Archive
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Valleys in focus
A YEAR in the Life of the Langdale Valleys by Bill Birkett. Published by Frances Lincoln, price £14.99 (hardback). My first sight of the Langdale Valley remains such a vivid memory and I am still filled with awe every time I visit. It is, without
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Road to Paradise...Cumbrian short stories
ROAD to Paradise: A Collection of Cumbrian Short Stories, by Irvine Hunt. Cumbria and Lake District Life Magazine, Carlisle, 2003. £14.59. The road to paradise leads to the past in Irvine Hunt's new book, a collection of 14 short stories of Cumbrian
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Discover Bay wildlife
A YEAR in Silverdale by Richard Norman. Published by Helm Press. Available from local shops or direct from the publisher, tel 015395-61321. Price: £9.95 plus £1.50 p&p RICHARD Norman's A Year in Silverdale takes a delightful approach to introducing
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King of the Castle...
THOSE Blue Remembered Hills by Patrick Gordon-Duff-Pennington. Published by The Memoir Club, County Durham. £16.99. ISBN: 1-84104-054-1 IT WOULD be fair to say that for many of us, living in a castle would not be considered a burden or some sort of
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Wainwright's heir...Guide to the county
CUMBRIA - The Lake District and Its County by John Wyatt. Published by Robert Hale. £50. ISBN 0-7090-7440-9 OFTEN coffee table books on the Lake District are over-dependent on photos and anodyne commentaries, but that fate has not befallen this hardback
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Records week bid by Coniston
A bid to stage Windermere Records Week on the normally placid waters of Coniston is making waves. Organisers of the 35-year-old event, which annually draws hundreds of powerboaters to challenge speed records on Windermere, have formally applied to shift
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Coniston bids for Records Week
A bid to stage Windermere Records Week on the normally placid waters of Coniston is making waves. Organisers of the 35-year-old event, which annually draws hundreds of powerboaters to challenge speed records on Windermere, have formally applied to shift
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Mere backs steal show
Cockermouth 5 - Windermere 27... IT'S "SAME again" for Windermere, who face Cockermouth at home this Saturday in a rearranged Cumbria League fixture after outgunning them by four tries to one on Saturday. On arrival, Windermere found the first-team
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Touchline Talk: Please excuse my French
"I was aware of two games on Saturday where the relatively impecunious visitors were regarded as massive underdogs. One was at The Woodlands, where Fylde, proud of the league's second best home record, were seeking to maintain pressure on the play-off
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Workington trip in Cumbria Cup
KENDAL have arranged to play their Story Construction Cumbria Cup match away to Workington on Saturday, which is designated as a blank date as far as league fixtures are concerned. The clubs agreed to play the tie after clubs involved in the cup had
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What a letdown: Fylde 8 - Kendal 8
THE GRIM faces of the Kendal players trooping into the Fylde's makeshift clubhouse told the tale of their part in this fascinating derby tussle which saw the visitors denied by a stoppage-time try, writes Richard Daniels. Kendal had invested a huge
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Kirkby pay penalty: K L 0 - St Benedict's 6
THE RESULT hinged on penalties and St Benedict's put over two while Kirkby missed three kickable chances, despite having enough possession to have won comfortably if it had been used wisely. Faced with bigger and bulkier opponents, Kirkby's forwards
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Manslaughter charge denied in Legionnaire's case
The "gross negligence" of an architect from Grange-over-Sands led to Britain's biggest ever outbreak of legionnaires' disease, which left seven people dead and a further 172 infected, it was alleged at court this week. Preston Crown Court was told how
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Tragedy for Legionnaire's survivors
The "human tragedy" of the legionnaires' outbreak was not just counted in the lives lost but the dozens of other survivors whose health has been irreparably damaged, the prosecution claimed. Several accounts from survivors were read to the jury to highlight
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Manslaughter denied in Legionnaire's disaster
The "gross negligence" of an architect from Grange-over-Sands led to Britain's biggest ever outbreak of legionnaires' disease, which left seven people dead and a further 172 infected, it was alleged at court this week. Preston Crown Court was told how
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Give firms a helping hand
A new initiative aimed at helping small business owners through the early stages of being their own boss has been launched in Cumbria. The business mentoring service is spearheaded by former Made in Cumbria co-ordinator Richard Knowles, who has more
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Hotels crowned the best
Kendal's Castle Green Hotel has been crowned hotel of the year by Best Western, which has more than 300 hotel members nationwide. The Castle Green came top in a national scheme measuring hotel performance in the previous year, based on quality standards
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Bank ordered to pay £258,000
A South Lakeland hotel group is celebrating after successfully taking court action against a leading high street bank. Lakeside Inns Limited was awarded more than a quarter of a million pounds plus legal costs at Liverpool County Court following the
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Encouraging a look to the past
A TASTE of the Orient has been injected into the Museum of Lakeland Life with a new, vibrant and colourful display that is set to mark the start of exciting developments at the popular Kendal attraction, writes Luke Dicicco. The Gifts from the Orient
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Arts Diary...
AN ECLECTIC mix of Eastern European gipsy songs, traditional Jewish music, Middle Eastern Melodies fused with a touch of jazz, reggae and ska will ring around Shap Memorial Hall tonight (Friday, February 11) at 8pm with a performance from The Baghdaddies
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Celebrating the art of still life
It has been two years in the making but, finally, two South Lakeland artists will showcase their work in a joint exhibition celebrating still life painting. Kate Bigland, of Overton, near Kirkby Lonsdale, and Michael Jenkin, of Underbarrow, have joined
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Helping Hands - more hands on deck
n THE annual meeting of the Kendal and District Voluntary Group of Diabetes UK takes place on Saturday, February 19, at 1.45pm, at the day care centre, Dowkers Lane, Kendal. Anyone with diabetes, or who cares for someone with diabetes, especially if recently
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Bands get in tune for Tsunami aid
SIX young South Lakeland bands performed at an all-day live concert in Kendal on Sunday and raised more than £300 for the tsunami disaster appeal. Dickie Doodles bar was packed with fans of the groups queuing to get in well before the doors opened at
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Lake District planners examine floating pontoon
Lake District planners are to visit White Cross Bay caravan site, on the shores of Windermere, to assess the impact of a scheme to replace existing timber jetties with floating pontoon ones in the southern marina. While there they will also look at floating
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Enforcing cocklers licensing 'too costly'
THE Government has dashed any hopes of introducing a regulated licensing system that Morecambe Bay fishermen claim is desperately needed to prevent another tragedy like the one that claimed the lives of 23 Chinese cockle pickers last February. For 12
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Planners examine floating pontoons
Lake District planners are to visit White Cross Bay caravan site, on the shores of Windermere, to assess the impact of a scheme to replace existing timber jetties with floating pontoon ones in the southern marina. While there they will also look at floating
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North Lancs: Allinthwaite shock Cup foes
IN the Adam and Gaskell Senior Challenge Cup, Allithwaite Rangers, from the lower reaches of Division 1, caused a major upset by beating last season's Premier Division runners-up Slyne with Hest 2-0 and deservedly so. Slyne Hest could not break
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Tarn reopens
THE National Trust is looking to re-open Tarn Hows to visitors again Saturday. It was forced to close the popular beauty spot, near Hawkshead, to the public earlier this week due to storm damage. The closure allowed forestry teams, using heavy machinery
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'Chamley' gets new start at TT races
PRIVATEER motorcycle racer Alan Chamley (pictured above) has the TT Races on the Isle of Man in his sights again this year, but with a difference. Class restructuring which has seen the 400 class disappear from the TT schedule means Alan, from Kendal
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Community leaders congratulate Camilla
CHURCH and civic leaders in South Lakeland were among the first to offer their congratulations to the Prince of Wales following the announcement yesterday (Thursday) that he is to marry Camilla Parker Bowles, reports Michaela Robinson-Tate. James Cropper
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Kendal Museum re-opens
KENDAL Museum is re-opening for 2005 Saturday with a full range of exhibitions, events and activities. New this year, every Saturday at 11am and 3pm, a member of staff will lead one of six new highlights of the museum' tours. The museum opens with
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Car blaze inquest
AN INQUEST has been opened and adjourned into the death of Chorley mechanic Malcolm Fairclough, 57, who died after suffering 90 per cent burns in a car fire near Ulverston. Mr Fairclough was spotted staggering from the flaming vehicle last Wednesday.
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New flood plan call
SOUTH Lakeland District Council is to press ahead to try to find a solution to protect flood-threatened residents in Kendal. At a meeting on Wednesday, Cabinet members agreed to instruct officers to look into ways of replacing the £2.8 million Stock
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Somethings for Valentine's, some for Easter
Peter Hutchinson, Greenodd: Herdwick mutton from Peter's own farm at Woodland (Broughton) legs £1.50 per lb/shoulders £1 per lb/loins £2 per lb. The Honeypot, Hawkshead: Woodall's of Waberthaite traditionally dry-cured diced pancetta...............
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Councillor dies
A FORMER chairman of Windermere Parish Council (now town council), Richard Ogden, died on Wednesday. Mr Ogden, who was vice chairman at the time of his death, led the council in both 2001 and 2002, after being elected to represent Bowness South in 1997
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Kendal Judo Club come out on top
OVER 200 competitors from all over Britain entered the first major national judo tournament at St. Helens and Kendal Judo Club came away as top club with four medals at the end of a hard-fought day. Top spot for Kendal went to Steve Rogan, who won
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Group wants a pyramid built in Lake District
The Lake District is world-renowned for its naturally rugged fells and towering climbing peaks but one group is hoping to make an equally eye-catching man-made addition to the beauty spot a pyramid. A group calling itself Atlantis Pyramid has its sights
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20 turbine firm jobs to go union
AROUND 20 jobs are to be lost at Kendal turbine engineering company Gilbert, Gilkes and Gordon according to Amicus union officials. The redundancies are believed to be part of company restructuring which will also result in job losses at a factory in
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Park welcomes funding support
THE Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority has welcomed news that it is to receive more cash from the Government to look after the region in the coming year. Rural Affairs minister Alun Michael announced that the YDNPA would receive £4,906,870 from
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Plans to ease congestion with cheaper bus fares
A PLAN to slash the price of tickets and get passengers back on buses is being lined up as the latest weapon to try to end the misery of Kendal's traffic congestion. As preparations for the town's long-awaited pedestrian priority' scheme got under way
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Apathy shuts down market
ORGANISERS of Kendal's Medieval Market have confirmed that this year's event is definitely off after a potential sponsor pulled out this week. Market chairman John Studholme said the lack of interest and financial contributions from Kendal retailers
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Early birds facing starvation
A SPECIES of moorland bird commonly seen in the Lake District may be going hungry as spring arrives earlier each year. Scientists from the RSPB and Newcastle and Manchester Universities have found that the golden plover is breeding significantly earlier
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Power dressing
Cumberland CC have received funding for pre-match leisure wear from Power World of Millom, the electrical and gas appliance suppliers. Properietor Beverley Sharp is the sister of Cumberland's chairman of cricket Steve and team manager Ian - so it's a
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Home again
FOOTBALL: Carlisle United are back at home after the eight-foot floods sub-merged parts of the Brunton Park ground. They host Gravesend and Northfleet on Saturday and the hospitality suites are open again after a mini army of volunteers helped with
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School: 'Bright show' at inter-counties
CUMBRIA'S top school athletes took part in the annual inter-counties invitation cross-country match against the North East at Sedbergh School on Saturday. Competition was keen as the youngsters negotiated the testing courses that easily cut up following
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Dales towns homes wanted for tv
SEDUCTIVE shots of rolling hills and quaint cobbled streets aired during Sedbergh's recent slot on prime time television has seen demand for Dales properties soar. An unexpected spin-off of the BBC2 show documenting Sedbergh's search for a twin town
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NT seeks new volunteers
WITH millions of tourists taking the time to visit the Lake District every year, the park clearly is a special place, but volunteers are needed to preserve it for future generations. The National Trust is appealing for people to give up spare time this
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West Lancs: Sharpe saves Cors point
AT LAST there was a point for Milnthorpe Corinthians that was very nearly all three in a 1-1 draw with Millom. This was quite an open game in the Aegon West Lancs League first division, with Millom hitting the bar twice in the first half and keeper
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Women's: Bird on a song for Kendal
Without a competitive fixture for five weeks, Kendal were keen to return to the fray and emerged from a tough Cumbria League mission at Barrow with a 4-1 win. Within the first few minutes, Kendal went behind and it required a determined response, which
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Men's: Alarm bells start to ring
KENDAL took a dangerous step towards relegation from North West division five (North) when they lost 2-1 away to St Helens, one of only two teams below them. With no wins since October, the situation looks increasingly threatening for Kendal, as a
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Pay as you enter Park?
Sir, I have just read the article about the Lake District National Park's financial black hole in this morning's The Westmorland Gazette (February 4, National park in cash crisis'). It seems to me that there can only be one solution to this problem
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Westmorland: Semi-final reward spurs Staveley on
STAVELEY United went through to the semi-finals of the Westmorland Senior Cup, which they last won in 1979, with a heartening 2-0 win over Lunesdale United. After looking as if they had turned the corner in the league with a couple of battling, if luckless
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Domestic violence stats 'shock'
A human rights campaigner who was investigating levels of domestic violence in Cumbria was so shocked by what he found that he was prompted to speak out. Dave Plumb, the co-chairman of Amnesty International's South Westmorland group, was researching
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Kendal traffic plans not Blue Badge-friendly
n Sir, I understand that those very thoughtful planners at Cumbria County Council are considering plans to ban all forms of traffic on Stricklandgate,in the centre of Kendal, between the library and Kendal Town Hall. Apparently this ban also includes
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Hesketh's View: Sunday blues for Smith
"NOTHING surprises me about Kenny Mayers and our experienced skipper produced two quality goals on his return to ensure the win against Ossett. "But we have got over one problem and another arrives with left winger Ged Smith out of the side for three
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UniBond: Back with a bang
Ossett Albion...... 2 Kendal Town..3 INFLUENTIAL skipper Kenny Mayers returned from suspension to guide his side to another important three points. The captain's startling display was one of several impressive performances in the Town line-up which
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Residents should not pay to park
Sir, I read with some disappointment the piece in last week's Gazette over the proposals from South Lakeland District Council to charge for residents' parking permits (Gazette, February 4, Pay to park at home'). The report covered only one aspect of
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Rail staff do their best
Sir, With reference to the comments made by Mr Hilton (Letters, February 4, Rail firms must work together'), I feel compelled to raise a couple of points. Firstly, the privatised train operating companies that operate passenger services are under considerable
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I to P of holiday destinations...
I is for insurance never, ever travel without it. Shop around before you buy. If you are planning several holidays over the next 12 months, check out multi- holiday cover as a sensible and cheaper option. However, read all the small print first. Insurance
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Safeguarding the bigger picture
Sir, I would welcome one last chance to put the record straight with regard to your coverage of High Yewdale Farm; all the farms in the valley and the future of fell farming generally. The National Trust, of course, regrets the loss of High Yewdale as
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Over the Gate: Why the windmill was so tall
REMINISCING is simply remembering or having a recollection of something. It can also be talking or writing about what you recall. There is nothing wrong with that, but the qualification for doing so is nowhere near so exciting because it means you have
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A cut above the rest...
For those of us wildlife-friendly types who left all our cutting down and tidying up until spring, the time for action has finally arrived! I have to confess that it couldn't come soon enough for me. I know it's important to leave the old stems and leaves
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Buzzard released...
A majestic bird of prey, which nearly died when it fell victim to storms a month ago, has taken to the skies once more, reports Ruth Lythe. The adult, male buzzard was rescued by birdwatcher Fred Gould when he was left hanging by his wing from a tree
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New TB case worrying
A HOTSPOT of bovine tuberculosis in Furness is still causing concern after experts have been baffled by a fresh case at a previously unaffected farm. Routine TB tests among a beef suckler herd near Barrow-in-Furness identified one cow with the disease
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Diversification fills income gap
EXPLORING pastures new via farm diversification schemes is bringing in record sums for enterprising farmers as money purely from agriculture slides. Official Government statistics for 2003/4 showed that total income from farming was £3 billion in the
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Life-saving 'samaratin' dies at 32
A FORMER taxi driver and security man who was presented with a life-saving award for pulling a man out of the River Kent during last February's floods has died aged 32. Paul Huntington was born and educated in Hull before moving to Bowness six years
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Early learning in outdoor environment
A SOUTH Lakeland nursery manager is to set up the first Forest School in the county thanks to a training grant from Cumbria Sure Start, reports Caroline Beamish. Ruth Moore, of Bobbins Day Nursery in Staveley, near Kendal, is branching out to provide
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£32 million boost for Bay health
HEALTH minister John Hutton denied the Government was electioneering after it announced millions of extra pounds for the health service in Morecambe Bay this week, writes Health Reporter Michaela Robinson-Tate. The MP for Barrow and Furness was speaking
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Morecambe...the sweet smell of success
With Morecambe Bay just down the road, you would have expected a bracing blast of sea air on a January foray to Flookburgh. But when I arrived at my destination the new industrial units just off Moor Lane all I could smell was success... The Cartmel
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Three years until digital tv
HOUSEHOLDS across South Lakeland could have just three years to ensure that they are able to receive digital TV as plans for the big analogue switchover gather pace, reports Paul Duncan. Television watchdog Ofcom this week released a timetable, which
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Increase in cash from Bay health services
HEALTH minister John Hutton denied the Government was electioneering after it announced millions of extra pounds for the health service in Morecambe Bay this week, writes Health Reporter Michaela Robinson-Tate. The MP for Barrow and Furness was speaking
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Primary praised
THERE were celebrations all round for teachers and pupils of Low Furness Primary School after a praise-packed Ofsted report lifted the school from special measures. Government-appointed inspectors had been unhappy with standards at the Great Urswick
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Parish route to tidier roadsides
PARISH lengthsmen could once again become a feature on roads and footpaths in South Lakeland, carrying out minor repairs for the community, reports Paul Duncan. Cumbria County Council has been examining the prospect of devolving some responsibility for
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Secure station award for Oxenholme...
A COMMITMENT to reduce crime has seen Oxenholme Railway Station awarded a Secure Station re-accreditation as part of a partnership between the British Transport Police, Virgin Trains and the local community. In a passenger survey carried out during the
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Rail ticket offices to open for longer
FIRST TransPennine Express is extending opening hours of ticket offices across its network. From Sunday (February 13), 19 stations will have new weekday opening hours with ticket offices being staffed from earlier in the day to later in the evening
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Parking costs put off train users
CAR parking charges at Oxenholme train station are putting people off using the Lakes Line, according to a former train user. Ex-museum education officer John Hill, 68, of Holme, said he regularly used to travel the line from Oxenholme to Windermere
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Park members angry over 'PR' disaster
After tracking The Westmorland Gazette's campaign to save the Lake District's free guided walks, an outdoor clothing company has dug deep and come up with the cash to secure their future. Just days before the authority was due to decide the fate of its
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England thrill for former Mini Magnus
Magnus Lund, the Sale Sharks openside flanker, who took his first strides in competitive rugby with Kendal RUFC Minis, has won a cherished place in the England A side. He is in the starting line-up to play France A at Bath tonight (Friday) as part of
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Save the Walks: Members angry about 'pr' disaster
After tracking The Westmorland Gazette's campaign to save the Lake District's free guided walks, an outdoor clothing company has dug deep and come up with the cash to secure their future. Just days before the authority was due to decide the fate of its
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Rat catchers face the axe
A low cost vermin killing service may be axed as South Lakeland District Council carries out a financial review of its pest control services. The council presently offers a heavily subsidised pest control service, charging households suffering from rat
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Pick of the Week...
MISCELLANEOUS... THE sixth Keswick Film Festival gets under way at the Theatre by the Lake tonight, Friday (February 11), and this year's event promises a wide range of interesting films from around the globe including Some Kind of Monster, a documentary
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Call for improvements at rail stations
A TRAIN operator and a rail lobby group have embarked on a campaign to improve stations on the West Coast Main Line, including car parking at Oxenholme. West Coast Rail 250, the biggest train lobby group in the country, launched its document West Coast
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Station improvement campaign
A TRAIN operator and a rail lobby group have embarked on a campaign to improve stations on the West Coast Main Line, including car parking at Oxenholme. West Coast Rail 250, the biggest train lobby group in the country, launched its document West Coast
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Half Term Out and About...
Kendal... KENDAL Leisure Centre has a full programme of activities, sports and entertainment over the half term break. Tuesday, February 15 is Fun To Do day with swimming in the pool and plenty of sports on the go throughout the day, from 10am-3.30pm
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Councillor wants all holy books in libraries
The holy books of Muslims, Jews and Christians will be stocked side-by-side at Kendal Library if a Cumbria County Councillor gets his way. Coun Roger Bingham, who represents Lower Kentdale and holds the cultural portfolio on CCC's cabinet, believes the
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Kendal Museum re-opens
KENDAL Museum is re-opening for 2005 Saturday with a full range of exhibitions, events and activities. New this year, every Saturday at 11am and 3pm, a member of staff will lead one of six new highlights of the museum' tours. The museum opens with an
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Walkers bring cash to Lakes
Sir, Last year the Hadrian's Wall Long Distance Path was opened and it has already demonstrated its contribution to activity in the regions, including Cumbria, through which it passes. It serves to underline the benefit of walking and huge economic value