Latest news with #Ulverston
BBC News
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
'Last chance' to save Furness Morris dancing group
There are hopes a Morris dancing group could be saved if new people join next Morris, based in Ulverston, Cumbria, recently warned it was in danger of folding after 62 years due to low a meeting on Friday, it was decided to organise two final sessions to try and attract new members. "We are not exactly at the end of the road, but this is a bit of a last chance to try and recruit," Les Ord, who has been with the band for 50 years, said "At the end of these two new sessions, if we don't attract anybody new, then that would probably be the end," Mr Ord events will take place in Ulverston in June, with dates and a venue due to be Ord, who is the second longest-serving member of the group, said they were part of the community and it would be good to preserve the tradition. Furness Morris was founded in 1963 and had 20 members in its is now down to eight, with at least half a dozen new dancers needed to secure its over 18 is welcome to join, with the group hoping to pass the baton on to younger Ord added the band could continue as a social activity without new recruits but would not be able play gigs, having had to turn down five so far this year due to a lack of numbers."We feel it's part of the heritage," he said."We'd be quite happy to hand on the tradition if we got the right number of people to be able to do that." Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
17-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Cumbria crystal glass cutters warn heritage crafts may vanish
A company which has made crystal glasses for James Bond films has warned heritage crafts are "at a crossroads".Cut crystal glass-making was added to the Heritage Crafts charity's list of critically endangered skills in the UK earlier this Blade, the CEO of Cumbria Crystal, said the Ulverston-based company's bills had increased by 280% since November because of rising energy also warned a skills shortage meant there was "very little chance" of the skills being passed on to the next generation, and said: "The time to act is now, before these irreplaceable elements of our culture vanish forever." The Red List of Endangered Crafts was first created in 2017 to raise awareness of disappearing traditional skills in the crystal glass-making was one of 12 new crafts, including quilting in a frame and rattan furniture, added to the critically endangered Crafts estimated there were only seven to 15 professional crystal glass-cutters in the UK. The craft involves shaping, cutting, and polishing glass to create intricate a result of the increased energy bills, Cumbria Crystal, which has supplied wares for productions of Downton Abbey and James Bond, has had to turn off one of their two glass furnaces."The costs were so high that we couldn't continue," Mr Blade told BBC Radio Cumbria."We are now running at 50% capacity, which is a challenge for us because our pieces are all handmade by craftspeople."Mr Blade also said training new staff to join their 22-strong workforce was "extremely difficult" and took them three to five called for apprenticeship funding for the industry, saying it would "signal a national commitment to heritage preservation".A spokesperson for the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education said: "It's important that we support future generations through quality skills training."Apprenticeships, developed with employers, were available to train thatchers, stonemasons, and specialist craft painters and decorators, bricklayers, and plasterers, the spokesperson added. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Government overrules Westmorland & Furness council on Ulverston planning appeal
A council's refusal to allow stables to be built near Ulverston has been overturned on appeal. Westmorland & Furness Council initially refused plans for a stable block near Ulverston, but that decision has now been overruled by the government's Planning Inspectorate. The application was for a site on land off Pennington Lane and the block would contain three stables on an existing hard standing. According to the appeal decision report the development should begin not later than three years from the decision date. It states that the main issue was the effect of the proposed development upon road safety and it adds: 'The appeal site forms part of a larger field, separated by post and wire fencing, used for equestrian purposes. 'At the time of my visit, the appeal site contained some baled hay, along with a tractor, van, horse box, trailers and some plastic piping. The site lies in the countryside, albeit with residential areas nearby. 'The appeal site has an established access to the south, off Pennington Lane. This existing access also serves agricultural land to the south-west.' According to the report the nearby road is a narrow country lane and the existing access lies on the outside of a sharp bend. It adds: 'Consequently, for vehicles exiting the appeal site it is possible to see vehicles approaching from either direction. 'For vehicles entering the appeal site, the access itself is visible from both directions, however, forward visibility of approaching vehicles to the opposite side of the carriageway, is restricted by the bend in the road. 'As the site is used for equestrian purposes, the existing access and turning area can presently be utilised by those on horseback, or by vehicles towing horseboxes, and the site could be accessed in this way going forward. 'As it also serves agricultural land, the access could also be utilised by farm related vehicles now and in the future. At present, there is a gravel area between the gated access and the carriageway. It is not clear whether this is of a sufficient size to allow larger or longer vehicles to pull clear of the road while opening or closing this gate.' The report states that there was no substantive evidence demonstrating that the introduction of a small stable block would significantly increase the use of the existing access and turning area, over and above the present use of the land for equestrian purposes. It adds: 'As such, I am unable to conclude that this development would result in an increased use of the existing access, or that this would lead to or exacerbate any highway safety issues.' The inspector imposed conditions specifying the time limit for commencement and the approved plans as this provides certainty. They concluded: 'For the reasons set out above, having had regard to the development plan as a whole and all other material considerations, I conclude that the appeal should be allowed.'
BBC News
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Furness Morris Dancers' future under threat after 62 years
A Morris dancing group says it is in danger of folding unless more people Morris, based in Ulverston, Cumbria, was founded in 1963, but dwindling dancer numbers have put its future at Ord, who is the second longest-serving member, said the situation was "critical".A meeting is being held later to discuss the future of the band which has had to turn down five gigs so far this year, including the Pace Egg play. Mr Ord said: "We've lost a few members over the recent years. "They've either moved away, or sadly one died, and we've had a few injuries."We've gone down to very low numbers and you need a minimum number to be able to put on a decent show. We're struggling."Mr Ord, who has been with the group for 50 years, said at least half a dozen new members were needed to help its are currently eight, but there were 20 in its Ord urged people to come and try out Morris dancing with friends."It's just a great social activity. It keeps you fit, you mix with people. "The music is wonderful and it gets you around the villages and towns in South Cumbria and the Lake District." Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
