 At its meeting of Full Council on Monday 25 March 2024, the Council resolved to adopt its renewed Climate Strategy for 2024/25.
The Council's renewed Climate Strategy was developed through a task and finish group of Councillors who have simplified the old strategy creating a set of achievable actions for the Council across the year.
The Climate Strategy commits the Council to:
1. Achieve Carbon Neutrality for Penrith Town Council.
- Commission a Carbon Audit of Penrith Town Council
- Provide climate literacy training for all Councillors and Officers
- Work to reduce consumption of paper and other resources
- Lobby the Cumbria Pension Fund to divest its Fossil Fuel Holdings
2. Engage the community on climate actions
- Produce a quarterly newsletter themed on climate related issues
- Identify, promote and make available educational material and training opportunities for use by communities – catalogue existing resources
- Identify the feasibility of a Climate Change Hub in Penrith and undertake consultation
3. Conserve and enhance local biodiversity
- Ensure the protection of green spaces and natural habitats in the possession of Penrith Town Council and as set out in the Neighbourhood Plan
- Have the Council adopt a Biodiversity Policy and Action Plan at a meeting of Full Council
4. Promote low emission transportation options
- Lobby for incentives for the use of electric vehicles
- Work in partnership with organisations and write to central government to lobby for incentives
- Work in partnership with appropriate organisations to investigate the increase the electric vehicle charging infrastructure
- Develop a policy and action plan for supporting sustainable and community transport schemes
5. Increase the number of green projects in Penrith
- Promote the Council’s Grant Fund for green and climate projects
- Promote and develop new Penrith Town Council green projects
- Identify and promote walking routes around Penrith
- Invite ideas for and develop green projects
- Conduct a climate vulnerability assessment to identify at-risk areas
For more information about the Council's revised Climate Strategy, please visit the Penrith Town Council website.
 Penrith Town Council has partnered with the Penrith Lions Club to install bunting around the town for the summer months.
This year marks the third year of partnership between the Council and the Lions Club to install bunting in the town centre, with over 2000 metres of bunting being used to dress the town!
John Rogerson, Penrith Lions Club President said:
“Thank you to Penrith Town Council for organising and supporting us in the installation of this year’s bunting scheme for Penrith.
“The Lions Club has been involved in hanging the bunting throughout the town for over 40 years in preparation for the annual Penrith May Day Carnival.
“The Penrith May Day Carnival 2024 will be taking place on Monday 6 May 2024 and will include A variety of activities such as street stalls, funfair, musical entertainment, cultural demonstrations, static displays and a celebration of the May Queen.
“Everyone is welcome, so please do make your way down to the town centre for a day of fun!”
For more information about the annual Penrith May Day Carnival, please visit the Lions Club of Penrith website.
At its meeting of Full Council on Monday 25 March 2024, the Council considered a motion on developing a Strategic Regeneration Plan for Penrith.
The motion was centred around a need for a renewed focus on the key challenges confronting Penrith and its centre alongside the broader social, economic and environmental issues.
Following discussion, the Council resolved to commit to working with Westmorland and Furness Council, partners and stakeholders to support the development of a comprehensive Strategic Regeneration Plan for Penrith and its town centre focusing on the critical issues of the growth of the town, infrastructure development and town centre regeneration.
The Council have since written to Westmorland & Furness Council to request a meeting to agree on the approach to developing a transformative regeneration plan for Penrith as a major town in the new authority area.
For more information about the motion, please visit the Penrith Town Council website.
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On 22 April 2024 at 6.00pm to 7.00pm
To be held at Unit 2, Church House, Friargate, Penrith
You are invited to attend the meeting if you are a local government registered elector for Penrith.
AGENDA
- Welcome from Councillor Doug Lawson, Mayor of Penrith
- Minutes
- Have your say and ask questions about your town:
Questions must be submitted to the Town Council by noon 15 April 2024 to enable a response to be given at the meeting. Questions should be submitted to office@penrithtowncouncil.gov.uk or sent to the Town Council at Unit 1, Church House, Friargate, Penrith CA11 7XR.
- Guest Speaker: Penrith Business Improvement District
Penrith BID will give a short presentation on what they do within the town, how they work with partners and the plans they have going forward.
- Presentations from Grant Recipients
The following will give a short presentation on what they do and how the grants received help them:
- Penrith AFC
- 2nd Penrith Scouts Group
- Growing Well
- Penrith Swift Group
- Stomping Ground
- Riverside Group
Come and learn about the grants the Town Council has available to constituted groups and see whether you could apply for one.
Held in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972, Schedule 12, Part II
The Police Fire and Crime Commissioner election and the by-election for Penrith West Ward take place on Thursday 2 May.
You can find information on the key dates for the elections, how to register to vote, Voter ID requirements, information on proxy and postal voting and changes to postal vote arrangements on the Westmorland and Furness Council website.
All queries about the election and voting should be directed to the Elections Team in the Penrith office who can be contacted at elections2@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk or telephone 01768 817 817
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The Outside Club at Pategill Park is back following a £1,300 grant from Penrith
Town Council.
Run by Stomping Ground CIC, the Outside Club at Pategill Park is an inclusive,
friendly and accessible outdoor activity session including activities such as
building dens, making and creating cool things and playing in Stomping Ground's mud kitchen!
The Outside Club is aimed at 8–15-year-olds from the Pategill Community and is
completely free. Take part in sessions every Tuesday between 4:00pm and
6:30pm from now right up until 10 December 2024, including the holidays.
Stomping Ground provide shelter from the rain, head torches and lights and hot
drinks over the early Spring months!
For any members of the Pategill community who haven’t heard from us and are
interested in joining the Outdoor Club, please get in touch with myself by email:
gemma@stompingground.org.uk or by telephone: 07970683317, or simply come on down to Pategill Park any Tuesday between 4:00pm and 6:30pm
Lowther Forestry awarded Grounds Maintenance Contract
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Following a competitive tender, the Grounds Maintenance Contract has been awarded to Lowther Forestry.
The Grounds Maintenance Contract includes regular cutting of Thacka Beck Field, Fairhill Playing Field and an area around the St Andrews War Memorial.
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Musgrave Monument repair work
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The Musgrave Monument has had a piece of stone masonry repaired following a member of the public climbing onto the monument and dislodging a large piece of decorative stone.
Askins & Little, Stone masonry specialists, were contracted to carry out the work - with the monument now being restored back to its former glory!
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Cornmarket steps damaged
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Unfortunately, one of the steps in the Cornmarket leading up to the bandstand has been damaged.
The Council has had the step barriered off for public safety over the Easter weekend - with repair works due to take place next week.
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Damaged Tree felled at Fairhill
Following Storm Isha, one of the mature pine trees at Fairhill Playing Field was damaged.
The Council commissioned Lowther Forestry to inspect the tree who reported that a dominant limb was torn off resulting in a large stem wound close to where the remaining two limbs are attached. It was reported that the remaining limbs may weaken over time. A pedestrian desire line passes under these two limbs and as such the tree has now been felled.
The Council may seek to replace the tree later on in the year.
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Fairhill Slide fixed
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The slide at the Fairhill Play Area has been repaired following one of the Council's routine inspections identifying a bolt which had been unscrewed and removed from the base of the slide.
The bolt has since been replaced and screwed back into place, ensuring the continued safety of usage of the slide at the much loved Fairhill Play Area!
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Angel Lane Noticeboard fixed
The Angel Lane Noticeboard has had some minor repair work done following one of the twist keys being removed from the community section of the noticeboard.
The twist key has now been replaced, allowing members of the public and local organisations to continue using the noticeboard to display information for the community.
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Fairhill Roundabout fixed
The Supernova Spinner at Fairhill Play Area has had some minor repair work done following a seal being removed.
Although this did not pose a risk to users, the Council has had the seal replaced, ensuring the Supernova Spinner is able to keep on spinning!
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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
Any member of the public can attend Council meetings. The Council's upcoming meetings are detailed below with dates, times and venues.
Annual Town Meeting
- Date: Monday 22 April 2024
- Time: 6.00pm - 7.00pm
- Venue: Unit 2, Church House, 19-24 Friargate
Annual Meeting of Penrith Town Council
- Date: Monday 20 May 2024
- Time: 6.00pm - 8.00pm
- Venue: Unit 2, Church House, 19-24 Friargate
Finance Committee:
- Date: Monday 22 April 2024
- Time: 6.00pm - 8.00pm
- Venue: Board Room, Unit 1 Church House, 19-24 Friargate
Planning Committee:
- Date: Monday 8 April 2024
- Time: 4.00pm - 6.00pm
- Venue: Unit 2, Church House, 19-24 Friargate
Communities Committee:
- Date: Monday 15 April 2024
- Time: 5.00pm - 7.00pm
- Venue: Boardroom, Unit 1, Church House, 19-24 Friargate
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