A new Heritage Display about Arnside’s Maritime Heritage is opening in the Sailing Club Clubhouse ,for the first time this weekend on Monday 25th May from 1pm to 4pm. Teas, coffees and cakes will be available.
The estuary acted as the port for Kendal and had its own Vice Admiral. In the nineteenth century, with big houses being built on the shore, leisure sailing developed.
Crossfields built yachts and Morecambe Bay Prawners, including Arthur Ransome’s ‘Swallow’. The viaduct is a major feat of Victorian engineering.
The Heritage Display has been funded by a grant from Westmorland and Furness Council.
We are looking for volunteers interested in helping us staff the exhibition.
A temporary road closure has been put in place to allow Fibrus to carry out utility works which are expected to commence Wednesday, 3rd June 2026 and anticipated to take 3 days to complete.
Please see below details of the extents of the restriction(s) and any alternative route(s) which may be in place, the relevant legal notice can be viewed here and a location plan clearly showing these extents can be found here.
Location: Orchard Road, Arnside, from its junction with Silverdale Road, extending in a north easterly direction for a distance of approx. 125m.
Alternative Route: A suitable alternative route will be signed and made available via Silverdale Road and the unrestricted section of Orchard Road. A way for pedestrians and dismounted cyclists will be maintained at all times.
N.B Passage for Emergency Vehicles will be maintained where required for the duration of this restriction.
Should you have any queries in relation to this Temporary Order please contact the Highways Hotline by calling 0300 373 3306 or via the Westmorland & Furness Council website, quoting the reference TTROW/19507
Four years ago, a large development plan was proposed along the coast road at Sandside. The site includes the areas currently used by businesses along the road between the existing residential properties and The Ship Inn, as well as areas behind on Quarry Lane. The proposal was paused due to objections, however, it has now been re-submitted with some amendments to the original.
There is a very short deadline of 21st April 2026 for anyone to comment on the plan so, if you want to comment, you need to do it by Tuesday.
The application is for mixed use development including 160 residential units, restaurant/café and live/work units at land at Park Road and Quarry Lane, Sandside, Milnthorpe, LA7 7HW; Reference SL/2022/1177
The above includes three 4 storey blocks of flats, and a very modern design 5 story block with apartments on the ‘Waterfront’ part of the site – alongside the main road.
Local primary school pupils are invited to experience a wide range of inspiring secondary school activities through Dallam School’s ‘2026 Step Up to Dallam’ outreach programme.
Building on last year’s success, the programme offers primary school groups a varied menu of hands-on sessions to give children a taste of secondary school life while supporting their learning across a range of subjects.
This year’s sessions include the opportunity to serve as a United Nations ambassador for the day, taking on the role of a world leader to create a ‘Peace and Trust Charter’. There are also tailored lab-based science sessions for Key Stage 2 pupils, with practical work including microscopes, diffusion and dissolving, and flame colours using Bunsen burners.
Pupils can also meet author and CBeebies star, Joseph Elliott. for an afternoon of storytelling – or explore their creative side through music, drama and art workshops featuring African drumming, performance work in Dallam’s drama studio, and printmaking.
Other sessions include:
Designing a cookie cutter using computer software before baking biscuits in the food technology room,
Discovering the creative side of maths through origami and pattern-making, and
Learning Spanish through language and crafts.
Alongside the scheduled visits, primary schools can also invite Headteacher Mr Henneberry into school to teach a maths lesson, while breadmaking and French is also an option throughout the year.
The programme is designed to help pupils build confidence ahead of the move to secondary school.
Download the full programme here. Book your sessions using this form.
The Bittern Sharing Community is a new group dedicated to facilitating tool sharing within the Arnside and Silverdale National Landscape, encompassing Storth, Beetham, the Yealands, and Warton.
The objective is to build a community of generously minded and trustworthy people to share things we have and don’t use regularly, or don’t have and need irregularly. With the aim of reducing our carbon footprint and deepening community connections.
The Arnside Repair Café will conduct PAT testing on all tools and provide minor repairs as necessary.
At present, the focus is on sharing low-risk tools, including:
DIY/household tools: handheld power sander, wallpaper stripper, gazebo, carpet cleaner
Kitchen equipment: pressure cooker, apple press, trestle tables, food dehydrator, water urn
Please note, the group does not facilitate sharing of tools with blades, commercial power tools, ladders over 2m, or any item requiring a license for use.
The BCCIC assumes no responsibility for loss or damage of items. Members are advised to share only those tools for which they are willing to accept this risk, and to review the user agreement prior to participation.
How it Works Membership of the Bittern Sharing Community is free.
To join, there are two online sign up forms:
Quick sign up link – registering your interest
Full sign up link – including the items you’re willing to share
Borrow: A quarterly ‘List of Shares’ will be sent to all members so you can easily contact tool owners.
You can also use our Facebook group to request or offer items. Borrowing or lending via Facebook is subject to the Bittern Sharing Community User Agreement.
Return: Please return items within one week, unless you arrange a longer period with the owner.
Would you like to make an important contribution to the area you live in? Get involved in making decisions about the local community? Then this is the position for you!
It’s rewarding and enjoyable as you will be involved in making changes to help improve the lives of Arnside residents.
What’s Involved Parish Councillors are unpaid volunteers who meet at least once a month. The purpose is to maintain and improve Arnside for all. You can support this by bringing your skills and knowledge to the Council, by proposing and getting involved in local projects while researching and engaging in conversations with parishioners and others.
Arnside Parish Council consists of eight councillors and three employees – the Parish Clerk, the Finance Officer and the Cemetery Officer. It is an effective team of like-minded people all wanting to make a positive difference.
The monthly meetings may last a couple of hours. You may also join committees, working groups and ad hoc meetings. No special qualification is required to be a councillor. It is important that all sorts of people serve as councillors so that all parts of our community are represented. Training for new councillors is available to help you understand the responsibilities of the role.
What does the Parish Council Do? Arnside Parish Council makes all kinds of decisions on issues that affect the local community. The most common topics that we get involved with are:
Planning matters – the Parish Council is a consultee,
Managing and maintaining the services and facilities we are responsible for,
Helping local groups, and campaigning for and delivering better services and facilities.
It’s true to say that, on their own, parish councils have limited powers to make decisions – but they do have the ability to negotiate with, and the power to influence, those other organisations that do make the final decisions, such as Westmorland & Furness Council and the Arnside & Silverdale National Landscape amongst others.
In this respect, parish councils are quite powerful. The organisations that make the final decisions know that a parish council gives the best reflection of how a community feels about something, and its views will be taken seriously.
The parish council also has the power to raise money through taxation – the ‘precept’ (the parish council’s share of the council tax) – to help meet its spending requirements.
Am I eligible to be a Parish Councillor?
You must be: a British subject, or a citizen of the Commonwealth or the European Union and over 18 years of age.
Additionally, you have to be at least one of the following:
• A local government elector for the council area for which you want to stand. • Have, during the whole of the 12 months, occupied as owner or tenant any land or other premises in the council area or within 3 miles of it for the whole period/ • Have, during that same period, had your principal or only place of work in the council area or within 3 miles of it for the whole period. • Have lived in the parish area or within three miles of it during the whole of the 12 months before the day of your nomination.
You cannot stand for election if you:
• Are subject of a bankruptcy restriction order or interim order. • Have, within five years before the day of the election, been convicted in the UK of any offence and have had a sentence of imprisonment (whether suspended or not) for a period of over three months without the option of a fine. • You work for the council you want to become a councillor for (but you can work for other local authorities, including the principal authorities that represent the same area). • Are subject to certain sexual offence legal orders under the Local Government Disqualification Act 2022 (which disqualifies individuals from standing for election or holding office in local authorities).
You don’t have to be connected to a political party. If you do become a parish councillor you will have to sign up to the Code of Conduct.
Local estate agent, Hackney & Leigh, has won three national awards at the prestigious EA Masters Best Estate Agent Guide Awards in London, underscoring the agency’s market-leading performance across sales and lettings.
• Best Sales and Lettings Estate Agency in the UK (6–20 branches)
• Best Lettings Manager in the UK – Jo Thompson, Head of Lettings
• Best Sales Manager in the UK – Keira Evans, Kendal Branch Manager
“We can’t believe it – we’ve done the treble!” said Simon Leigh, Director of Hackney & Leigh, the independent ,family-run Sales and Lettings agency with branches in Ambleside, Arnside, Carnforth, Grange-over-Sands, Kendal, Keswick, Kirkby Lonsdale, Penrith, Ulverston and Windermere.
“This is a truly momentous achievement. I am incredibly proud of our fantastic team and I am delighted for Jo and Keira in particular. These awards recognise the hard work, passion and commitment they devote to delivering outstanding results for our clients.”
The awards were presented at a glittering ceremony at Evolution London in Battersea Park, attended by more than 1,000 estate agents and industry partners.
Each year, the team behind the Best Estate Agent Guide carries out an independent performance assessment of the entire estate agency industry to identify the best agencies in the country, based on marketing, service and results. The top performers are then mystery-shopped to ensure exceptional service levels are achieved and that all the latest marketing techniques are being employed to create the perfect first impression of their clients’ properties.
The process for individual awards included Jo and Keira having in-depth interviews with industry leaders to understand more about them, their values and how they go about achieving the results for their clients. On winning the Best Lettings Manager in the UK, Jo Thompson, who lives near Kendal, said: “I am honoured and elated to have won the award. It is not only a great result for me, but it recognises what a fantastic team I have that supports me.”
The judges said her in-depth industry knowledge was a key factor in their decision. Jo has been in the industry for over a decade, having previously been a manager in the hospitality world. She joined Hackney & Leigh in 2017 and has helped shape and grow the business into what it is today.
Following the presentation for Best Sales Manager in the UK, Keira Evans said: “I am delighted to have won the award, not just for myself, but for my team. Just to be nominated was incredible, but to win was a total privilege. I’m utterly flattered to be recognised for my work in a profession I’m so passionate about, especially given the quality of the competition.”
Commenting on Keira’s win, the judges said she had shown fantastic knowledge of her market, alongside a wonderful empathy for her clients. Keira has worked as an estate agent for ten years, following a successful career as a Sales Manager in the equine industry. She joined Hackney & Leigh at the start of 2022 and has taken the Kendal office from strength to strength.
Peter Knight, founder of the Best Estate Agent Guide and EA Masters, said: “We are delighted to recognise and help celebrate the outstanding achievements of everyone who took home an award at this year’s EA Masters. “They represent the top-performing agents in the UK, setting the benchmark for excellence in customer service, expertise and results. “We congratulate this year’s winners, who continue to raise standards in the industry and truly exemplify what it means to be the very best.”
In response to the climate and biodiversity crises, Westmorland and Furness Council want to help our communities to plant one tree, or one metre of hedgerow equivalent, for every resident. This means planting a quarter of a million trees over a five-year period.
Trees have various benefits for climate, biodiversity and communities, such as:
absorbing and storing carbon
providing shade and shelter
increasing biodiversity and enhancing landscapes
capturing air pollution and improving air quality
improving water quality
reducing soil erosion
reducing flooding risk
How to get involved
There are many different ways in which you can help reach our aim of planting 250,000 trees. If would like more details or want to tell us how many trees or hedgerows you have planted so we can count them, please contact us.
Free Trees for Residents: We are giving away free tree saplings as part of the ‘One Tree Per Resident Project’.
Who Can Apply: You can apply on behalf of:
you – as a resident
schools
town and parish councils
landowners
community groups
Trees and Hedge Packs: You can apply for multiple saplings. Larger planting schemes will be assessed for feasibility. Tree species and numbers are subject to availability.
Tree species: There are 10 species of tree in the scheme.
Crab Apple – Small gardens, pot-friendly, moist, heavier soil, pollinators and birds.
Field Maple – Medium to large gardens, moderately moist, wildlife and autumn colour.
Guelder Rose – Small gardens, pot friendly, moist, fertile soil, berries for birds (otherwise toxic)
Hawthorn – Small to large gardens, moist to dry soil, wildlife.
Hazel – Small gardens, pot-friendly, moist soil, not waterlogged, wildlife and nuts.
Juniper – Small gardens, pot-friendly. Dry, well-drained soil. Wildlife, berries for birds (otherwise toxic)
Rowan – Small gardens, pot-friendly. Light, moist soil. Berries for birds (otherwise toxic)
Silver Birch – Medium to large gardens. Moist, well-drained soil. Wildlife, light canopy.
Whitebeam – Medium to large gardens. Dry to moist soil. Birds.
Yew – Small gardens, pot-friendly. Dry to moist soil. Evergreen, berries (all parts of the tree are toxic)
Pick the trees suitable for your planting area. Some are suitable for pots if managed. Read advice on how to pick the right trees to plant, and how to plant them on the Woodland Trust website
How to Apply: Before you apply, you’ll need to know: Your chosen tree species and the What3Words location of your planting site.
Applications will be open until 30 November 2025, but may clsoe early subject to demand. Please note hedge packs are not currently available due to high demand.
Progress: To date, we have planted 41,544 trees which is 17% of the total needed to achieve the goal of ‘One Tree per Resident’. This planting has been delivered by council teams, supported by the Community Orchard and Micro Woodland initiatives funded through the Coronation Living Heritage Fund.
Our key partner, Raise: Cumbria Community Forest, has also played a vital role in delivering additional planting schemes..
Sustainable Arnside is once again offering this FREE service to people interested in understanding the areas of their home that could potentially be insulated better and, in the long run, save money – which is most likely, all of us!
Thermal imaging can identify cold spots in your home, such as draughts around windows and doors, missing and defective insulation, water ingress, damp, and cold bridges. It can indicate both quick fixes as well as areas that require professional advice, giving the opportunity to make your home warmer, healthier, cheaper to heat and lower your home’s carbon footprint.
The thermal imaging camera detects the heat emitted by objects and shows it in a colour-coded way – the colder areas are shown in blue and the warmer ones in red.
Anyone is eligible for the home survey. All surveys are carried out by local volunteers in collaboration with Futureproof Cumbria.
The window for conducting thermal imaging is November – as the weather turns colder, through to the end of March – before the weather warms up.
Do you face difficulties getting to GP, hospital or other health appointments using public transport? We want to hear from you.
Transport is a recurring issue we hear about at Healthwatch Westmorland and Furness and your experiences could help improve the system for everyone. Wherever the Healthwatch team goes, we hear how difficult it can be to get to medical appointments if you:
Don’t own a car
Don’t have friends or family available to give you a lift
Aren’t eligible for patient transport services
From poor bus connections to high taxi costs, these barriers stop people from accessing the care they need. With Westmorland and Furness and Cumberland Councils developing a new Cumbria-wide mayoral authority – which will have powers over both public transport and health and wellbeing – this project is more important than ever.
What we’re doing
We’re collecting first-hand experiences of travelling to health appointments by public transport (buses, taxis, trains, community transport schemes, plus volunteer car schemes), whether that’s:
Primary care (GPs, dentists)
Secondary care (hospital)
Follow-on care (physiotherapy, rehabilitation programmes, therapy sessions, support groups)
Your appointment doesn’t have to be in Westmorland and Furness as we’re aware many people travel to Carlisle, Lancaster, Whitehaven, Preston, Newcastle and Northumberland for treatment. We’ll combine survey results with case studies and information from engagement events to create a report to take to public transport commissioners and service providers.
Our aim: to make a positive impact on future service provision.
How to get involved
📝 Take our survey: it takes less than five minutes to complete, depending on how much detail you choose to give. To take the survey, click here. Survey closes 31st October 2025.
📢 Share the survey with friends, family, and community groups.
🗣 Invite us to speak at your organisation or group meeting.
Who we want to hear from: We want to gather experiences from anyone who uses (or tries to use) public, community, or volunteer schemes to reach healthcare. In particular:
Disabled people
Older residents
People with long-term health conditions
Anyone without access to a private vehicle
Every voice matters, whether your journey has been smooth or difficult.
Why your voice matters – the information you provide will:
Highlight real barriers faced by local people.
Give decision-makers the evidence they need to make improvements.
Ensure transport planning reflects the needs of patients across Cumbria
This is your chance to help shape how transport services work for healthcare access in the future.
Contact us: 📧 info@healthwatchwestfurn.co.uk
📞 0300 373 2820
Healthwatch Westmorland and Furness is a patient voice organisation, listening to what people have to say about their health and social care.
