Please see below my regular email update to residents across Longtown Ward. If you would like to add your name to the list please email me tim.pickstone@cumberland.gov.uk. Emails are just once a month and you can unsubscribe at any time.

I hope this email finds you safe and well Please see below information about the local area which I hope is useful. 

Bus Success
As part of a funding package from the Government to Cumberland Council, the 101 bus service to Rockcliffe looks likely to be restored. Great news, and something I have been pushing for with Council officers. 

The first part of the Council’s funding is to be used to restore services that have a ‘good chance of being commercially viable’ – such as the Rockcliffe link. Bus operators will now need to tender to run each service. A second phase of the funding will look at demand-led services in rural areas, hopefully helping other parts of our area. 

Planning Update
Public comments on the proposals for a Gasification plant at Rockcliffe have now closed. I know there has been a terrific response from the public with hundreds of objections sent in. I have also objected as your local councillor. The issue will be considered by the Cumberland Council Planning Committee, but I don’t yet know when.

Alongside Arthuret Parish Council I have also raised conners (particularly around traffic safety) about the planning application from the SPAR to re-locate to the petrol station in Longtown.

Election 2nd May 2024 – Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner
Voting takes place on Thursday, 2 May 2024, for Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner. This is an important role which determines how our local policing and fire services are run. 

The Liberal Democrat candidate is Adrian Waite. Adrian, who lives in Kirkby Stephen id a former Director of Finance for one of the local councils in Cumbria. You can find out more about what he stands for here (as well as links to the other candidates).

Polling stations are open as normal 7am to 10pm on Thursday 2 May 2024. You do NOT need your polling card do vote, but you DO NEED photo ID (e.g. driving licence or passport). If you have a postal vote, then this needs to be posted in time for it to reach the Civic Centre before 2nd May. 

Windfarm Grants 
Well done to groups in our area which secured funds from the Hallburn Windfarm fund: Blackford School (new outside play facility), Longtown Memorial Hall & Community Centre (for 100^th anniversary events),  Longtown Brownies and Guides for the county camp, Shankhill Primary for a Christmas Trip, Longtown Primary for ‘Reading for All’ project and Treemendous Learning which delivers sessions at a number of our local schools.The next deadline for Hallburn Grants is 17 July 2024. More information here. 

Eskdale House Re-opening
Earlier this month I attending the official re-opening of Eskdale House, Cumberland Council’s elderly care home in  Longtown. The Council has spent £2.3 million on the refurbishment, which is very welcome investment in our area.

The work at the 21-bed care home includes enhancements to bathrooms, such as new rise and fall baths and improved ensuite facilities, bigger bedrooms and a complete redecoration of the property. Outside there are new access ramps, balustrades, raised flower beds, and the relocation of the oil tank to create level access to the garden area. 

About two-thirds of the spaces are elderly residents (for example those who are particularly frail), and the remaining eight beds for elderly dementia care, including some respite beds. Residents will soon be moved into the home through a phased and managed approach.

Deadline for School Bus Applications
Cumberland Council are encouraging parents and carers of children starting primary or secondary school in September 2024, to apply online for home to school transport before the deadline on Friday 31 May.

The council provide free school transport to pupils who attend their catchment or nearest qualifying school and live more than two miles away (up to 8 years old) or three miles away (aged 8 years old and over). Apply through the online form. Children from low-income families (those receiving free school meals and uniform vouchers, or those whose families qualify for Working Tax Credit or Universal Credit at the maximum level) may also be eligible for support with school transport. Find out more about how you can access support such as free school meals and uniform vouchers here.

Applications received after 31 May 2024 may not be processed before September, so make sure you apply as soon as possible. Please contact the School Transport team below for further information, Cumberland Council – School Transport

Climate and Nature Strategy
Cumberland Council is asking for your views to help shape the first Climate and Nature draft strategy.

To help have your say on the draft strategy, please complete the online survey, which will take approximately five minutes and it is open now, and will close on Monday 20 May at noon.

Upcoming Roadworks
Quite a lot of road closures coming up, most seem to be as a result of more broadband cables being installed: 

U1079 Blackford – From 11 May 2024 for approx. 2 days (Ref:TTROC/10476)
From its junction with the U1074 to its junction with the A7.
Alternative Route: via the A7 and the U1074.
U1032 Bewcastle – From 14 May 2024 for approx. 2 days (Ref:TTROC/10452)
From its junction with the U1036 to its junction with the U1034.
Alternative Route: via the U1034, U1035, C1025, B6318 and the U1036.
U1074 Blackford – From 14 May 2024 for approx. 4 days (Ref:TTROC/10478)
From its junction with the A7 to its junction with the C1012.
Alternative Route: via the C1012, A69 and the A7.
4U1036 Bewcastle – From 16 May 2024 for approx. 3 days (Ref:TTROC/10453) 
From its junction with the U1032 to its junction with the C1025.
Alternative Route: via the C1025, B6318, U1035, U1034 and the U1032.
C1007 Catlowdy – From 18 May 2024 for approx. 1 week (Ref:TTROC/10483)
From its junction with the C1008 to its junction with the B6318.
Alternative Route: via the B6318 and the C1008.
C1025 Bewcastle – From 19 May 2024 for approx. 1 week (Ref:TTROC/10455) 
From its junction with the U1036 to its junction with the B6318.
Alternative Route: via the B6318, U1040 and the unrestricted sections of the C1025.
C1004 Longtown – From 25 May 2024 for approx. 4 days (Ref:TTROC/10475)
From its junction with the C1003 to its junction with the U1064.
Alternative Route: via the U1064, A6071, C1007, C1006 and the C1003.
U1077 Near Smithfield – From 29 May 2024 for approx. 1 week (Ref:TTROC/10481)
 From its junction with the A6071 to its junction with the U1074.
Alternative Route: via the U1074, C1009 and the A6071.
C1006 Rowelton – From 31 May 2024 for approx. 2 days (Ref:TTROC/10450)
From its junction with the C1004 to its junction with the C1012.
Alternative Route: via the C1012, C1005 and the C1004.

Current Planning Applications
Current planning applications in our area. Please get in touch if you have any queries or issues you would like me to raise. Erection Of Single Storey Gazebo Extension To Rear Elevation Together With Associated Alterations Palumic House, Blackford, Carlisle, CA6 4ETRef. No: 24/0284 | Received: Mon 22 Apr 2024 | Validated: Mon 22 Apr 2024 | Status: Registered
Application Under Section 73 Of The Town And Country Planning Act 1990 To Carry Out Development W… Materials Recovery Facility at Hespin Wood Waste Management Park, Rockcliffe, Carlisle, CA6 4BJRef. No: 24/9002/CTY | Received: Tue 16 Apr 2024 | Validated: Tue 16 Apr 2024 | Status: Registered
Application Under Section 73 Of The Town And Country Planning Act 1990 To Carry Out Development W… Materials Recovery Facility at Hespin Wood Waste Management Park, Rockcliffe, Carlisle, CA6 4BJRef. No: 24/9003/CTY | Received: Tue 16 Apr 2024 | Validated: Tue 16 Apr 2024 | Status: Registered
Application Under Section 73 Of The Town And Country Planning Act 1990 To Carry Out Development W… Materials Recovery Facility at Hespin Wood Waste Management Park, Rockcliffe, Carlisle, CA6 4BJRef. No: 24/9004/CTY | Received: Tue 16 Apr 2024 | Validated: Tue 16 Apr 2024 | Status: Registered
Application Under Section 73 Of The Town And Country Planning Act 1990 To Carry Out Development W…  Materials Recovery Facility at Hespin Wood Waste Management Park, Rockcliffe, Carlisle, CA6 4BJRef. No: 24/9005/CTY | Received: Tue 16 Apr 2024 | Validated: Tue 16 Apr 2024 | Status: Registered
Application Under Section 73 Of The Town And Country Planning Act 1990 To Carry Out Development W…  Baling Plant at Hespin Wood Waste Management Park, Rockcliffe, Carlisle, CA6 4BJRef. No: 24/9006/CTY | Received: Tue 16 Apr 2024 | Validated: Tue 16 Apr 2024 | Status: Registered
Application Under Section 73 Of The Town And Country Planning Act 1990 To Carry Out Development W…  Secondary Aggregates Production Facility at Hespin Wood Waste Management Park, Rockcliffe, Carlisle, CA6 4BJRef. No: 24/9007/CTY | Received: Tue 16 Apr 2024 | Validated: Tue 16 Apr 2024 | Status: Registered
Erection Of Front Porch, Single Storey Side And Rear Extensions To Provide Additional Living Acco…  The Firs, Catlowdy, Penton, Carlisle, CA6 5QWRef. No: 24/0239 | Received: Tue 02 Apr 2024 | Validated: Tue 02 Apr 2024 | Status: Registered
Roofing Over Of Existing Silage Pit 
Randalinton Farm, Sandysike, Longtown, Carlisle, CA6 5SXRef. No: 24/0226 | Received: Wed 27 Mar 2024 | Validated: Wed 27 Mar 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
Roofing Over Of Existing Silage Pit 
Randalinton Farm, Sandysike, Longtown, Carlisle, CA6 5SXRef. No: 24/0225 | Received: Wed 27 Mar 2024 | Validated: Wed 27 Mar 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
Erection Of Single Storey Side Extension To Provide Kitchen/Living Area, Bathroom & 2no. Bedrooms… 
Land Adj to Forest Gate, Blackbank, Carlisle, CA6 5LQRef. No: 24/0214 | Received: Tue 26 Mar 2024 | Validated: Wed 27 Mar 2024 | Status: Registered
Extension To Existing Building For The Storage Of Machinery
Oakbank Lakes, Longtown, Carlisle, CA6 5NARef. No: 24/0212 | Received: Mon 25 Mar 2024 | Validated: Wed 27 Mar 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
Erection Of 1no. Building On Existing Industrial Site 
Shed 9, Sandysike, Longtown, Carlisle, CA6 5SRRef. No: 24/0208 | Received: Fri 22 Mar 2024 | Validated: Fri 22 Mar 2024| Status: Registered
Discharge Of Conditions 3 (Construction Phasing Plan), 24 (Level 2 Survey) And 25 (Archaeological…  Haithwaite Farm, Penton, Carlisle, CA6 5QTRef. No: 24/0174 | Received: Fri 15 Mar 2024 | Validated: Mon 18 Mar 2024 | Status: Registered
Erection Of 1no. Dwelling  Land adjacent Old Swinford, Harker, Carlisle, CA6 4DSRef. No: 24/0163 Received: Tue 12 Mar 2024 | Validated: Thu 21 Mar 2024 | Status: RegisteredHope all of this is useful. Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any queries.