Latest news with #WestmorlandandFurnessCouncil
Yahoo
a day ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Near record turnout at Appleby Horse Fair despite poor weather over the weekend
The Chair of the Appleby Horse Fair Multi-Agency Strategic Coordinating Group (MASCG) has said she is 'pleased' that this year's fair passed without 'major incident.' Appleby Horse Fair 2025 was one of the busiest in recent years, with the number of caravans and bowtops in attendance up on last year, despite poor weather with heavy downpours and brisk winds. Last year saw 1,287 bowtops and caravans recorded at the Fair. However, this year's count of 1,307 is just below the high of 1,318, recorded in 2014. Drones were again used at this year's fair, ensuring more accurate counting of bowtops and caravans than was possible in previous years, when the count was conducted on the ground, by eye. The 2025 figures saw a drop in the number of traditional bowtops to 95, down from 112 in 2024. There were 1,152 caravans, up from 1,078 in 2024, 46 tents and a further six vans, or wagons used as accommodation. There was drop in the number of stalls at the 2025 Fair. Overall stall numbers were at 231, including 25 food stalls, which was down on the 268 recorded in 2024 and well below the 2016 record high of 276. A van caught fire on June 7 at the fair but no one was injured and police are not treating it as suspicious. A van that accidentally caught fire is surrounded by rubbish left in a field at the end of the Appleby Horse Fair (Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire) Chair of the Appleby Horse Fair Multi-Agency Strategic Coordinating Group (MASCG) and Westmorland and Furness Council's Director of Thriving Communities, Steph Cordon, said: 'With poor weather forecast over the weekend of the Fair, which also coincided with the Epsom Derby, we did wonder if caravan and bowtop numbers might be lower this year. 'An initial reading of the count would suggest otherwise, but the recording of vehicles at the Fair is now much more accurate using drone technology, so comparisons to previous years is not necessarily a helpful barometer. 'I'm pleased that this year's Fair has passed without any major incidents and I'd like to thank everyone involved in the response to the Fair, for their hard work and dedication in making sure that this was the case. 'I'm particularly grateful for the brilliant job officers from across Westmorland and Furness Council have done, working in lock-step with colleagues from all the agencies involved in the MASCG, to ensure the Fair has been as safe and as clean and tidy as possible. 'There has been a particular focus on community engagement ahead of the 2025 Fair and a number of improvements were in place, as result of the feedback we received from residents. 'This has included maintaining the barriers on the leisure centre car park to provide dedicated parking spaces for residents, temporary traffic calming measures and improved signage. 'We have also provided 62 additional litterbins, an increase of 10 on last year and 75 temporary toilets and two multi-use urinals, an increase of nine and one, respectively on last year's provision. 'Cleaning and street sweeping teams have also worked exceptionally hard to keep the streets looking clean and tidy throughout the Fair and Trading Standards officers, in a joint operation with Cumbria Police, also seized unsafe counterfeit goods on sale at the Fair.' People will have a further opportunity to provide feedback on the 2025 Fair at the Post-Fair Public Drop In event, hosted by representatives from the MASCG, which will be held at Appleby Public Hall on Monday, June 23, between 5pm and 8pm. Gypsy and Traveller representative Billy Welch, a member of the Multi Agency Co-ordinating Group (MASCG), said: 'It's been an absolutely wonderful fair. "Everyone has enjoyed it and everything went like clockwork from the MASCG and from the police. 'Everybody is saying they had a really good time and the police and the MASCG did a brilliant job. READ MORE: First Best at Appleby awards given at Appleby Horse Fair | News and Star 'We had the rough weather on Saturday, but it's only one day so didn't spoil it. We've had far worse weather so it did not spoil anything. 'We're already looking forward to next year's fair – starting the planning and looking at what can be tweaked and improved. "I just want to thank everyone - we're really grateful – and wish everyone a safe journey home.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Appleby Horse Fair: Major traveller community event leaves fields littered with rubbish
A major gathering of the travelling community has left fields covered in rubbish and debris. Pictures and videos published of the aftermath of the Appleby Horse Fair showed litter, including plastic bags, unwanted furniture, empty crates, and cardboard boxes strewn across the site in the east Cumbrian market town of Appleby-in-Westmoreland. On Monday, organisers published images of workers beginning to clean up. Politics latest: Winter fuel payments cut u-turn details later A handful of vehicles, including caravans, were visible, and fields had been churned up by tyres and turned into muddy tracks where people had driven across the area. Westmorland and Furness Council said its statement will include "reactions to how this year's fair has gone and the efforts being made to ensure a swift and thorough clean-up. "Waste management and street cleaning teams operate in Appleby and the outlying areas throughout the fair, including during this final phase," the council's communications and engagement manager, John Everingham said. A burnt-out white Ford transit van could also be seen following a fire on the Trade Field shortly before noon on Saturday, which police said they were not treating as suspicious. Cumbria Police said they attended, with firefighters and "crews extinguishing the fire - which did not spread beyond the vehicle - by midday". No one was injured, the force said. Pictures and videos published online over the weekend showed the van in flames. The fair is a week-long "annual gathering of Gypsies and Travellers in the town of Appleby-in-Westmorland" in early June, which draws around 10,000 Gypsies and Travellers and more than 30,000 other visitors, the event's official website said. Read more:'Pandemonium' in downtown LA1m more blood donors neededPremier Lg's first black ref dies The fair incorporates a range of activities, including horse riding, horse trading, storytelling, and traditional music and dance. Temporary litter bins are provided during the fair. Around 30 arrests were made before the fair began, police said, mostly for road offences. Appleby-in-Westmoreland is located between the Lake District National Park and the North Pennines and had a registered population of a little over 3,000 at the 2011 census.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Horse artwork plan resubmitted after location move
Plans for a sculpture to celebrate a town's links to the Gypsy and traveller community have been submitted again after being rejected. In April, Westmorland and Furness Council refused a planning application for a stallion statue on the River Eden in Appleby, Cumbria, to celebrate the town's role in hosting the annual horse fair - a big event in the traveller calendar. The community interest firm Drive 2 Survive, which is behind the statue, has amended its proposal, with the artwork now planned for Salt Tip Corner, opposite the entrance to Roman Road. The firm said it hoped the sculpture, which would be 7ft (2m) tall on top of a concrete plinth, would be "visible and celebrated". Previous plans for the sculpture were rejected by the council following backlash by locals over the "impact of the sculpture's symbolic presence on community cohesion, emotional comfort and the shared use of the site", according to the council. A report prepared by council planning officers said those plans received 163 letters of support, 72 objections and 21 observation letters. The new plans are currently in consultation. According to an artist's statement submitted with the application, the team has chosen the new location because it is where the most expensive horses are bought and sold for cash during the fair. It said the sculpture was intended to make the contribution of the Gypsy and traveller community to Appleby "visible, permanent and celebrated". It said when the fair was not on, there was "little tangible evidence" of the event in the town. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Statue to celebrate town's traveller fair rejected Plan for statue to celebrate town's traveller fair Westmorland and Furness Council
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Daily Mirror
'Charming' UK seaside town with abandoned lido to transform with £6.8m plan
A UK seaside town once famed for its bustling outdoor Lido has unveiled ambitious plans to transform the area after it fell into disrepair. However, the £6.8m project has been hit with several delays An 'idyllic' seaside town surrounded by unspoilt countryside aims to refurbish the abandoned lido that's been tarnishing its image. Tucked away in rural Cumbria, and just a stone's throw from the acclaimed Lake District, lies Grange-over-Sands - a coastal gem that has managed to preserve its Victorian and Edwardian elegance despite much of the UK coast falling into demise. It boasts a 2.4-mile-long promenade, stretching from Blawith Point to the railway station, and a vibrant range of cafes and restaurants. Despite tempting views of golden sands and refreshing waters, Grange-over-Sands ' beach is actually a wide expanse of salt marsh. Walking on here isn't advised due to patches of dangerous quicksand - but it still makes for an Instagram-worthy snap. For years, a soft-sand beach and swimmable sea wasn't really needed - as the town lured in swathes of holidaymakers with its iconic lido. However, in 1993 - the outdoor pool closed and fell into repair. Images of the Grade 2 listed building show how the site has become somewhat of an eye-sore, filled with stagnant water and patches of uncontrollable weeds that seem worlds away from its glory days. "Grange Baths became a focal point for the community with bathers coming from far and wide by train on the Furness Line – a part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway," explained Save Grange Lido, a charity group calling for the pool to be brought back to life. "The pool hosted many events over the years including beauty contests, competitive galas and synchronised swimming. It was the place to be seen on a summer's day." Luckily, in 2023 work began on restoring the Grange Lido and Promenade, as part of a huge £6.8 million fund. Almost £5 million was allocated to opening the lido up to the public again - but with a temporary infill to the pool that would allow the area to be used as a 'multi-use' public space for the local community and visitors. Those wanting to don their Speedos and have a dip will have to be patient, as the future of the lido's pool return still depends on the council being satisfied with several pieces of criteria. This includes the necessary capital costs being raised and a 'robust and viable' business case. "Work on the 1,900m-long promenade will include the removal of unstable sections of the sea defence wall; the application of a durable coating to the upper surface of the promenade; and, a combination of pre-cast and in situ concrete repairs to the upper edge 'bull nose' and sea-facing elevation of the sea wall," Westmorland and Furness Council said. "The work also includes connectivity works to link the promenade to the town; public realm furniture; signage; improvements to railings; and a new child's playground area." In February 2023, the council confirmed the works would take 14 months to complete and would begin towards the end of March or the beginning of April - later than the February start date put forward by Councillor Jonathan Brook in 2022. Last month it was revealed that the refurbishment had been hit with even more delays due to problems with concrete repairs. Westmorland and Furness Council said the additional setbacks meant it was 'unlikely' the project would be completed this summer - and that a new reopening date will be confirmed in the coming weeks. "While it is frustrating that the construction phase must be extended due to further assessment of the repairs required to complete the project, it highlights the complexity of working with historic assets of this nature," Cllr Brook added. "It is important that we get this right, understanding that the lido project seeks to restore this important structure after more than 30 years of closure and several previous attempts to bring it back to life."
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
More than £7million in funding approved to give 'seismic boost' to Penrith
MORE than £7million of government funding has been approved for two major projects in Penrith, including the 'reimagination' of the listed town hall. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has approved a £7.09m grant for the so-called 'Inspiring Eden' project which encompasses two major initiatives: an 'enterprise hub' at 2-3 Market Square and a 'creative and community hub' based in Penrith Town Hall. Councillor Jonathan Brook, Westmorland and Furness Council leader and cabinet member for economy, said: 'Enterprise, entrepreneurship, community and creativity will combine in Inspiring Eden, to bring wide-ranging and long-lasting benefits to Penrith, Eden and beyond. "The journey towards getting to this point has been a long one, and the vision has evolved along that journey. "The addition of the creative and community hub along with the enterprise hub is tremendously exciting. "These two projects will help transform heritage and historic spaces, create jobs, spark opportunities, nurture ideas, and support cultural economic life to thrive for generations to come." Subject to Westmorland and Furness Council signing a memorandum of understanding to seal the grant, detailed planning is set to start on the enterprise hub soon, with the first business set to be up and running in the hub by April 2027, according to the authority. The development of the hub started with a research collaboration between Eden District Council, Cumbria LEP, Penrith Chamber of Trade and Commerce, Lancaster University and University of Cumbria in 2019. That work, led by 'business ecosystems' expert and a senior lecturer at Lancaster, Dr Chris Ford, made the case for a business and innovation hub in the heart of town. Dr Ford said: "The town centre really needed a place with office space, meeting space, but also a business support and innovation service that fits our town and our needs. It has to be a powerful, visible presence that makes a bold statement about what is possible right here in Penrith." Initial plans for the hub were focused on a site at junction 41 of the M6. A funding bid for that site, initially rejected by the government, was then approved in November 2023. The site was sold to a developer and is now being marketed as commercial development site 'Penrith 41'. Former Barclays Bank building in Market Square, Penrith (Image: Google StreetView) In April 2024, Westmorland and Furness Council said it became aware that Barclays Bank were vacating 2-3 Market Square. In January 2025 the council presented a plan for 2-3 Market Square to MHCLG as the 'perfect opportunity' for a 'pivot' towards a major town centre project instead. The enterprise hub plans - which the council says will act as a 'catalyst for renewal' of Penrith town centre - have been praised by Penrith-based innovation company FIS360 Ltd as well as Professor Malcolm Joyce, pro-vice chancellor for research and enterprise at Lancaster University. Funding necessary for the Enterprise Hub has been calculated as £4.09million, leaving a balance of funding. Government requested the council find another project to use the residual funding of £3million and this led to the town hall being put forward as an additional project – the Inspiring Eden creative and community hub at Penrith Town Hall. Penrith's Grade-II listed town hall building, on Corney Square, had been used by the council since 1906 when it was created from two neoclassical houses on the site. But in 2024, the council moved its operations to the new Voreda House - the controversial brainchild of the former Eden District Council authority which had come in at more than three times its original budget. At that time, the authority said that options for the town hall were 'being considered'. The new plans for the 'creative and community hub' within the building will 'reimagine the town hall and celebrate the town's heritage, powered by the community to ignite imagination for generations to come', Westmorland and Furness Council said. Penrith Town Hall Residents, creatives, community groups and young people will be invited to help identify options for future use, and plans for uses are 'to be agreed by the end of the year'. The council's ambition is for the building to become a 'thriving incubator for local talent' – acting as a launchpad for creatives and providing a collaborative environment for artists, creatives and entrepreneurs, whilst remaining a civic resource for residents. "Penrith Town Hall is an important landmark and resource we are committed to securing a future supporting the town," said Councillor Virginia Taylor, the council's cabinet member for planning, culture and community wellbeing. "One of our ambitions is to ensure that the council uses its assets in the most appropriate and beneficial way." Westmorland and Furness Council has hailed the plans as potentially providing a 'seismic boost' to Penrith's cultural, community and business sectors. "The enterprise hub and the creative and community hub will boost the town in different ways but also support each other and contribute towards the council's vision of making Westmorland and Furness a great place to live, work and thrive," Cllr Taylor added.
