Skip to content Skip to left sidebar Skip to right sidebar Skip to footer

News

Westmorland and Furness Council Logo

Families Urged To Check Free School Meal Eligibility As Support Expands

National eligibility changes have been made to Free School Meals and Westmorland and Furness are urging families to check whether they are eligible for Free School Meals.

From September 2026, all households receiving Universal Credit can apply, regardless of income. Families must still apply, as eligibility is not awarded automatically. The changes remove the previous earnings threshold for Universal Credit claimants, meaning more working families who receive Universal Credit top-up payments, may now qualify for support.

Councillor Janet Battye, Westmorland and Furness Council Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: ‘We want to ensure that every family who is entitled to support, receives it. The expansion of Free School Meal eligibility means that many more families – including those who are working and receiving Universal Credit, may now qualify. I encourage anyone who thinks they may be eligible to check and apply. Registering for Free School Meals not only helps families with the cost of school meals but can also unlock additional support and funding for schools. You can also pop into any of our Family Hubs and ask for help and information from our friendly teams.’

For more information and to apply online, click on the link Westmorland and Furness Council website . It typically take only a few minutes to complete.

If you are struggling to fill in the online information, our Customer Services people will help you. You can also pop into one of our friendly Family Hubs. Please either email us at FSM.ClothingGrants@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk or Telephone: call 0300 373 3300

Road Closure - The Strands, Milnthorpe to Arnside

Road Closure: B5282 – The Strands, Milnthorpe to Arnside

You may have seen the yellow signs giving advanced warning of the road closure between Milnthorpe and Sandside.

You may also have been struggling to read what they say as you drive past!

So, the official information is that the road will be closed overnight from 7pm on Thursday, 20th August to 5am on Friday, 21st for stud reinstatement and road lining works on the B5282, The Strands to Arnside.

Please note the programme dates are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances, poor weather conditions and overrun of the programme etc.

The Alan Hull Songbook 1

‘The Alan Hull Songbook’ Gig Raises £1565.50 for CancerCare

The recent ‘Alan Hull Songbook’ gig at the W.I. & Village Hall on 11th July raised a brilliant £1565.50 for local charity, CancerCare.

Tony Farren, from Windermere opened the gig with his unique folk style which was very well received. The amazing Dave Hull-Denholm band (Dave is the frontman of popular band, Lindisfarne) played a 95 minute set of some well-known, and some lesser known songs from the Alan Hull songbook, including: Lady Eleanor, Run For Home, Clear White Light and many more, with enthusiastic assistance from the audience who had a great time singing along too.

The gig was a Sell Out, and the £1565.50 was raised from ticket sales, the bar (supplied by JJ Crossfields and run by Sarah & Charlotte who have also been raising money for CancerCare by taking part in events such as the recent Cross Bay Half Marathon), raffle ticket sales with prizes donated with the enormous generosity of local businesses (see below) and the musicians, who travelled from as far away as Newcastle, and played for light expenses only.

The full Lindisfarne band are touring now and visiting several local venues. To find out more, click here

Grateful thanks to the following local businesses for their donated raffle prizes which included: Weekend Tickets to Kendal Calling, Dinners, Wine, Chocolates and Ten Pin Bowling

  • Kendal Calling
  • JJ Crossfields
  • The Silverdale Hotel
  • The Albion Hotel
  • Arnside Chip Shop
  • Bullough’s Londis
  • The Bob-in Cafe
  • Holgate’s Holiday Park
  • Spar Grocers, Milnthorpe
  • Booths Supermarket, Milnthorpe

Thanks also must go to:

  • Arnside W.I. & Village Hall for a superb venue with great acoustics, a beautiful garden and a super helpful committee.
  • Carr Bank Garden Centre for the stage flora.
  • Chris Kirk of Bay Photographic for the photos
  • And last, but not least – everyone who bought tickets and came along to the show.
The Alan Hull Songbook 2
Dave Hull-Denholm
Tony Farren
Tony Farren

Temporary Road Closure Beetham Road and Main Street Milnthorpe

Temporary Road Closure: Beetham Road & Main Street, Milnthorpe – 22/07/2026 (Night Time Works)

A temporary road closure has been put in place to allow Fibrus Networks to carry out utility works which are expected to commence 22nd July 2026 and anticipated to take 2 nights during the hours of 18:00 and 23:00 ONLY to complete.

Please see below details of the extents of the restrictions and any alternative route 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: (i) Westerly direction along Main Street (B6385), from making a left turn onto Beetham Road (A6); and (ii) Northerly direction along Beetham Road (A6), from making a right turn onto Main Street (B6385).

Alternative Route: A suitable alternative route for northbound and westbound vehicles will be signed and available via Church Street (A6), Princes Way, A590.

A way for pedestrians and dismounted cyclists will be maintained at all times.

Temporary Road Closure - Green Lane, Storth

Temporary Road Closure Restriction: Green Lane, Storth – 14/07/2026

A temporary road closure has been put in place to allow BT Openreach to carry out utility works which are expected to commence 14th July 2026 and anticipated to take 2 days to complete.

Please see below details of the extents of the restriction and any alternative route 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: Green Lane, Storth, from its junction with The Square, extending in a north westerly direction for a distance of approx. 210m.

Alternative Route: A suitable alternative route will be signed and made available via the B5282 Sandside, Storth Road and The Square. 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/19947.

South Lakeland Community Fund

South Lakeland Community Fund Grants

A great opportunity for local groups to make a difference in their community. Projects can receive up to £5,000 if it meets the priorities of the Locality Board.

The deadline for round 1 for this financial year is Friday 31st July 2026 with decisions and outcomes in September.

Groups can have an informal chat about their funding needs and project ideas. Attached is our leaflet about the fund with links and contact details. You can also visit the website by clicking here.

Community Grants_A4 Oct2025 for digital useDownload

New Heritage Display at the Sailing Club

New Arnside Maritime Heritage Display Opening

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.

Temporary Closure- Orchard Road June 3rd

Temporary Road Closure: Orchard Road, Arnside – 03/06/26

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

Proposed New Development at Sandside

21st April 2026 Deadline For Comments On Amended Previously Proposed Development Plans at Sandside

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.

More information can be found here: https://planningregister.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/Planning/Display/SL/2022/1177

‘Step Up To Dallam’ Returns for 2026

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.