In April's edition:
 Image Description: Penrith May Day Collage.
The countdown to Penrith May Day 2026 is on, and the town centre is set to come alive on Monday 4 May 2026 with an afternoon packed with lots of entertainment, performances, activities and family fun - all inspired by this year’s theme, “In the Garden.”
Organised by Penrith Town Council, the event takes place in Penrith town centre from 12pm to 5pm, with the funfair at Sandgate Bus Station running from 10am to 7pm. The event celebrates growth, nature and creativity alongside the community spirit that underpins Penrith’s long‑standing May Day tradition.
Building on the success of last year’s event, the event programme will include free entertainment including live music, street entertainment, arts and crafts, table-top and classic carnival games, bungees and land train rides. These free activities will sit alongside the much-loved Taylors Funfair at Sandgate Bus Station (10am – 7pm) and a children’s fairground on King Street (12pm – 5pm) also delivered by Taylors Funfair.
A standout moment of the day will be the Green Man parade, created and delivered by Upfront Arts and supported by local community groups and schools. Four Guardians and other costumed characters will join a huge Green Man, serenaded and dancing through town!
Cllr Val Bowen, Chair of Penrith Town Council and Mayor, said:
“Penrith May Day is one of the highlights of our year, and a wonderful chance for residents and visitors to come together and enjoy the very best of our town.
“As Chair of the Town Council and Mayor, I’m especially proud that we’ve built in so many free activities to help make May Day as accessible as possible for everyone, from classic carnival games and tabletop games to free land train rides and mini golf, alongside performances, crafts and the exciting Green Man parade which is not to be missed!”
“With the bank holiday coming up quickly, I’d encourage everyone to pencil Penrith May Day in your diary - whether you’re coming for an hour or staying all afternoon, you’ll find a warm welcome and plenty to enjoy.”
Penrith Town Council would like to thank its 2026 event funders, Penrith BID (£5,000) and Westmorland and Furness Council (£3,930), for their support in helping to deliver the event.
For the latest information about Penrith May Day 2026, please visit the Penrith Arts & Culture website.
The official Penrith May Day 2026 event programme is also available to view online on the Penrith Arts & Culture website.
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 Image Description: A collage of Penrith Goes Orange 2026. Our thanks to Penrith Chamber of Trade for use of the top two images.
Penrith Town Council was pleased to support Penrith Goes Orange, which took place on Saturday 25 April, an event delivered by Penrith Business Improvement District (BID) and Penrith Chamber of Trade in partnership with the Dalemain World Marmalade Awards & Festival.
The Council provided a £500 contribution towards the delivery of the event, helping to support a free shuttle bus between Dalemain and Penrith for residents to use for free during the day, live performances from BJamba and Solway Express, and a very special appearance from Paddington Bear!
During the day, the Mayor of Penrith welcomed an international Dalemain delegation connected with the Marmalade Festival and was pleased to show them around Penrith town centre, highlighting the town’s businesses, community spaces and welcoming atmosphere.
Town‑centre businesses also took part in the Penrith Chamber of Trade's "Penrith Goes Orange" window competition, with The Unicorn Penrith announced as the overall winner, and Lily Rah and the Penrith Herald named as finalists.
Cllr Val Bowen, Chair of Penrith Town Council & Mayor of Penrith, said:
“It was a real pleasure to welcome members of the Dalemain delegation to Penrith, including international representatives from Japan and Spain, and to show them around our wonderful town, helping to pick the winner of the Penrith Goes Orange window competition!
"The atmosphere throughout the day was vibrant, with lots of people enjoying the town centre and our local offering.
"Penrith Goes Orange was a great example of how partnership working can make things happen - creating a welcoming and memorable experience, showcasing Penrith at its very best.”
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 Penrith Mayor & Deputy Donation Image Description:(From left to right): Cllr Val Bowen (Penrith Town Council Chair & Penrith Mayor), Cllr Barbara Jayson (Penrith Town Council Deputy Chair & Penrith Deputy Mayor), Lucinda (Happy Mums Foundation).
The Mayor & Deputy Mayor of Penrith have donated their annual expenses to The Happy Mums Foundation (HMF), supporting local mums with accessible, emotional and peer support.
The Mayor and Deputy Mayor can claim expenses associated with their civic duties. These unspent expenses are often donated to local good causes. This year, their combined expenses amount to £1,000 in total, and will help the HMF continue delivering welcoming, community-focused support for mums in and around Penrith.
Cllr Val Bowen, Mayor of Penrith, said:
“It’s a real pleasure to be able to support mums in our community through The Happy Mums Foundation. Too many people experience isolation and anxiety after having a baby, and it’s important that local support is easy to access, friendly and non-judgemental.
“By donating our expenses, we hope to help HMF continue offering a space where mums can talk openly, build confidence and know they are not alone.”
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Cllr Barbara Jayson, Deputy Mayor of Penrith, said:
“Motherhood can be joyful, but it can also be emotionally challenging and deeply isolating. HMF provides a safe, welcoming space where mums can speak honestly about how they’re feeling and get the support they need, without barriers.
“We’re proud to donate our expenses to this worthy cause.”
Cllr Bowen also recently gave a talk to the Penrith branch of the Women’s Institute (WI) about her experience as Mayor of Penrith, as the town’s first female Mayor, and the work of the Council. In recognition of her presentation, the WI made a £50 donation to The Happy Mums Foundation.
To find out more about The Happy Mums Foundation and their work, please visit their website.
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Penrith Town Council has completed a refresh of its website to make it clearer, more accessible and easier for residents and visitors to find and access Council information.
The update forms part of the Council’s ongoing commitment to improving how it communicates with the community and ensuring that online information works better for people with different needs, devices and levels of digital confidence.
Commenting on the update, Cllr Val Bowen, Chair, said:
“Our website is a key way in which residents understand what the Council does and how we work. This refresh will help improve transparency by making information clearer, easier to find and more consistent. The Council has based the update on recognised best practice, with accessibility and usability at the forefront, so that the website works better for everyone.”
Check out the refreshed website at: https://www.penrithtowncouncil.gov.uk/
 Image Description: Wild Play at Penrith May Day 2025.
Penrith Town Council is inviting residents to enjoy a brand‑new community event this summer with the launch of The Great Penrith Picnic, taking place on Saturday 4 July 2026 in Castle Park.
The free event is designed primarily as a showcase for local community, sports and voluntary groups, giving residents the chance to learn more about what’s on offer in Penrith and how they can get involved. Groups will be on hand to share information about their activities, answer questions and encourage new members and volunteers.
Alongside the community stalls, there will be plenty to enjoy around Castle Park throughout the day, including live music, family activities and opportunities to relax and spend time outdoors. The Great Penrith Picnic will also highlight other events and activities taking place across Penrith throughout the summer, helping residents discover ways to take part in local sport, culture, play and community life.
Cllr Barbara Jayson, Deputy Chair of Penrith Town Council and Chair of the Communities Committee, said:
“The Great Penrith Picnic is a new addition to our events programme and a chance for residents to engage with our fantastic variety of community and sports groups, in one of our most popular green spaces.
“It’s also an opportunity to highlight the range of events and activities happening across the town over the summer, and to bring community groups, organisations and residents together in a relaxed and welcoming setting.”
"I’m really excited about how our events programme is shaping up, building on the work of recent years and exploring new ways for the Council to support community life in Penrith. Keeping events free and accessible is a key part of that approach, and The Great Penrith Picnic reflects our commitment to creating inclusive events that everyone can enjoy. It sets the tone for an exciting summer ahead!”
For more information, please visit the Penrith Arts & Culture website which will be updated with more information as we get closer to the event.
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 Image Description: Cllr Val Bowen unveiling the Veterans Friendly Framework Status plaque at Cold Springs Residential Care Home. Click this image to see a video of the Cllr Val Bowen's Speecg at the event.
The Mayor of Penrith was recently welcomed to Cold Springs Residential Care Home to unveil a Veteran Friendly Framework plaque, marking the home’s achievement of Veteran Friendly status.
The Mayor was kindly invited by Cold Springs to take part in the celebration, which brought residents, staff and members of the local community together. During the visit, she unveiled the plaque and delivered a short speech recognising the importance of supporting veterans and the work being done by care homes to create inclusive and understanding environments.
Click this link to watch a short video of the Mayor's speech.
The visit also gave the Mayor the opportunity to spend time speaking with residents, hearing their stories and learning more about life at the home. The event formed part of a wider celebration at Cold Springs, which included an informal gathering for residents and guests.
Penrith Town Council congratulates Cold Springs Residential Care Home on achieving Veteran Friendly Framework status and thanks them for the invitation to take part in celebrating this important milestone.
 Image Description: The Annual Town Meeting of Penrith's 2026 Agenda
Penrith Town Council will hold its Annual Town Meeting on Monday 18 May 2026 from 6.00pm to 7.00pm at Unit 2, 19-24 Friargate, Penrith.
Doors open at 5.00pm for registration and networking. Light refreshments will be available.
The Annual Town Meeting is a meeting of Penrith local government electors and is not a meeting of the Town Council.
The meeting will be hosted by the Penrith Mayor and will include an update from Eden Local Focus Hub (Rich Scoffham and colleagues), along with short presentations from Town Council grant recipients. There will also be an opportunity for public questions on matters relating to the town.
The meeting is open to the public. Members of the public who are registered on the electoral register for Penrith may vote at the meeting once they have registered their postcode on arrival.
Questions may be submitted in advance by emailing office@penrithtowncouncil.gov.uk by 12 noon on Thursday 14 May 2026. Priority will be given to written questions submitted in advance. On the night, questions will be limited to three minutes per question, with time permitting.
Further information, including agenda and minutes, is available at: https://www.penrithtowncouncil.gov.uk/annual-town-meeting/
ADVANCED NOTICE: Fairhill Play Area – Temporary Closure (W/C 1 June)
 Image Description: Fairhill Play Area.
Fairhill Play Area will be temporarily closed from week commencing 1 June 2026 to allow essential repair works to take place.
The works will include repairs to the safety surface and the replacement of failing play equipment, following issues identified through an independent play area inspection. The closure is necessary to ensure the play area remains safe for all users.
Please note that the start date is provisional and may be subject to change due to weather conditions or delivery schedules. Updates will be provided if there are any changes to the timetable.
Thank you for your patience while these essential repairs are carried out.
Public Consultation Now Open on 20mph Proposal for Castletown
 Image Description: Proposed changes to speed limits in Castletown. Click on the image to open a higher resolution PDF of the proposed changes to speed limits in Castletown.
Community Effort Keeps Penrith North Defibrillators Rescue‑Ready
Image Description: (From left to right): John Holden (Volunteer) & Megan Stephenson (Community Resuscitation Engagement Officer for Cumbria with the North West Ambulance Service)
Since 2018, local councillors and volunteers have been working behind the scenes to ensure public defibrillators in Penrith North are regularly checked and ready for use if needed.
Defibrillators are currently located in redundant telephone kiosks at Beacon Edge and at the junction of Scotland Road and Drovers Lane. More recently, an additional defibrillator was installed on a post at the junction of Salkeld Road and Inglewood Road to improve local coverage.
Unfortunately, the cabinet at Salkeld Road was damaged. Local volunteer John Holden (husband of Penrith Town Council Carleton Councillor Deb Holden) who regularly checks all three defibrillators to ensure batteries are charged and pads are in date, raised the issue with North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) and sought support to resolve it.
John worked with Megan Stephenson, Community Resuscitation Engagement Officer for Cumbria with NWAS, to explore replacement options, who secured funding for a new cabinet, with support from a donation by the Penrith Rotary Team. Thanks to this funding, and the voluntary support of Paul, a local electrician who gave his time free of charge, a new cabinet was installed on 14 April 2026.
This project highlights the importance of community collaboration and the dedication of volunteers and local organisations working together to keep life‑saving equipment accessible and rescue‑ready for the benefit of everyone.
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 18 May 2026
- Time: 6pm - 7pm
- Venue: Unit 2, Church House, 19-24 Friargate
Full Council Meeting:
- Date: Monday 18 May 2026
- Time: 7.15pm - 9.15pm
- Venue: Unit 2, Church House, 19-24 Friargate
Planning Committee:
- Date: Monday 11 May 2026
- Time: 5.15pm - 7.15pm
- Venue: Unit 2, Church House, 19-24 Friargate
Finance Committee:
- Date: Monday 22 June 2026
- Time: 5.15pm - 7.15pm
- Venue: Board Room, Unit 1 Church House, 19-24 Friargate
Communities Committee:
- Date: Monday 29 June 2026
- Time: 5.15pm - 7.00pm
- Venue: Boardroom, Unit 1, Church House, 19-24 Friargate
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