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Transport

HealthWatch Public Transport Survey

Help Shape Public Transport in Westmorland and Furness – Public Transport Survey from HealthWatch

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.

Westmorland & Furness Council Parking Services Review

Westmorland and Furness Council is reviewing parking services throughout their area, and would love to hear from you.

This is your opportunity to join the community conversation on parking in the region and shape the future of parking in
Westmorland & Furness

Tell us what you think is working, and what isn’t. What would you like to see improved? Your insights will help us deliver parking services that better meet the needs of our communities.

Why should I get involved?

  • Reflect local priorities and climate goa
  • Make parking easier and more consisten
  • Support local people, businesses and town centres

The survey should only take a few minutes to complete and will help shape service in the future. To access the survey, click here.

Participation is completely voluntary and you may stop the survey at any time. Responses will only be used by Westmorland and Furness Council (or its appointed partners) for analysis and service planning purposes

All responses will be confidential and used only to help improve parking services in Westmorland and Furness.
No personally identifiable information will be collected unless you choose to provide it. All data will be stored securely and reported in a way that does not identify individual respondents.

28478 WFC Parking Survey2Download

Update On Recent Changes to the 552 Bus Service

Following complaints about recent changes to the bus service to include Silverdale and Carnforth, Westmorland and Furness Council are investigating the issue.

Data from recent journeys show that the arrival times are erratic with the service sometimes running on or close to time, and on other days significantly late – although there is no apparent pattern. On some days the bus appears to leave Carnforth on time, but loses time on the way to Arnside, possibly delayed by roadworks or other obstructions outside the control of the operator.

There are concerns about the time being allowed between Carnforth and Arnside, so if there is a re-occurrence of the problem, please contact the Council’s Scheduled Bus Services team on 01228 226433 so the issue can be brought to the company’s attention.

The best place to find the current timetable, or any timetable for the area, the Council’s own website as that gets updated whenever services change, including warnings of forthcoming changes: westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/buses/service/552 (for other services just add the service number in place of 552). A paper copy of the timetable can be posted out if necessary by ringing 0333 240 6965 (option 1) in office hours Monday to Friday.

552 Bus ServiceDownload

A65 Closure between Crooklands Roundabout and Nook

The A65 between Crooklands roundabout and Nook will be fully closed to traffic overnight from Monday, 23rd September 2024 (Monday – Friday 8:00pm to 5:00am), for approximately 4 weeks.

There have been temporary traffic lights at the site for several months. The lights were installed in response to an incident involving a HGV leaving the carriageway, and overturning into the adjacent land. The accident caused significant damage to the verge, leaving the carriageway edge unsupported with a steep drop off into the adjacent land.

A contractor has now been appointed to undertake the works on behalf of the council. The scheme involves the construction of a new pre-cast concrete retaining wall, approximately 35 metres in length.

Regrettably, the closure of the A65 will cause unavoidable disruption. The construction of the wall will require heavy plant and machinery, which will take up both lanes of the usable carriageway. It is hoped that disruption will be minimised as much as possible by undertaking the works at night and reinstating the traffic lights at the end of each shift, allowing the road to reopen to traffic the following day.

The contractor has been instructed to place advance warning signs on site, advising road users of the upcoming night closures from 23rd September. Stagecoach and KT Coaches have confirmed the closure from 8pm will not impact upon their services.