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Vacancy For Gentle Exercise Volunteer Leader

Age UK South Lakeland are looking for enthusiastic Volunteer Leaders to host our weekly hour-long classes for older people in Grange, Endmoor and relief cover in the South Lakes area (including Arnside) which focus on gentle chair-based activities and exercises.

The classes provide a vital role in helping the community keep fit, active and healthy in a fun and supportive environment.

If you like working with groups and have an interest in physical activities, this could be the volunteer role for you! They will pay your expenses and training is provided.

If you can spare a few hours a week, or just a few hours a month and would like more information, please call Suzanne Ambrose on 01539 728118, or email sambrose@ageuksouthlakeland.org.uk

The next training day is on Thursday 16th May so don’t delay in getting in touch.

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Network Rail Photo

Furness Line to Open Next Week

Westmorland & Furness Council have advised that plans are well underway to reopen the Furness Line and resume services on Monday 22 April 2024. The timetable schedules should be loaded into the systems very shortly.

They are aware that It’s been a long and challenging few weeks and are aware how hard the closure of the line has hit local communities. Many people have shared their experiences and concerns, which have contributed to improved rail replacement services and customer information provision. However, they are aware the overall response to the situation could have been managed more effectively. They will be continuing conversations with rail industry colleagues to seek assurances that future incidents will be dealt with more efficiently and with relevant customer care.

Network Rail have issued the following press release:

‘Network Rail engineers have successfully repaired the embankment as part of a complex operation to recover the railway after a train derailed in Grange-over-Sands on Friday 22 March 2024. The next step is to re-lay the ballast (railway stones) and track before services can run again. Engineers confirm the work is on track to be completed next week.’

‘The derailment involved a Northern train coming off the tracks. A void in the ground was found around 150m away from the train. The team have been working around the clock to repair the damage as efficiently as possible. A specialist crane was brought in to rerail and remove the train from the site of the derailment. With the train safely removed, engineers could start to repair the railway. A variety of methods were used to carry out a thorough investigation into the ground conditions at the site, while also carrying out complicated repairs in the challenging environment.’

Passengers are advised to visit northernrailway.co.uk/service-updates for the latest travel advice.

Bus Timetable Poster

Improved Bus Service in Arnside!

Arnside now has a bus service to Kendal (552) on 6 days of the week. From Monday to Saturday, the bus will leave the Promenade at 9.30am, travelling though Milnthorpe, Heversham and Natland to Kendal. The return journey will leave Kendal Bus Station at 1.15pm.

On Tuesdays, the 550 will leave the Promenade at 9.30am, travelling via Carnforth to Morecambe. The return journey will be from Morrisons in Morecambe, leaving at 1.15pm.

There is an option to catch the school bus (99) to Kirkby Lonsdale during term time, leaving the the Promenade at 7.45am.

The reason for the improved service is that the Department for Transport has awarded Westmorland and Furness Council £1.7 million of Bus Service Improvement Plan Plus (BSIP+) funding to enhance services across the area in 2024/25.

To ensure that services supported by the latest tranche of BSIP+ funding meet the needs of communities and lead to well-supported provision, the Council has launched a consultation offering residents, businesses and visitors the opportunity to shape spending plans.

To have your say and complete the online Bus Service Improvement Plan Plus Funding Consultation, click here. The consultation ends on 30th April.

Councillor Neil Hughes, Cabinet Member for Transport and Environmental Services, said: “The £1.7 million funding awarded to our council, supports us in taking a significant step towards enhancing bus provision across Westmorland and Furness. Living in a rural area like ours, providing more frequent, enhanced services will open the door for our residents and visitors to choose travelling by bus as their preferred way to travel and create more enjoyable, sustainable journeys for all. It is the Council’s ambition to allocate the funding towards creating a network of well-supported bus services that moves us closer towards achieving our net-zero ambitions. We recognise that in order to do so, supported routes must meet the needs of communities and visitors across the area. I encourage you to take part in our consultation, whether you currently use bus transport or you aspire to, to make sure we get the most out of every pound that we spend.”

Six drop-in sessions have been arranged at various locations in April, providing communities the chance to engage directly with the Sustainable Transport Team and share their perspectives. Sessions will be held on the following dates in Barrow-in-Furness, Grange, Kendal, Kirkby Stephen, Penrith, Sedbergh and Ulverston:

  • Penrith Library – Thursday, 4th April, 10am to 2pm
  • Westmorland Shopping Centre, Kendal – Wednesday, 10th April,10am to 2pm
  • Grange Library – Thursday, 11th April, 10am to 2pm
  • Methodist Church, Kirkby Stephen – Thursday, 18th April, 5.30pm to 6.30pm
  • Sedbergh Medical Centre – Tuesday, 23rd April, 5.30pm to 6.30pm
  • The Coronation Hall, Ulverston – Thursday, 25th April, 10am to 2pm
  • The Forum, Barrow-in-Furness. Friday, 26th April, 10am to 2pm

For those unable to attend during the day, an online event has been arranged on Wednesday, 24th April from 6pm to 7pm. To receive a link to join, please email media@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk.

The Council is also exploring the possibility of holding additional public meetings at locations across the area.

Paper copies of the survey will be available to complete at Westmorland and Furness Council Libraries in Barrow, Grange, Kendal and Penrith from Monday, 25 March until the end of the consultation period on Tuesday 30 April.

For more information about bus services across Westmorland and Furness, visit westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk

Westmorland and Furness Council Logo

Survey – Wildlife & Nature in the Arnside Area

Sustainable Arnside invite Arnside residents to help Westmorland and Furness Council understand the needs of Arnside residents in relation to ‘Wildlife and Nature‘ locally by completing the survey below.

  • What do you think about nature and wildlife in your local area.
  • What are your favourite places?
  • How do you like to spend time in nature?
  • What birds, animals, and insects do you love to see?
  • By letting us know what is important to you, you’ll be helping to develop plans to make more space for nature in Cumbria. We’ll share your priorities and ideas with the organisations who look after local green spaces, nature reserves, and the countryside.

These questions are being asked as part of a process to develop a Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) – every part of England will be producing one as they’re required by law under the Environment Act 2021. Once it’s written, everyone in Cumbria will be able to use it to make sure that work to create and manage wildlife habitat is done in a way that brings the most benefits to people and nature.

Westmorland and Furness Council are leading the work on developing the Local Nature Recovery Strategy, working closely with Cumberland Council, Natural England, Lake District National Park Authority and Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, supported by Cumbria Local Nature Partnership, but want to hear what matters to you.

Whether you love watching the garden birds, enjoy an epic day exploring the fells, or are more at home rock-pooling by the sea, your views on nature are really important.

To complete the survey, click here before 31st May 2024.

arnside parish council logo

Vacancy for Clerk to Arnside Parish Council

Arnside Parish Council have a vacancy for Clerk to the Parish Council. Details below.

Closing date for applications is Friday, 12th April 2024.

For an application form, job description and person specification, please contact the Clerk via email at
clerk@arnsideparishcouncil.co.uk.

Completed applications should be sent marked ‘Private & Confidential’ for the attention of the Clerk no later
than Friday 12th April 2024 to the following address: Arnside Parish Council, Cemetery Chapel, Silverdale
Road, Arnside, LA5 0ER.

Arnside-Parish-Council-Clerk-Vacancy-2024Download

NWAS Promotes the Use of NHS 111 online During the Easter Bank Holiday Weekend

As Easter approaches, North West Ambulance Service is highlighting the benefit of using NHS 111 online to help with non-urgent health concerns.

Traditionally, Bank Holiday weekends are a busy time for health advisors in the NHS 111 call centres in the North West, as the public has less access to GPs and pharmacies. This can lead to patients waiting longer than usual to speak to a health advisor over the phone. NHS 111 online can supply a wide range of health advice and information without the wait.

It can help with:

  • how to find general health information and advice
  • where to get help for your symptoms if you’re not sure what to do
  • where to get an emergency supply of your prescribed medicine
  • how to get a repeat prescription
  • how to get emergency dental appointments

The online service is not suitable for children under 5 years old; for these cases, it is still recommended to dial 111.

Paul Johnston, Senior Service Delivery Manager for NHS 111, said, “37,000 calls were made to the 111 number in the North West over the 2023 Easter Bank Holiday weekend. In comparison, there were 10,000 fewer calls from Friday to Monday the following weekend. We also know that a high proportion of those calls were made by people who ran out of repeat prescription medication. We would encourage the public to check now that they have enough medicines to make it through the weekend and to make sure they collect any repeat medicines that have been ordered or arrange to have them delivered ahead of the bank holiday.”

Dr Paula Cowan, Regional Medical Director for Primary Care at NHS England – North West said: “We are extremely grateful to the dedicated NHS teams working across the North West this coming Easter bank holiday weekend to ensure all those who need care receive it. The NHS is always there for anyone who needs it. NHS 111 online should be the first port of call for anyone who needs urgent medical advice, as it is quickly and easily accessible. It helps direct people to the right service quickly and provides medical advice. It’s just one of the ways that we are trying to get people to the right service, first time, while keeping urgent and emergency services free for the most seriously ill and injured patients. Urgent and emergency care services will be open over the bank holiday, and in the event of a life or limb threatening emergency, people should call 999.

“Some GP practices and pharmacies will have limited opening hours over the Easter bank holiday, and many will be closed from Friday 29th March to Monday 1st April. Some pharmacies will continue to be open over the Easter bank holiday and members of the public can seek health advice on a range of illness and health concerns from the pharmacy.

To find your nearest open pharmacy please check online Find a pharmacy – NHS (www.nhs.uk). Think Pharmacy first.

The train seen from above with Morecambe Bay and Grange in the background (Image: Network Rail)

Northern Train Derails Near Grange-Over-Sands

A Northern service from Preston to Barrow derailed on the approach to Grange station early on Friday, March 22nd. Four passengers and four members of staff were safely evacuated from the train.

Network Rail is advising passengers that the route will be closed while the investigation, train recovery and repair work is complete. Initial investigations suggest this could take two weeks.

Around 150m away from the derailment location, a void in the ground has opened. Network Rail is working with the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) to determine the cause of the void and the train derailment. Once the RAIB have completed their initial investigation, Network Rail will begin the complex recovery process. This will involve using a specialist Network Rail crane to re-rail and remove the train, carrying out repairs to the ground, installing new ballast (railway stones) and laying new track over the affected area.

Chris Pye from Network Rail said: “On the rare occasions trains leave tracks like this it can cause extensive damage and unfortunately this incident is no exception. The additional problem with the ground conditions means this is an especially complicated recovery process. I understand this will be extremely frustrating for passengers travelling between Lancaster and Barrow-in-Furness. Across the rail industry we’re working hard to keep people on the move through rail replacement buses while we work as fast as we can to restore the railway for passengers and freight.”

The closure will not significantly affect the timetable over the Easter bank holiday due to preplanned work in the area. From Monday 25th March, train services will run between Carlisle and Barrow on the Cumbrian coast line. Bus replacement services will be in operation between Barrow and Lancaster while the recovery of the train and repair work takes place at Grange. They will call at Lancaster, Carnforth, Silverdale, Arnside Grange-over-Sands, Kents Bank, Cark, Ulverston, Dalton, Roose and Barrow -In-Furness.

Disruption is expected to last some time, so customers should make alternative arrangements wherever possible. “We’re sorry for the inconvenience and delay. Customers can always speak to a member of our team at their local station or visit northernrailway.co.uk/service-updates for the latest information.

Image Courtesy of Network Rail

Community Catalysts

Community Catalysts South Lakes

Community Catalysts

Community Catalysts is a social enterprise working across the UK to try to make sure that people who need care and support to live their lives can get help in ways, times and places that suit them, with real choice of attractive local options. We help local people use their energies and talents to deliver sustainable community enterprises that can support other local people, creating jobs and volunteering opportunities.

Community Enterprise Project in the South Lakes

This is a new and exciting project delivered in partnership with Westmorland and Furness Council. The two- year project aims to stimulate the development and growth of community enterprises that provide a wide range of help and support for older and disabled people or similar.

Community Enterprise

People with talents, passion and local knowledge run community enterprises. They all aim to make a difference to the lives of local people. Our project has a focus on enterprises that support older or disabled people who need some care or help to live a good life or similar:

  • have 8 or fewer full-time staff or volunteers
  • are independent of any larger organisation.
  • are set up in many different and creative ways such as: sole trader, partnership, small business, social enterprise, charity or voluntary organisation.

Support from the Community Enterprise Project

Community Catalysts has a huge amount of experience helping local people establish community enterprises. We run a development programme which can:

  • offer you a friendly and supportive point of contact to explore ideas
  • support you to develop your community enterprise
  • give you practical information on regulation, training and opportunities in the health and social care sector
  • direct you to other organisations who can help

What might this mean for me?

Community Catalysts can support people who are currently running a community enterprise that helps older or disabled people who need some care or help to live a good life or similar. We can also help people who are interested in starting a new community enterprise.

We would also like to connect with people, organisations, businesses or groups across the South Lakes area who have an interest in building stronger communities.

Get in touch

Jade Gibson is employed by Community Catalysts to coordinate this project and to run the development programme.

Click here to leave your details on the form and Jade will get back to you:

Contact Jade Gibson on 07435 943933 or at jade.gibson@communitycatalysts.co.uk

CommCats-South-Lakes-A6-FlyerDownload

‘Arnside Parish’ is not the same as ‘Arnside Village’ Website

It has been brought to my attention that some local businesses are being contacted by a website called ‘Arnside Parish’ and were wondering if this is the same as the Arnside Village website where those of you with adverts in the Arnside Directory have listings included as part of your advert.

So, just to clarify, this is nothing to do with the Arnside Village website where your entry IS included with your advert in the Directory.

It looks like the PARISH.UK Network is a Community Action Initiative by local government – in this case, the South Lakes.

CancerCare Cross Bay Walk

Cross Bay Walk for CancerCare

Join Team CancerCare for the Cross Bay Walk from Arnside to Grange Promenade led by King’s Guide to the Sands Michael Wilson. Lace up your trainers or pull on your wellies and get ready to take on a unique adventure across the shifting sands of the UK’s largest tidal bay, set against the stunning backdrop of the Lake District fells.

The King’s Guide to the Sands Michael, will lead you on this breath-taking stroll across the UK’s largest tidal bay, with every step raising money for people affected by cancer and bereavement.

The famous route from Arnside Promenade to Grange Promenade takes around four hours to complete. Due to the unique terrain of the Bay, we cannot guarantee the exact distance, however, on previous walks we have clocked the total at around the 8-mile mark.

So, come along and join our iconic walk on Sunday, June 16th 2024 (1:15pm – 5:15pm) and we guarantee it will be a day to remember!

To book, click here.