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Tag: Westmorland & Furness Council

Rail Line Closure Lancaster to Barrow: 3rd to 5th December 2024

There will be no trains between Lancaster and Barrow-In-Furness next week between Tuesday, 3rd and Thursday, 5th December inclusive while essential repairs are carried out in Ulverston.

Network Rail engineers have been working around the clock this week to repair damage to caused by flooding during Storm Bert which came through our region last weekend (23th – 24th November) bringing strong winds, snow, and extreme rainfall to Cumbria. With a rise in temperature on Saturday morning, the snow melted and overwhelmed a watercourse which broke its bank and damaged the earth of the nearby railway cutting. The earth from the cutting collapsed onto the tracks, and about 300 tonnes of spoil had to be removed from the railway.

Engineers reopened the line on Tuesday morning, and began work to carry out a permanent fix to the site. In recent days, the team have built an 130 metre long “water slide” to divert the watercourse’s journey around the cutting. With the water flowing nicely through its new channel, work to repair the cutting can now begin.

The revised timetable is on the Northern website – the train services have been temporarily replaced to show as replacement buses.

Ulverston Flooding – A3inddDownload

Waste & Recycling Community Consultation

Help to Shape the Future of your Waste and Recycling Collections

Residents are being invited to help shape the future of waste and recycling collections in Westmorland and Furness.

A ‘Community Conversation’ has been launched by Westmorland and Furness Council to gather people’s thoughts on current services in their area – what they like, what they would like to change and what they’d like to see in the future. The feedback received will help inform the council’s emerging options for creating consistent waste and recycling services across the whole of Westmorland and Furness.

These options will be considered early next year and a vision for the revised service will be completed by mid-2025. This will be subject to further engagement and agreement and residents can expect to see the first changes being implemented from late 2025, with the majority of service revisions in place by the end of 2027.

Councillor Giles Archibald, Westmorland and Furness Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate, Biodiversity and Environmental Services, said: “Our aim is to reduce waste, increase recycling, and provide services for our residents that are consistent across the whole of the Westmorland and Furness area. We also want to make it easier and more convenient for people to recycle and minimise their waste. We want to involve our communities in helping us to plan what future services will look like, and have launched our Community Conversation on waste and recycling collections. This includes a survey that residents can complete to tell us what they think about current services in their area, how they use those services and what they’d like to see in the future.”

“We will also be holding some in-person events, where people can come along to learn more about what we are looking to achieve, ask questions and take part in workshops. We will be holding these events in each of the former district areas and there will also be an on-line event for anyone unable to attend the in-person sessions. The feedback from these events and the online survey will provide us with valuable information that will help us to develop our vision for consistent waste and recycling services, so every household is receiving the same level of service wherever they are in Westmorland and Furness. We want to see services that are better performing, more efficient and that make it easier for people to recycle more and waste less.’’

Currently, Westmorland and Furness Council delivers 7.5 million collections annually to 115,000 households in one of the largest and most rural unitary local authority areas in the country, covering a geographic area of 3,750 square kilometres.

Councillor Archibald continued: “It’s vitally important to us that we reflect the views of our communities when we are planning the future of such important services that affect every household in Westmorland and Furness. I would encourage as many people as possible to complete our survey or attend one of the in-person events to share your views.’’

To be part of the Community Conversation on the future of waste and recycling services in Westmorland and Furness, you can share your thoughts on current services in your area by completing our Waste and Recycling Community Conversation Survey.

The survey will close on 20th December 2024.

Paper copies of the survey will be available in the receptions of the council’s main public buildings at Barrow Town Hall, Kendal Town Hall and Voreda House, Penrith, as well as council libraries.

In-person events where you can learn more about the waste and recycling harmonisation programme and the council’s ambitions, share your thoughts and take part in workshops on recycling and waste minimisation, will take place on the following dates:

  • Tuesday, 26 November 2024, Penrith Library, 6pm – 7.30pm
  • Wednesday, 27 November 2024, The Forum, Barrow, 6pm – 7.30pm
  • Thursday, 28 November 2024, Kendal Town Hall, 6pm – 7.30pm
  • Monday, 2 December 2024, Online event, 6pm-7pm

To register for these events (including for the online event on 2 December) you can Book Your Place.

If registering for the online event, a link to the meeting will be emailed to you in advance of 2 December.

Temporary Road Closure: C5097 Leighton Beck Road, Beetham – 26th November 2024

A temporary road closure has been put in place to allow Electricity North West Ltd. to carry out utility works which are expected to commence 26th November 2024 and anticipated to take 1 day to complete.

Please see below details of the extents of the restriction and any alternative routes which may be in place, the relevant legal notice can be viewed here and a location plan clearly showing these extents can be found on one.network via link https://one.network/?tm=140586494

Location: C5097 Leighton Beck Road, Beetham, from its junction with the C5099, extending in a north easterly direction for a distance of approx. 70m.

Alternative Route: via the unrestricted section of the C5097, A6, C5098 and C5099 and a way for pedestrians and dismounted cyclists will be maintained at all times.

Access for Emergency Vehicles will be maintained where required for the duration of these works.

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/12423

Temporary Road Closure: Church Hill, Arnside – 23rd November 2024

A temporary road closure has been put in place to allow BT Openreach to carry out utility works which are expected to commence 23rd November 2024 and anticipated to take 1 day to complete.

Please see below details of the extents of the restriction, the relevant legal notice can be viewed here and a location plan clearly showing these extents can be found on one.network here.

Location: Church Hill, Arnside, from its junction with Oakroyd Close, extending in a south easterly direction to its junction with Colesberg Court.

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

There is no suitable alternative route available.

Access for Emergency Vehicles will be maintained where required for the duration of these works.

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/12150

Footpath Closure Map

Westmorland and Furness Council (Footpath No. 502009 in the Parish Of Arnside (Temporary Prohibition of Pedestrians) Order 2024

Notice is hereby given that, to enable Lancaster City Council to carry out resurfacing of the footpath (“the Works”), Westmorland and Furness Council intends to make an Order the effect of which is to prohibit pedestrians from proceeding along Footpath No. 502009 in the Parish of Arnside between grid references: 344450, 477688 and 344481, 477581.

A suitable alternative route for pedestrians will be available via the adjacent field.

The Order will come into operation on 1 October 2024 as and when the appropriate traffic signs are displayed and may continue in force for a period of up to six months or until the completion of the works, whichever is sooner.

Any queries to the Countryside Access Team, Westmorland and Furness Council Highways Unit, Bouthwood Road, Sowerby Woods Industrial Estate, Barrow-in-Furness, LA14 4RD or Highways hotline 0300 373 3306 or via the Westmorland and Furness Council website.

Chief Legal Officer, Westmorland and Furness Council, South Lakeland House, Lowther Street, Kendal, Cumbria, LA9 4DQ

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.

Volunteers Needed for Bulb Planting in Arnside

Permission has been given by both Arnside Parish Council and Westmorland & Furness Council to plant bulbs and corms in jointly identified verges and open spaces around Arnside.
The residual funds from the now folded Arnside Horticultural Society have been spent on purchasing the bulbs and corms to enhance our beautiful village even more.

Over 2000 bulbs require planting in early Autumn so any assistance would be greatly appreciated, however small.

If you can help or would like more details, please contact Neville Jackson on 01524 761158.

Westmorland & Furness Local Plan

Westmorland and Furness Local Plan – Consultation 8th July – 9th September 2024

Westmorland and Furness Council are starting work on a new Local Plan for Westmorland and Furness (excluding
the National Parks) which will replace all the existing local plans adopted by the former Councils.

They are kicking off the process with an ‘early conversation’ with our communities and stakeholders from 8th July 2024 until the 9th September 2024. Drop in events are happening across the district, where people can chat to Council officers about the
new Local Plan. Information about the early conversation, the drop-in-events and how to respond is available on the website

People are encouraged to take part in the conversation and other consultations listed below using the online survey forms. Paper copies are available upon request.

To support the Westmorland and Furness Local Plan we are also undertaking the following consultations:

  • A Design Code for the Westmorland and Furness Local Plan area which will guide and shape how new development is designed.
  • A ‘Call for Sites’ for land or sites that are available for housing, employment and mixed-use sites to be considered for potential allocation in the Local Plan (excluding sites in the Arnside and Silverdale National Landscape). As part of the Call for Sites we are also seeking comments on the draft SHELAA methodology.
  • A ‘Call for Sites’ for land or sites that are available for minerals and for waste development to be considered for potential allocation in the Local Plan.
  • Further details are available on our website, including how to access the online survey forms.
    Sites previously submitted or allocated to the Council must be re-submitted on the new form or they will not be taken forward for consideration in the Westmorland and Furness Local Plan.
  • Housing and employment site allocations in the Barrow, Eden and South Lakeland Local Plans, which do not yet have planning permission, will be reassessed for allocation in the new Local Plan. To ensure the review of these sites
    is based on to-up-date information, they should be resubmitted on the new Call for Sites form.
  • If you have any queries about the above please email us at localplan@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk or call 0300 373 3300

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