do about it. Take five minutes to look up your flood risk now.
We've seen what flooding can do: homes ruined, businesses lost, families forced to rebuild their lives from scratch. It's devastating, but a few simple steps taken now can mean less damage, less danger, and quicker recovery to reduce the long-term toll flooding takes on people's mental health.
Know your risk. Take simple steps now.
Preparing for flooding doesn't have to be complicated. A few small actions today could protect your home, your family, your business, and your bank balance, potentially saving you thousands in damage and disruption tomorrow.
Are you flood ready, or not? Know your risk, sign up for warnings and take simple steps now to protect your home, your family and your business this winter.
Be weather ready by being prepared for what the Cumbrian weather might do next. We have lots of advice and links to other websites on our 'weather ready' webpage. Whether it’s snow, rain, wind, or a heatwave, it’s best to be prepared.
Residents, community groups, parish councils and local organisations are being invited to join a free online webinar to learn how to prepare for winter weather and build resilience within their communities.
The session will take place on Tuesday 20 October 2026 from 11am to 12pm and is being delivered by partners including the Environment Agency, Electricity North West, Cumbria CVS, the Joint Emergency Management and Resilience Team, and funding organisations.
The webinar will cover a range of topics designed to help people stay informed, prepared and connected during severe weather and other emergencies, including:
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Flood alerts, warnings and other useful information from the Environment Agency
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Power resilience measures and the Extra Care Register from Electricity North West
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Household preparedness and community resilience advice from the Joint Emergency Management and Resilience Team
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Funding opportunities available through Cumbria Community Foundation and the National Lottery Awards for All Environment Fund
There will also be an opportunity for attendees to ask questions, share experiences and discuss local resilience challenges.
The event is free to attend, with no booking required, and organisers are encouraging people to share the invitation with anyone who may have an interest in helping communities prepare for winter.
To join the webinar, simply click the Teams link at the scheduled start time:
Anyone with questions can contact Liam Ryan at liam.ryan@cumbriacvs.org.uk. If there is sufficient interest from those unable to attend during the day, an additional evening session may be considered.
We have helped Queer Cumbria and Cumbria Police create a video showing local people affected in real ways by hate crime.
This is Hate Crime Awareness Week, and we hope you can take a moment to hear the stories of Cumbrian people affected by this. You can watch the video here on the Cumbria Police YouTube page:
We want our communities to be safe for everyone. Join us in making Cumberland #NoPlaceForHate
A consultation and engagement exercise asking people for their views on how library services should be delivered in Brampton and Longtown has started.
Users of the libraries and the wider communities will be asked for feedback on several options for each site that are being considered by Cumberland Council.
The options that the council wishes to consult on centre around the location of the library buildings. There will be an online survey which can be accessed from the council website, a paper version which can be obtained from the libraries and the opportunity to attend drop-in sessions with dates still being finalised.
The six-week exercise, which ends on Wednesday 25 November, is part of the council's wider Libraries Fit for the Future programme, which aims make sure the service meets current and future needs.
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We're inviting residents to have their say on new play equipment for the play areas in Kells, Whitehaven and Orgill, Egremont.
The existing equipment has reached the end of its life and will be fully replaced with new, high-quality play facilities designed to meet the needs of local children and families. We're keen to hear what types of equipment you'd like to see, including ideas for inclusive play features and seating.
Each consultation runs until 5 November 2026.
Have your say and help create play spaces that can be enjoyed for years to come.
Find out more and take part:
We're consulting on proposed changes to the maximum fares that Hackney Carriages can charge across Cumberland.
The proposals include changes to:
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Standard daytime fares
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Evening and overnight fares
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Bank Holiday, Christmas and New Year tariffs
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Waiting time charges
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Additional passenger and luggage charges
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Other supplementary charges
We want to hear from taxi drivers, operators, residents, businesses and anyone who may be affected by the proposed changes.
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The consultation opens at 9am on 9 October 2026 and closes at 4pm on 23 October 2026.
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These are just three of several live consultations being held at the moment. You can also have your say on topics such as:
- The future of bus services
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SEND transport provision
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Local Plan – Call for Sites
- Improving Petteril Bank area in Carlisle.
To find out about these and all our consultations go to:
Evening resurfacing works planned on A69 Warwick Road in Carlisle
We will carry out essential carriageway resurfacing works on the A69 Warwick Road in Carlisle to help keep the road safe and in good condition for road users.
The works will take place between the Tesco junction and Tilbury Road from Sunday 18 October 2026, subject to weather and site conditions.
Resurfacing works coming up on Station Road, Keswick
The works are scheduled to begin on Monday 19 October 2026 and are expected to be completed by Friday 23 October 2026, subject to weather and site conditions.
To allow the resurfacing to be completed safely, a formal road closure will be in place between 7am and 5pm each day.
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