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Author: Arnside Admin

New Playground Design

The New Arnside Playground Installation to Commence Week beginning 31st March

Confirmation has been received that the contractors will be on site week commencing 31st March to start the installation, which is scheduled to take 2-3 weeks allowing for any unforeseen groundworks and weather. The site will be fenced off shortly before 31st March.

Working hours on the site will be 8am to 6pm to get the work done as quickly as possible. Deliveries to the site will be made between 11am amd 1pm where possible to avoid school traffic.

People and properties directly affected will be contacted by either the Playground Group or the Parish Clerk, and the school has also been informed to pass details on to parents.

Don’t forget that the playground will be closed from 24th March to allow the current play equipment to be removed in readiness for work to start.

Carnforth 1940's Weekend

Step Back In Time With Carnforth’s First Ever 1940s Weekend

Carnforth’s first ever 1940s weekend will be held on June 28th and June 29th and will be celebrating 80 years of the film “Brief Encounter” which was filmed at Carnforth station. The free two day event is for the whole family.

You can expect live music, vintage cars and tractors, military vehicles, model railways, a funfair, best dressed competitions, Mr and Mrs Churchill impersonators, jive classes, a vintage catwalk and vintage stalls, a miniature children’s train ride, a 40s radio broadcast, and food and drink.

The event is being run in conjunction with Carnforth Heritage Visitor Centre.

For further information, contact Carnforth Heritage Visitor Centre or email carnforth1940s@gmail.com.

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New Playground Design

Date For Work To Start On The New Playground!

Although still awaiting final confirmation, all the hard work and effort of the fundraising group, together with the sponsors, donors and everyone involved in making this happen, will finally come to fruition next month.

Installation of the new playground is due to take place at the end of March, with removal of the existing playground taking place during the week before. While this will unfortunately mean that the playground will be closed from 24th March – and therefore over the Easter holidays, the other suggested installation date was not until September which would mean no new playground for the Summer holidays either.

Check out the fantastic new layout below, it will be well worth waiting for! An accessible playground for the future and for all children.

Playground PreviewDownload

Age Without Limits, Centre for Ageing Better – Campaign and Micro-grants

Age Without Limits, Centre for Ageing Better’s campaign to challenge ageism, is running its second annual Age Without Limits Day on Wednesday 11 June 2025, with the theme “Celebrate Ageing. Challenge Ageism“. It is a day for us all to come together and take action to end ageism – as individuals, with friends and family, in our communities and in our workplaces.

Micro-grants:
As last year, micro-grants are available to community groups and local voluntary sector organisations, big or small, based within Age-friendly Communities.
Grants of up to £500 are available, with an additional £150 to cover anything needed to make the event or activity more accessible. All events and activities will need to respond to the theme “Celebrate Ageing. Challenge Ageism”.

For inspiration of events and activities applicants could host, please read this blog and case studies from the March 2024 Age Without Limits Day. 

To apply, organisations or groups must fill in the application form and email it to grants@ageing-better.org.uk by

The application form, as well as an Information Document which all applicants are strongly advised to read before applying can be found on the Age Without Limits website by clicking here.

imon Leigh (left) ofr Hackney & Leigh eceiving the awards from Jason Fox

Local Estate Agent Hackney & Leigh wins ‘Double Gold’ in National Estate Agency Awards

Local estate agent, Hackney & Leigh, achieved Gold Awards for both its Sales and Lettings services and was also shortlisted for the Overall National Winner of the medium-sized agency category (six to twenty branches) in both disciplines in this year’s Best Estate Agent Guide Awards.

“We are absolutely delighted,” said Simon Leigh, director of Hackney & Leigh, an independent and family-run sales and lettings agency with ten branches in Cumbria and north Lancashire – including Arnside. “This recognition highlights our dedication to excellence and our commitment to delivering the best outcomes for our clients. It’s a fantastic reflection of all the hard work our team put in.”

Receiving Gold Awards for both its sales and lettings services means Hackney & Leigh is ranked in the top three per cent of agents nationwide. Each year, independent industry experts behind the Best Estate Agent Guide Awards conduct a comprehensive assessment of more than 13,000 estate agency brands. The evaluation is based on the criteria that matters most to clients, such as:

  • Success in actually selling and/or letting their property
  • The time taken to do so
  • Price achieved
  • eeping fall throughs to a minimum
  • Offering exceptional service
  • Maintaining strong client satisfaction.

The top 20 per cent make it into the guide, the top 10 per cent achieve Gold and only about the top three per cent achieve Double Gold.

Mr Leigh commented: “The great thing about these awards is their rigorous methodology, which is driven by millions of data points and sets a benchmark for excellence that inspires estate and letting agents to enhance their services. By identifying standout performers, the awards provide valuable guidance for those seeking reliable and efficient services when looking to buy, sell, rent and let property.”

Hackney & Leigh has now appeared in the Best Estate Agent Guide and won double gold for seven consecutive years, being named the Best Estate Agency in the UK in its category for 2023. The 2025 awards were announced at a ceremony at Evolution London in Battersea Park, and Mr Leigh attributed the company’s continued success to the performance of the team and the customer service they provide, coupled with an attention to detail and use of the latest technology.

The family business, started by Derrick Hackney & John Leigh in 1982, has gone from strength to strength over its 42 year plus history, with a number of new offices opening in recent years and a team of more than 70 people. In particular, the lettings side of the business has grown considerably and now looks after almost 1,400 tenancies on behalf of landlords. Commenting on the growth of lettings, Mr Leigh said: “A great deal of our success is because we now have a team of specialists focusing on the different elements of the process, including onboarding, inventories, inspections, maintenance, accounts and enquiries.”

Click here to visit their website

Arnside Children's Playground

Great News From The Arnside Playground Project

The target has been reached! 🎉😁😻 and the new playground equipment is currently being manufactured. The lead time is around 8-10 weeks and the installation takes 2-3 weeks. So the new playground should be up and running in time for summer at the latest 🛝🌞

Thank you to everyone who has helped, supported and donated to the Playground Project over the last 12 months. There has been amazing community involvement and it has all made this possible. Grants have been received from various trusts and community funds, as well as sizeable donations from local events including the Arnside Music Festival and the Arts & Crafts Fair in the summer. The Parish Council have also made a sizeable donation in recognition of the importance of having a safe, stimulating children’s playground in the village.

The price has been renegotiated with the supplier, and it has been agreed to use our own contractor to remove the current equipment. A generous offer to supply security fencing while the work is done free of charge has all helped to get to our goal.

So a massive ‘Thank You!’ and ‘Well Done!’ to the fundraising group, sponsors, donors and everyone involved in making this happen.

We look forward to seeing all the children having a great time and enjoying the new Arnside Playground!

New Hospital Consultation

Public Invited to Help Shape the Future of Healthcare in Lancashire and Cumbria

Members of the public are being invited to “help shape the future of healthcare” in Lancashire and South Cumbria by giving feedback on the proposed sites for two new hospitals.

The sites for replacements for Royal Preston Hospital and Royal Lancaster Infirmary were announced on 2nd December2024 but, while the land has been acquired, the NHS said it “remains open to alternative suggestions”.

Kevin Lavery, chief executive of NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board, said: “We are eager to hear people’s thoughts on the proposed sites, how they could affect you, and any concerns or suggestions you may have. Two new hospitals on new sites are an exciting prospect, but no final decisions have been made.”

He added: “This is your chance to help shape the future of healthcare in Lancashire and South Cumbria. Feedback is vital as we continue to refine our proposals and ensure we are meeting the needs of our diverse communities.”

A series of public engagement events have been lined up for people to say how the proposed locations may impact them:

Monday 3 February, from 17:30 to 19:00, Lancaster Town Hall

Wednesday 12 February, from 17:30 to 19:00, Morecambe Football Club

Friday 14 March, from 10:00 to 11:30, Lancaster University

Thursday 20 March, from 10:00 to 11:30, Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal

Professor Silas Nicholls, chief executive of Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This phase of public engagement is crucial in ensuring the replacement for Royal Preston Hospital meets the needs of our local communities.

Big Trek 4 Palestine

Fundraising Trek from Arnside to the Turkey/Syria Border

Two Arnside residents are planning a 4000 mile trek from Arnside to the Turkey/Syria border to raise money for the charity Medical Aid For Palestinians (MAP).

They will be setting off on 2nd May 2025 and it will take around 6 months to complete the walk, crossing 11 countries on the way.

They are inviting residents to join them for the first stretch of the walk – people can choose to join them for the first part of the initial stretch (Arnside to Silverdale) or can accompany them all the way to Lancaster.

To find out more, take a look at their Facebook and Instagram pages, or to check out the charity they are supporting, click here