Latest news with #BBCCumbria
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Home shut down over drug and violence concerns
A home has been closed off for three months over concerns about criminal activity. The property on Rydal Avenue in Maryport, Cumbria, had a negative impact on the local community for several months due to violent incidents and drug activity, police said. The court ordered closure means anyone seen entering the building could be arrested. PC Sam Steel, from Allerdale Neighbourhood Policing team, said the address had been "an open sore and focal point of criminal behaviour". Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Driver jailed after 10mph police pursuit 'Reckless' youths get trapped in play park Cumbria Police
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Driver jailed after 10mph police pursuit
A man who attempted to get away from police by driving at just 10mph has been handed an immediate 12 month prison sentence. Jack Lowrey was spotted driving erratically through parts of Cumbria on the evening of 11 January as if "under the influence of something", Carlisle Crown Court heard. During a 16-minute "chase", the 21-year-old drove slowly with his lights off before having his tyres punctured by a police stinger and being forced to stop against a wall. Lowrey, who had been given 16 months in February 2024 for threatening to kill someone while holding scissors to their throat, admitted dangerous driving and aggravated vehicle taking. Previously of Distington but currently of no fixed abode, he also admitted to failing to provide a specimen and having no insurance or licence. He will also be banned from driving for 36 months after his release and will have to take an extended test before getting behind the wheel again. The incident began when Lowrey took a red Ford Focus courtesy vehicle without his family's permission. He had initially attracted the attention of officers while sitting in the vehicle on Moorclose Road in Workington, before then heading south towards Whitehaven where the blue light pursuit began. Upon his arrest, he was taken to a police station where he refused to co-operate and shouted abuse. Lowrey's barrister told the court how he had gone "out of control" and started to use alcohol to cope after his father was handed a lengthy jail term in 2023. Passing sentence, Judge Nicholas Barker said he had "little hesitation" in finding that Lowrey was "heavily intoxicated" during what "was a determined attempt, by you, to evade the police". Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram HM Courts and Tribunals Service
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Campaign warns public to stop council staff abuse
A fresh campaign aimed at stopping council staff being abused by the public has been announced, after incidents almost doubled in a month. Recent reports included one worker being pushed down an embankment and another nearly being crushed when a lorry drove through a closed road. Cumberland Council's assistant director of highways and transport, Karl Melville, said staff "have the right to go to work, do their job and come home without being abused". Last year, a similar campaign featured posters of council workers' children placed near roadworks, to remind drivers that those working there have families. Incidents of abuse also saw council staff fitted with bodycams. At a recent council meeting, Mr Melville told members a lorry went through a road closure at a bridge in Sebergham, nearly crushing one of the workers on the bridge, while in a separate incident a vehicle travelled through a road closure and collided with the back of a wagon. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, monthly figures showed incidents of council workers being abused shot up from 34 in March to 64 in April. Mr Melville said the council has "also had situations where half-eaten food has been thrown at our staff while they're doing their work". "That's totally unacceptable," he said. Leader of the council Mark Fryer said staff safety was a priority, adding the Labour-led council would look at taking private prosecutions "if the police think that it isn't worthy". "We've got to look after our people," Fryer said. The new campaign will be launched over the summer. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Road workers' children feature in safety campaign Cumberland Council
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Bigger bins delayed ahead of collection cuts
Some residents may not get replacement bins before waste collections change from weekly to fortnightly. Cumberland Council said it received more than 10,500 requests for replacement bins ahead of it halving the frequency of general waste collections in the former Allerdale area from Monday. Those who have not yet received their 180 litre replacement bins have been told to continue using their existing bin, with an extra two bags waste also allowed. The Labour-led authority said householders could also be eligible for an even larger bin if they have a big household, young children in nappies or for medical needs. Carlisle residents and those in the former Copeland area already have their black bins collected on a fortnightly basis. Cardboard and paper collections will increase from monthly to fortnightly from late September. The council said: "Due to the large number of requests, we are advising residents that don't get their new bin before next week to carry on using their existing bin and are encouraging them to recycle as much as they can. "If they can't fit all their waste into their bin, residents can put out up to two bags of excess waste." Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Changes to bin collections set to start Bin collections to be halved despite opposition Cumberland Council
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Fire-hit dunes 'could take years to recover'
Sand dunes badly damaged in a fire could take years to recover, experts have said. Naomi Kay, manager of Solway Coast National Landscape, said the damage caused to an area of Silloth Dunes at the weekend - roughly the size of two football pitches - was "horrifying" and had destroyed wildlife habitats. Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service said it was still investigating the cause of the blaze but warned people of the risk of barbecues and camping stoves in the countryside. Ms Kay said the area was "blackened and horrible to look at" and, while it was hoped new growth would be seen in the area within a year, it could take up to 20 years to recover completely. "We are in the season where everything is growing, birds are nesting and plants are growing," she said. "The area at the moment is blackened and horrible but we should see growth, perhaps nettles dominating, within a year - nothing special. "But it will take five to 10 years for vegetation to come back and even longer for the food chain species to come back. "We could be looking at 10 or 20 years." The fire service urged people who spot wildfires to ring 999 immediately. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. 'Extreme risk of wildfires' county-wide warning Firefighters' plea amid busy wildfire season Solway Coast National Landscape Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service
