Work under way on Millom town deal £2m Old Bank arts centre
The Millom Town Deal includes three further projects - The Iron Line, Connected Millom and Haverigg and Activating Community Health, the latter having got under way at the start of the year.The Arts and Enterprise Centre will also include "diverse spaces" to support local businesses, start-ups, and community interactions, Millom Town Deal said.Leader of Cumberland Council Mark Fryer said it was "another important milestone" for the projects.Fryer, who represents the Labour party, said works reflected "the start of a brighter future".
Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
3 days ago
- The Independent
Digital challengers top banking customer satisfaction surveys
Digital challenger banks have topped the latest set of banking satisfaction results published by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). Monzo was ranked in first place among consumers in surveys covering Britain and Northern Ireland, while traditional banks generally scored lower than their digital rivals, the watchdog said. Introduced by the CMA as part of its Retail Banking Order, the banking satisfaction survey is an annual review carried out by research companies Ipsos and BVA-BDRC. The large-scale survey is designed to highlight how banks are serving their customers. The CMA said there is a new entrant in this year's survey – Mettle, an online business current account provider from NatWest. The survey asks around 1,000 customers of each of the 17 biggest personal current account providers in Britain and around 500 customers of each of the 12 biggest personal current account providers in Northern Ireland if they would recommend their provider to friends and family. The results represent the view of customers who took part. Surveys were also carried out to ask around 1,200 customers of each of the 17 largest business current account providers in Britain and around 600 customers of each of the five largest business current account providers in Northern Ireland if they would recommend their provider to other small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Research was carried out between July 2024 and June 2025. Monzo said it surpassed 13 million customers this month. Karen Tiltman, general manager for UK operations at Monzo, said topping the tables is 'a recognition of the hard work and dedication of everyone at Monzo'. Here are the top three banks in the personal current account providers table, ranked for overall service quality, covering Britain (17 providers were included): 1. Monzo =2. Chase =2. Starling Bank Here are the bottom three: 17. Royal Bank of Scotland 16. Virgin Money 15. The Co-operative Bank Here are the top three business account providers in Britain, according to the surveys: 1. Monzo 2. Mettle 3. Starling Bank Here are the bottom business account providers in Britain, according to the surveys: 17. The Co-operative Bank =14. Bank of Scotland =14. HSBC UK =14. Barclays Here are the top personal account providers in Northern Ireland (out of 12 providers): 1. Monzo 2. Nationwide 3. Starling Bank Here are the bottom personal account providers in Northern Ireland ranked in the surveys: 12. Allied Irish Banks 11. Bank of Ireland UK 10. Ulster Bank Here are the top business current account providers in Northern Ireland (out of five): 1. Santander =2. Danske Bank =2. Ulster Bank Here are the bottom two business current account providers in Northern Ireland, according to the surveys: 5. Allied Irish Banks 4. Bank of Ireland UK.
South Wales Argus
4 days ago
- South Wales Argus
NatWest to replace Newport city centre ATMs
NatWest's Newport city centre branch will replace its external ATMs with new machines featuring the "latest fraud prevention technology" as part of a national upgrade programme. The ATMs, located on the left-hand side of the building, will also be more accessible, particularly for customers with hearing impairments. New tablet signage will also be installed. Harcroft Consulting, on behalf of NatWest, submitted the plans to Newport City Council, noting the existing ATMs on High Street are "no longer maintainable". The council granted permission under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and the Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2023. The works must begin within five years from the permission date and must adhere to specific plans. The approval also mandates that the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments in Wales be notified before any demolition, allowing them time to record the structure. The development is required to comply with policies from the Newport Local Development Plan 2011–2026, including those related to general amenity, quality of design, and conservation of the natural, historic, and built environment. These changes are not expected to affect branch access or the surrounding public space during or after the works, according to the design and access statement submitted with the application. The statement also clarifies that all modifications to the existing apertures to fit the new machines will be carried out, and any disturbed finishes will be restored to match the existing building. The decision, issued on July 22, 2025, aligns with Section 96(2) of the Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2023. The approval notice also reminds the applicant that the decision does not substitute approval from other regulatory bodies such as Building Control or Highways. NatWest's ATM upgrade is part of a broader national programme aimed at enhancing the security and accessibility of their ATMs. The new machines are expected to provide a more secure and user-friendly experience for all customers, including those with specific needs. The existing machines have been deemed "end-of-life" and are no longer maintainable, necessitating their replacement. The move is in line with NatWest's commitment to ensuring all their ATMs are up to date with the latest technology and standards.
Telegraph
5 days ago
- Telegraph
Average two-year mortgage rate falls below 5pc for first time since Truss mini-Budget
Mr Mendes noted that some two-year deals boasted rates below 4pc. HSBC, for example, has a two-year fix at 3.78pc with a £999 fee, compared to NatWest's five-year fix for the same deposit at 3.85pc with a £1,495 fee. For remortgaging, Santander is currently offering both two-year and five-year fixes at the same rate of 3.78pc with a £999 fee. He said: 'This year, borrowers coming off fixed rates will largely fall into two groups: those whose low five-year fixed rates date back to the pandemic era, and those who took two-year deals following the rate peaks after the Truss-era market shocks. 'With mortgage rates widely expected to continue trending downwards, many borrowers see shorter-term fixes to lock in a lower rate now while keeping the option to benefit from future cuts sooner.' Mortgage rates had surged in the wake of Kwasi Kwarteng's spending review in September 2022, which included £45bn in unfunded tax cuts, triggering turmoil in UK financial markets. On October 20 2022, the average two-year fixed-rate mortgage hit a peak of 6.65pc. Mr Mendes said borrowers increasingly opted for two-year fixes in the hope that rates would fall. Several lenders have since cut rates below 5pc, however, Wednesday marked the first time that average two-year deals had fallen below the threshold in almost three years. According to UK Finance, about 900,000 fixed-rate mortgage deals are due to expire in the second half of 2025, with 1.6 million fixed deals having ended or are due to end across the whole of the year. Bank of England base rate cuts could help to ease cost pressures on some borrowers, with last week's reduction in the base rate taking it from 4.25pc to 4pc.
