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.

Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Consulting on Future Strategy
The recently elected Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner David Allen has launched his Police, Fire and Crime Plan Consultation and is seeking the views of the public on the future priorities of Cumbria Constabulary and Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service.

As well as focussing on the priorities of the Services, the consultation is also asking residents how safe they currently feel in the county and their views on the current service they receive from Police and Fire and Rescue. 

The survey can be found here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PoliceFireandCrimePlanConsultation

Reporting Back
Just to report back on a few recent issues which have been raised with me. If there are local issues that I can help with in your area don’t hesitate to ask. 

At Green Mill Road the MOD (who is the landowner) has recently removed an out of use bus shelter following a request from me and consultation with the Parish Council. The shelter is not on a bus route and had become damaged. 

Following a request the footpath along the A7 going south from Harker has recently been cleared back to make it safer for pedestrians on this very busy stretch of road. 

New signs have been ordered for Sleetbeck Road in Bewcastle Parish, following requests from residents. 

Potholes have been reported in a number of areas and since been fixed. Some of the worst were on Old Road in Longtown, and also on the back road to Newcastleton going down to the Kershope Burn. 

£5,000 Community Funding for Longtown Ward
Longtown Ward has been allocated £5,000 for community grants by Cumberland Council. Please help get this spent! Grants can be given to community groups and projects anywhere in the Longtown Ward. The particular priorities for funding are:

• Community Facilities
• Road safety
• Environment

At the moment the Council prefers grants to invest in ‘items’ rather than fund events, but that still leaves plenty of scope. 

More information and application forms here.

Free children’s swimming over the school holidays
All schoolchildren aged up to 16 years old from the Cumberland area will be able to go for a swim in a choice of five indoor pools for only 10p over the school summer holidays.

The discounted scheme started  Monday 22 July and has been put in place by Cumberland Council, with the support of GLL and Wigton Baths Trust.

At the Sands Centre in Carlisle, the slots are 10-1.50am Monday to Friday. More details here. 

Further Reading
You many be interested in some of these reports on my website:
Answer to question: School attendance
Borderlands Place Plan Conference 
Reporting back – Border, Fellside, North Carlisle Community Panel (including funding for Community Centres)
Planning Committee Decisions July 2024 (NB planning permission for battery farm Westlinton)
Reporting Back – Police, Fire and Crime Panel 
Reporting Back – Full Council
Answers to Written Questions July 2024

Upcoming Roadworks
Quite a few roadworks coming up, in August. The main ones are: 
 
The rolling programme of road closures continues in Nicholforest and surrounding areas during August. The road through Catlowdy is closed 14-15 August 2024. The road towards Kershopfoot is closed just before the ‘s bend’ 13-14 August 2024. There are also closures on some minor roads in the Moat area (see Facebook Page link below).

The ‘Netherby Road’ is closed coming out of Longtown for four days from 17th August for four days. Diversion is via Old Road towards Easton. The closure is from Powdrake Crescent going out towards the junction with the C1006. 

Roadworks continue on the roads off the A7 (signposted Corries Mill) around Englishtown from 9th August. 

There are more details on these on my Facebook Page. I get given these with quite short notice and will share them on Facebook and in local Facebook Groups when I can. 

Current Planning Applications
Planning applications received in Longtown Ward, July 2024. You can comment on individual applications yourself, but don’t hesitate to get in touch if there is anything you would like me to raise or if I can help with any questions. Please note there is no further news on some of the larger planning applications that are currently ‘in the system’, such as the Rockcliffe Gasification plant proposal or the new Spar at the petrol station in Longtown. This means they have not yet been scheduled for a Planning Committee. 

• Re-Concreting Of Farmyard 
  Fauld Farm, Arthuret Road, Longtown, Carlisle, CA6 5SNRef. No: 24/0486 | Received: Mon 29 Jul 2024 | Validated: Mon 29 Jul 2024 | Status: Registered
• Removal Of 4 Metres Of Hedgerow To Facilitate Enabling Works As Part Of The Harker Substation Ext…
  East side of Harker Road heading north towards Tewthaite House, Harker, Carlisle CA6 4EZRef. No: 24/0001/HDG | Received: Wed 24 Jul 2024 | Validated: Wed 24 Jul 2024 | Status: Registered
• Discharge Of Conditions 9 (Wildlife Enhancement Measures); 11 (Surface Water Drainage Scheme & Fo…
  Land to south east of St Michaels Drive, Brampton Road, Longtown CA6 5FBRef. No: 24/0464 | Received: Thu 18 Jul 2024 | Validated: Thu 18 Jul 2024| Status: Registered
• Demolition Of Redundant Stone Barn
  Bush on Lyne, Longtown, Carlisle, CA6 5TRRef. No: 24/0003/DEM | Received: Wed 17 Jul 2024 | Validated: Fri 19 Jul 2024 | Status: Registered
• Discharge Of Condition 3 (Surface Water Drainage System) Of Previously Approved Application 24/0078
  Englishtown Farm, Longtown, Carlisle, CA6 5NLRef. No: 24/0458 | Received: Tue 16 Jul 2024 | Validated: Tue 16 Jul 2024| Status: Decided
• Work To 1no. Lime Tree Subject To TPO272
  Land east of 16, Claremont Drive, LongtownRef. No: 24/0024/TPO | Received: Mon 08 Jul 2024 | Validated: Not Available | Status: Withdrawn

Tim