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 From Left to Right: Dan Harding - Penrith BID Director, Mark Rudhall - Penrith Town Council Deputy Chair & Deputy Mayor of Penrith, Darren Broad - Penrith BID Chair
Penrith’s Christmas Lights for 2023 are already considered to be one of the most impressive displays to date with the Penrith Business Improvement District (BID) putting on displays covering most of the town centre.
Penrith Town Council has worked in partnership with the BID to deliver this year’s display. The Council tendered the works in collaboration with the BID and committed to undertake essential infrastructure works including the installation and testing of eyebolts, the installation and testing of catenary wires and electrical infrastructure works.
These essential infrastructure works enabled this years Christmas lights display to be facilitated in compliance with industry standards. As well as ensuring longevity, the infrastructure works have allowed the BID to focus its resources on the design, which includes new lighting features and an extended lighting scheme to new parts of the town centre.
Mark Rudhall, Deputy Chair of Penrith Town Council & Deputy Mayor of Penrith, said:
“It’s terrific that we were able to support the Penrith BID with the Christmas Light display which is so important in creating that festive buzz about town.
“The Penrith BID play such an important role in the town, and I was glad to see the positive re-vote back in June.
“The BID are a key partner of the Town Council and I look forward to us working together on projects for the greater benefit of the whole town in the near future.”
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Darren Broad, Chair of the Penrith Business Improvement District, said:
“I am proud that the Penrith BID has been able to deliver an exceptional Christmas Lights scheme in Penrith after a tumultuous period with the re-vote.
“The BID prides itself on delivering for the town, and I sincerely hope everybody enjoys this year’s display!
“An enormous thank you must also go out to all the local businesses who primarily funded the lights – making this year’s display possible!
“It’s great to see joint working between the BID and Penrith Town Council, which I hope will continue over the course of the next five years of the BID term."
The festive period was kickstarted with the Christmas light switch-on event on Saturday 18 November 2023 with celebrity guest Helen Skelton switching on the lights in Penrith!
The Council was pleased to support the BID to deliver Penrith Sparkle event with a £4,965 grant.
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On 14 November 2023, Penrith Town Council Chair and Mayor Councillor Doug Lawson attended a meeting of Westmorland & Furness Council Cabinet to detail the history of the Penrith Neighbourhood Development Plan and ask for support to go to referendum.
Penrith Town Council is pleased that Westmorland & Furness Council agreed to take the Neighbourhood Development Plan for a final consultation of not less than 6 weeks. This final consultation is necessary as the final plan would be contrary to the Examiners recommendation to remove Policy 8 – Protection of Local Green Space and Policy 9 – Protection of Sport, Leisure and Recreation Facilities.
Following the consultation, any final amendments would be made and then a public referendum would be held to vote on whether the Neighbourhood Plan, which has been developed through public consultation, should be adopted.
A YES vote at public referendum would secure that:
- the policies had to be taken account of when planning applications were considered in Penrith
- the green and leisure spaces identified by the public were afforded some protection and
- additional funding could be obtained from Community Infrastructure Levy (should it be adopted area wide by Westmorland and Furness) for infrastructure or anything concerned with addressing demands development places on an area.
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Penrith Town Council Chair and Mayor Councillor Doug Lawson said:
"The Penrith Neighbourhood Plan offers numerous benefits to our town and its communities, allowing them to have a say in how Penrith develops.
“Neighbourhood Plans also have legal weight in planning law to help direct development once adopted.
“I'm really pleased that the Westmorland and Furness Cabinet were so openly supportive of the initiative. Thank you to all the residents, businesses and visitors who contributed to our numerous consultations."
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 From left to right: Doug Lawson - Penrith Town Council Chair and Penrith Mayor, Fiona Harriss – Therapeutic Grower - Growing Well, Cate Bentley – Partnerships Manager - Growing Well, Rebecca Batstone – Partnerships Manager - Growing Well
Penrith Town Council has provided a grant of £1,000 to Growing Well to provide free transport for service users from Penrith to the Growing Well site at Tebay Northbound Services.
Growing Well at Tebay supports adults (18yrs+) including some Penrith residents with a mental health need in their recovery through targeted and specialist mental health intervention. Service users come and participate in organic market gardening activity on one regular day per week with therapeutic support from trained staff.
The grant funding provided by Penrith Town Council has ensured free transport for individuals from Penrith to and from the Growing Well site at Tebay, allowing those individuals to access the service free of charge.
Growing Well at Tebay Services will eventually help 100 people a year from Eden, Carlisle and North Cumbria recover from mental health difficulties, with their unique approach to recovery through supported activity in the outdoors, within a real-world horticulture enterprise.
On Friday 17 November 2023, Doug Lawson, Chair of Penrith Town Council and Mayor of Penrith visited the Growing Well site at Tebay, and said:
“Visiting the Growing Well site and meeting some of the volunteers, you get a real sense of the important rehabilitation work they do to support those living with mental ill health.
“A lack of public transport and access to services in a semi-rural area like Penrith can be a major obstacle in getting vital mental health support that individuals need.
“Our grant helps break down those barriers and I am proud yet again that the Council has been able to grant fund another important project.”
One of Growing Well’s beneficiary volunteers, Rachael, who comes from Penrith has said:
“The minibus is a lifeline as without it I wouldn’t be able to access Growing Well’s wonderful service and the support and guidance given to me, it has really made a difference.
“Thank you Growing Well, and Penrith Town Council for your support, it’s very much appreciated.”
Growing Well’s site at Tebay Services Northbound hosts a FREE day service for adults, accepting both self-referrals and referrals from GPs/other healthcare professionals.
Growing Well work with people for up to one year. Individuals attend for one day per week and set their own goals for mental health progress and recovery, with support and guidance from our trained staff.
Free minibus transport and a hot, healthy lunch is provided.
How to refer someone
If you are a GP or healthcare professional who wants to make a referral or find out more about Growing Well at Tebay Services, please visit;
www.growingwell.co.uk/refer or email refertebay@growingwell.co.uk
A short service took place at 11am at the War Memorial at St Andrew’s on Saturday 11 November, Armistice Day.
This was followed by the Remembrance Day Parade and Service on Sunday 12 November with ex and current forces personnel and invited dignitaries and organisations marching to St Andrew’s Church for Penrith’s Service of Remembrance.
Thanks must go to Reverend Sargeant for the thoughtful service and to the young people from the Army Cadets, Air Cadets, Police Cadets, Scouts and Brownies for delivering the readings.
Doug Lawson, Chair of Penrith Town Council and Mayor of Penrith visited Beaconside school on Tuesday 7th November, at the invitation of Head Teacher Darren Glynn.
On the visit, Doug said:
"It was great to be on site and see first hand how well-served the children of Penrith are at Beaconside. Darren kindly showed me round all the classrooms so I could see part of the school day unfold.
"It's obvious that the Head knows the pupils and parents well; I was struck by the family-feel that was evident in every lesson and throughout my visit. The provision for children with special education needs, some of them complex, was first rate and I was particularly impressed with the Sensory Room and the Outdoor Learning Centre.
"Mr Glynn shared the school vision that every child flourishes in education and the community; I could see from the engaged faces in the lessons that the curriculum model was working well and the children enjoying the experience.
"While Education is very much the remit of the new unitary authority, Penrith Town Council remains committed to supporting all the town schools and it was a real pleasure to see one of them in action."
 Darren Glynn - Beaconside Head Teacher (Left) & Doug Lawson - Penrith Town Council Chair and Penrith Mayor (Right)
At a meeting of the Full Council on Monday 25 September, members considered a motion on notice from Councillor Knaggs to explore bringing the Penrith Lottery under the governance of the Town Council.
Penrith Town Council resolved:
- a scoping document be prepared, which would be circulated to all
Councillors for consideration, and discussions opened with the Penrith
Lottery Committee to investigate the Penrith Lottery becoming organised
under the governance of Penrith Town Council; and
- a report on the findings and recommendations be brought back to Full
Council at a later date.
On Monday 20 November 2023, Full Council, Members noted that the Penrith Lottery Committee has informed the Council in writing that as part of its ongoing review into its operations it has agreed not to proceed with the option for the Penrith Lottery to be managed under the governance of the Council.
Councillor Knaggs had undertaken a large amount of research with this work now being used by the Penrith Lottery Committee itself as part of their review into their operations with the aim to secure a positive future for the lottery and the groups it supports.
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Cornmarket Christmas Tree
The Council has helped add to the festivities around Penrith through supporting the Lions Club of Penrith with the installation of the annual Christmas Tree in the Cornmarket!
As per previous years, we have worked closely with the Lions Club to install the tree (provided by Rowley Estates) through our Community Caretaker: Urbaser.
Newton Road Bus Shelter Vandalism
Following routine window cleaning of Penrith Town Council bus shelters, we identified vandalism to one of the window panes on the bus shelter on Newton Road.
The damaged pane has now been replaced, with the well used shelter yet again ready to give some relief to residents and visitors from the Cumbrian winter weather!
Overhanging trees cut back at Fairhill
Works have taken place this month to cut back trees at Fairhill Playing Field overhanging the boundary wall onto the pavement on Salkeld Road.
Whilst it's looking rather wintery at the moment, low overhanging branches from the trees have been cut back!
For more information about the Assets owned by Penrith Town Council, please visit: Services & Assets - (penrithtowncouncil.gov.uk)
If you notice an issue with one of our assets, please do not hesitate to get in touch via office@penrithtowncouncil.gov.uk or by phone: 01768 899 773
The Town Council raised a number of concerns regarding general upkeep and cleanliness at the bus station at Sandgate with Westmorland & Furness Council following a resident enquiry.
We are pleased to say that the matters have been investigated and Westmorland & Furness Council has requested the street cleaning contractor to make good the area.
Some of the work will be actioned over the coming weeks or in the new year depending on the weather and budgets being identified.
Any member of the public can attend Council meetings. The Council's upcoming meetings are detailed below with dates, times and venues.
Full Council Meeting
- Date: Monday 29 January 2024
- Time: 6.00pm - 8.00pm
- Venue: Unit 2, Church House, 19-24 Friargate
Finance Committee:
- Date: Monday 15 January 2024
- Time: 6.00pm - 8.00pm
- Venue: Board Room, Unit 1 Church House, 19-24 Friargate
Planning Committee:
- Date: Monday 4 December 2023
- Time: 4.00pm - 6.00pm
- Venue: Unit 2, Church House, 19-24 Friargate
Communities Committee:
- Date: Monday 18 December 2023
- Time: 5.00pm - 7.00pm
- Venue: Unit 2, Church House, 19-24 Friargate
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