 Image Description: (from left to right): Cllr Val Bowen (Chair of Penrith Town Council & Penrith Mayor), Cllr Barbara Jayson (Deputy Chair of Penrith Town Council & Penrith Deputy Mayor)
Valerie Bowen, Councillor for the Penrith Pategill Ward, has been elected as the first female Chair of Penrith Town Council & Mayor of Penrith at the Council’s annual meeting on Wednesday 21 May 2025.
Councillor Barbara Jayson, Councillor for the Penrith West Ward has been elected the new Deputy Chair of Penrith Town Council & Deputy Mayor of Penrith.
Councillor Val Bowen, Chair of Penrith Town Council & Penrith Mayor, speaking on her appointment, said:
“It is such an honour to have been elected as the first female Mayor of Penrith and Chair of Penrith Town Council.
“Penrith is such a wonderful close-knit town with such a special community, so I am immensely proud to be representing it as Mayor.
“I have been serving as a Penrith Town Council Councillor since 2021 – and in that time I have been proud of the positive change the Council has helped to create.
“I look forward to building on this positive change and the important work already underway - strengthening our community partnerships, supporting local organisations through our grant scheme, and ensuring the Council continues to make a real and lasting difference for the people of Penrith.
“Finally, I would also like to thank my fellow councillors for bestowing this honour upon me!”
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Councillor Barbara Jayson, Deputy Chair of Penrith Town Council & Penrith Deputy Mayor, speaking on her appointment, said:
“I’m incredibly proud to have been elected as Deputy Chair of Penrith Town Council.
“Having served on the Council for two years now, this felt like the right time to take that next step and contribute even more to the work we do for the people of Penrith.”
“The Council is involved in so many exciting and meaningful projects across the town, and I’m eager to support that work in this new capacity. It’s a privilege to help shape the future of our community.”
The annual meeting also saw Chair’s appointed to the various committees of Penrith Town Council:
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Finance: Cllr Charlie Shepherd
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Planning: Cllr Scott Jackson
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Communities: Cllr Danny Smith
Deputy Chairs of the committees will be appointed at the first meeting of the respective committee.
For more information about the Council’s Committees, please visit the Penrith Town Council website: https://www.penrithtowncouncil.gov.uk/
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 Image Description: Collage of Penrith May Day 2025. Click on this image to open up a video of Penrith May Day 2025.
The Council would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to everyone who attended Penrith May Day 2025 earlier this month.
Penrith May Day is one of Cumbria’s most beloved community celebrations, featuring a spectacular variety of fun entertainment throughout the day. Following 40 fantastic years of the Penrith Lions Club organising the event for the town, the Council was proud to take on the reigns for the event for the first time.
With a guiding ethos built around community inclusion and accessibility, Penrith Town Council ensured that all activities apart from the Funfair were free of charge.
Among the many highlights of the event were:
- Taylors Funfair
- Keswick Climbing Wall
- Inflatable Fun & Games
- Face Painting & Balloon Modelling
- Wild Play sessions run by Stomping Ground offering hands-on, nature-based fun for children
- The much-loved Teddy Bear Zipwire from St Andrews Church
- Village Fair with Classic Games
- Live Music
- Land Train
- Street Entertainment
- Walking Parade
- Vehicle Exit Procession
- Internationally famous ‘Stanelli’s Super Circus’ performed by Upfront Puppet Theatre
Watch a video of Penrith May Day 2025 on the Council's YouTube Channel.
Feedback from attendees has been overwhelmingly positive, with the Council also wanting to thank the responders of the Council's official Penrith May Day 2025 survey for their constructive feedback which will be used to shape future events run by the Council.
 Image Description: Penrith Bandstand on Penrith May Day 2025.
Back by popular demand, Sounds Around Town is returning to Penrith for Summer 2025! Penrith Town Council, in collaboration with Plug & Play, Eden Valley Artistic Network (EVAN), and the Penrith Arts & Culture group, is once again bringing live music to the streets of Penrith every Saturday throughout the summer months.
Sounds Around Town celebrates the incredible local talent in Penrith and Cumbria while encouraging visitors to explore the town centre, stay longer, and enjoy everything our community has to offer.
Each Saturday afternoon, from around 2pm to 4pm, different bands and solo artists will perform in various locations around town - bringing energy, creativity, and a fantastic atmosphere to Penrith across the Summer.
Cllr Val Bowen, Penrith Town Council Chair & Mayor of Penrith said:
“It is wonderful to have Sounds Around Town back in Penrith for Summer 2025!
“The Council is proud to make this project happen alongside our partners Plug & Play and EVAN which not only showcases the outstanding live music offer in Penrith but also brings energy and footfall to our town centre. It’s events like this that make Penrith such a lively and inviting place to live, work, and visit.
“So, with performances popping up in unexpected places, there’s always something exciting just around the corner – and we can’t wait to see it all come to life again this summer.”
We have a packed Summer schedule of performances ahead of us - keep up to date with who is playing when and where, by keeping an eye on the Penrith Town Council social media pages or sign-up for our bi-weekly round-up of events and activities: https://shorturl.at/cgvxI
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 Image Description: Annual Report 2024/2025. Click on this image to open up a digital version of the Annual Report 2024/2025.
Penrith Town Council is pleased to announce the publication of its Annual Report for 2024/25, providing residents a summary of the Council’s work over the past year.
The report highlights the Council’s achievements, key projects and its ongoing commitment to serving the people of Penrith. From community events like the successful Penrith May Day 2025 to investments in play areas, local amenities, and engagement with the local community, the Annual Report reflects a year of meaningful progress and collaborative community effort.
We encourage all members of the community to read the report and see how your Town Council has been working on your behalf.
The Penrith Town Council Annual Report was presented at the Annual Town Meeting, where the former Mayor and Deputy Mayor presented providing further information about the work of the Council:
 Image Description: A collage of the Penrith VE Day 80 commemoration events. Click the image to open up a video of the VE Day 80 Commemoration event at St Andrews.
On Thursday 8 May 1945, news of Germany’s surrender was embraced by the people and millions took to the streets to celebrate the end of WWII in Europe in what would become known as Victory in Europe (VE) Day.
On Thursday 8 May 2025, 80 years later, Penrith Town Council was pleased to coordinate the VE Day 80 commemoration events in Penrith to honour those fought for our freedom in World War II.
At 9am on the Thursday, Cllr Scott Jackson read the VE Day Proclamation at Penrith Town Hall on behalf of the Penrith Mayor, where VE Day flag was also raised.
Watch a video of the Proclamation on the Council's Facebook page.
Later that evening, the Council organised a special commemorative event at St Andrews which included the singing of period songs by Lakeland Larks, the reading of the International Tribute by Royal British Legion Chair Kerryanne Wilde, the sharing of stories of Veterans and the family of Veterans and culminating in the lighting of a gas beacon by Veteran Brian Donaghy.
Watch a full length video of the event on the Council's YouTube channel.
I’ve spent my life in the North of England, growing up in Liverpool and living in small market towns for over forty years. After a career in banking and IT, I retired in 2021 and earned a first-class honours degree in digital imaging and photography from UCLan in 2023.
Astronomy is my oldest hobby, and astrophotography is why I started an interest in photography. That led to my degree and in turn to bookbinding and making photobooks. My work has been exhibited in Liverpool and Chester. Music is a major part of my life. I am an experienced choral singer and have sung in major concerts, including a BBC Prom Concert at the Royal Albert Hall. I took up playing the cello and saxophone in my 50s. I also play electric bass, and I am learning to play the organ.
I’ve long been involved in local and national charities linked to my interests in astronomy and music, serving as a trustee and chair. These roles, along with years of community engagement, have given me a strong belief in the importance of local voices and vibrant town life.
As a town councillor, I want to help Penrith build on its many strengths—supporting local businesses, improving our environment, and making the town a great place to live and visit. I’m proud to represent Penrith East and encourage others who care about our community to get involved.
Cllr Ron Kelley, Penrith East
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Penrith Town Council has recently published its updated Business Plan, outlining the Council's key priorities and objectives that will guide its work over the coming years.
The plan reflects the Council’s commitment to supporting the community, enhancing local services, and promoting sustainable development across the town.
Whether you’re a resident, business owner, or simply interested in the future of Penrith, the Business Plan offers valuable insights into the Council’s goals and actions.
Read now:
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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 14 July 2025
- Time: 6pm - 8pm
- Venue: Board Room, Unit 1 Church House, 19-24 Friargate
Planning Committee:
- Date: Monday 2 June 2025
- Time: 5.15pm - 7.15pm
- Venue: Unit 2, Church House, 19-24 Friargate
Finance Committee:
- Date: Monday 23 June 2025
- Time: 5.15pm - 7.15pm
- Venue: Board Room, Unit 1 Church House, 19-24 Friargate
Communities Committee:
- Date: Monday 9 June 2025
- Time: 5.15pm - 7.00pm
- Venue: Boardroom, Unit 1, Church House, 19-24 Friargate
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