Archive
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Speeding to a double penalty
PICKING up a speeding fine can unwittingly lead to a double penalty, says Phil Brown, of Bowness. He tells me he was looking for a new motor insurance deal at renewal time and was asked if he had any motoring convictions. "I can't remember ever being
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Pay as you go Park...
Derek Farman's National Park pay as you enter idea', (Letters, February 11) is far from the "only solution" to the LDNPA's "financial black hole". Indeed your paper of the same date quotes the LDNPA's corporate finance director, Kerry Powell, addressing
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'Bad scheme is better than no scheme..'
n I want to tear my hair out in frustration. I have just returned from a grid-locked town due to the next raft of changes being put into place. How can it be that our elected councillors are unable to see what most people in Kendal and its environs can
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Pedestrians may not benefit...
"I would ask people to support it", said Councillor Oliver Pearson, talking about Kendal's pedestrian priority scheme on the front cover of last week's Gazette (February 11, Back on the buses bid to ease traffic'). It's great that people are trying
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Barriers need breaking down
Barriers need tearing down TO GIVE credit where it is due, South Lakeland District Council's acting chief executive Mike Jones has lived up to his pledge of releasing into the public domain a comprehensive and detailed report of the suspensions of
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Forum meets
HIGH Furness East Neighbourhood Forum is holding a public meeting on Monday (February 21) from 7pm to 9pm in Coniston Institute. Items on the agenda include details of Neighbourhood Forum grants and of Momentum', a pre-learner driving awareness course
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Furness elections begin next month
TONY Blair may not have decided when the nation will be going to the polls to elect the next government but Furness voters will definitely be asked to turn-out in March to choose their local representatives. South Lakeland District Council has set March
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Sparks fly after fireworks
A WEEKEND fireworks display at a top Lake District hotel resulted in a roadside protest this week after residents claimed the excessive noise put wildlife, pets and livestock in danger. Members of the Windermere Campaign for Firework Controls claimed
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Speed cameras net $1.6million
SPEED cameras set up in the county's accident hot spots have generated £1.6 million from motorists, reports Lisa Frascarelli. Cumbria Safety Cameras (CSC) the operational arm of Cumbria Road Casualty Reduction Partnership generated the seven-figure
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Legionnaire's Trial: Court hears of cancelled contract
AN ARCHITECT from Grange-over-Sands whose job was to ensure the air conditioning system at Barrow's Forum 28 was adequately maintained cancelled part of a contract that might have prevented legionnaires' disease breaking out in the Furness town, a court
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A 590 by-pass prepares for tenders
PLANS for the £22 million A590 High and Low Newton bypass in Cumbria are a step closer with the confirmation that there has been no High Court legal challenge following the making of the statutory orders for the new road. The orders give the Highways
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A590 by-pass heads for green light
PLANS for the £22 million A590 High and Low Newton bypass in Cumbria are a step closer with the confirmation that there has been no High Court legal challenge following the making of the statutory orders for the new road. The orders give the Highways
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More yachts register to use Winderemere
FEARS the 10mph speed limit on Windermere could lead to vast numbers of boaters leaving the lake have proved to be unfounded, according to annual registration figures released by the Lake District National Park Authority. From December 1, 2004 to early
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BBC to get letter of complaint
The BBC is to receive an angry letter from Kirkby Lonsdale Town Council that says licence payers in the area are being treated as second class citizens'. The town, alongside other parts of the Lune Valley, will be without access to terrestrial
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Out-of-hours GP service putting lives at risk
Coniston villagers say they are being put at risk by "inadequate care" from the new out-of-hours GP service, reports Jennie Dennett. The parish council has called a public meeting after residents complained that the system was too slow and they were
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Out-of-hours GP service fears
Coniston villagers say they are being put at risk by "inadequate care" from the new out-of-hours GP service, reports Jennie Dennett. The parish council has called a public meeting after residents complained that the system was too slow and they were
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EU dentists bid
Overseas recruitment could be part of the solution to finding more dentists to treat NHS patients in Morecambe Bay. Health bosses are targeting European dentists in a bid to attract them to the Bay, where it is estimated that half the population, or
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Southport chase Speare
PHIL Wilson has vowed to fight to keep his goalkeeper after Southport launched an audacious bid to snatch Jamie Speare. Lancaster City's boss is disappointed that his former club placed seven days notice on the impressive Speare. They want him as back-up
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Great North runners wanted for Trust
The Meningitis Trust is appealing for motivated individuals to take up the challenge of the world's biggest and best half marathon, the BUPA Great North Run which takes place on Sunday 18 September. The BUPA Great North Run, which is now in its 25th
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4.5% council tax rise
POLITICAL leaders at Cumbria County Council have pushed through a budget which will increase its share of the council tax by 4.6 per cent for the year from April. Mike Ash, deputy leader of the ruling Conservative/Lib Dem alliance, and budget spokesman
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One store enjoys success
TRADE is on the up for one Kendal business, which is set to double up and open a second shop in the town. Lune will sell a range of Chinese Herbal Medicines as well as offering the arts of acupuncture and acupressure from the new Kendal base, at Wainwright's
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Drivers fume at delays
Drivers reached boiling point this week after hundreds were caught up in queues of traffic in Kendal town centre as the first stage of works to pedestrianise Stricklandgate continued. The queues snaked along Stricklandgate, Windermere Road and Sandes
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Traders blame traffic system for trade problems
Small businesses in Kendal have blamed alterations to the town's traffic system almost three years ago, persistent road works and rising costs for plummeting trade, which has spelt the death knell for some and reduced others to a struggle for survival
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Men's: Win sparks hope
Kendal..............................3 Timperley 3rd...................0. THREE unanswered goals against visitors Timperley gave Kendal the club's first win since October in North West Division Five (North). Heavy overnight rain had threatened the
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Women's: Double hat trick as Kendal hit 10
Kendal............................10 Dalston.............................1 CONFIDENT Kendal Ladies rattled their way into double figures for a 10-1 home win over Dalston in their latest Cumbria League match. Hat-tricks came from Andrea Elvey and
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A few of my favourite shrubs...
I was recently invited by the Cumbria branch of the Hardy Plant Society to be one of the three panellists in a Gardeners' Question Time they were organising. Quite flattered, but more than a little nervous, I found the event wasn't as difficult as I
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Westmorland: High time for County
LEAGUE leaders Kendal County have won through to the last four of the Talbot Insurance Westmorland League's High Sheriff's Cup with a 2-1 victory over Carleton Rovers. The quarter-final tie was one of the few top-flight matches to survive the waterlogging
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Planning applications
PLANNING applications submitted to South Lakeland District Council include: Aldingham: Side extension with rear dormer at Hillcott, Baycliff, Coast Road, Ulverston, for Mr and Mrs A. Bagnall. Arnside: Upgrading disabled access at Arnside Methodist Church
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Hesketh's View: Home blip will be sorted
"DEFEAT by Belper was disappointing considering the good result the week before at Ossett as that win gave us a good chance to put space between ourselves and the chasing pack for that play-off place. "It wasn't to be, however, and we were well below
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UniBond: A Belper belting
Kendal Town.....................0 Belper Town.......................2. KENDAL town boss Tony Hesketh was left with plenty to ponder over this week as his side slipped to a disappointing home defeat on a heavy Parkside pitch. The visitors, under the
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Rugby: Front row excuse
WINDERMERE'S Cumbria League game last Saturday was cancelled because opponents Cockermouth could not get a front row and the fixture will be rescheduled. This Saturday Windermere are set to travel to Keswick for a rearranged fixture that should have
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Windermere rescheduled match
WINDERMERE'S Cumbria League game last Saturday was cancelled because opponents Cockermouth could not get a front row and the fixture will be rescheduled. This Saturday Windermere are set to travel to Keswick for a rearranged fixture that should have
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Cross Country: Woodland perils at meeting
KENDAL AC competed in the fifth Mid-Lancs Cross Country League fixture at Hyndburn on Saturday. Ditches and tree roots always make the going difficult in the woodland sections at this venue. And this year heavy rain turned most of the course into
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Orienteering: Wintry feel to Latrigg event
LAKLELAND Orienteers travelled north in deteriorating weather over Dunmail Raise for the first Cumbria Galoppen of the year at Latrigg, near Keswick, on Sunday. Competitors had to contend with flurries of sleet and snow and very physical courses, zig-zagging
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Barton kicks seal victory
Kirkby Lonsdale.....11 Egremont.............6 THIS was a "must-win" match for Kirkby as the bottom two clubs in the North Lancs/Cumbria League met at Underley Park on Saturday. It was touch and go that play went ahead on a quagmire of a pitch which
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Spirited show
KENDAL A travelled with a weaker side for a quick rematch with Fylde A, this time in the Halbro Cup, but did not lack commitment or pride in a narrow 29-26 defeat. Early Kendal pressure, aided by the strong wind at their backs, led to penalty chances
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Great taste...
Cartmel Village Shop: To celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight - Farrers of Kendal Fairtrade Costa Rica ground coffee..............................£2.95 per 250g bag. Hazelmere Bakery, Grange-over-Sands: Hazelnut & almond jap with ground rice, eggs & layers
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Touchline Talk: We're keen to contribute to county scene...
"It is some time since we competed in the Cumbria Cup with the club's strongest team, and although it was felt in some quarters that we were taking a sledge- hammer to crack a nut, Saturday's was a worthwhile encounter of an entirely different
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'Bogey' jibe to answer
KENDAL face "bogey" opponents Darlington Mowden Park in National League Division 3 North at Mint Bridge on Saturday (2.15pm kick-off) after four weeks without a home match, writes Richard Daniels. Mowden have piled over 150 points into the Black
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New Moon rising...
There will be a heaven-sent opportunity for sweet-tooths to indulge their passion when one of the highlights of Kendal's eating-out scene makes a welcome return at the end of this month. The woman behind the rise of the town's New Moon restaurant says
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10 Things To Do 16-2-05
BARROW ENJOY an evening of songs by Ol Blue Eyes at Forum 28, Duke Street, on Friday, February 18, at 8pm. Frank Sinatra sound-alike James Chadwick will be performing songs such as My Way and New York New York, accompanied by the Swing Sextet and
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Suspension Watch: Lessons to be learned from grading process'
WHEN South Lakeland District Council hired consultants to work on its pay and grading structure it did so while relying on references that, "tended to be verbal, rather than written". In his report, Mike Jones found that the process was done in two parts
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Suspension Watch: '...lobby for less red tape...'
WHEN South Lakeland District Council first tried to introduce a pay and grading structure, it was attempting to bring in a system of pay that was fair and equitable. At the time the exercise began, there were more than 120 different pay grades at the
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Suspension Watch: '...aim to be as open as possible...'
THE media plays an important role in publicising the work of the council, and also has an equally important role in investigative journalism and its duty to publish stories which are in the public interest, according to Mr Jones. He said: "Both members
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Suspensions cost SLDC £271,900
THE full costs of the suspensions at South Lakeland District Council and the subsequent investigation have been divulged this week. A report by acting chief executive Mike Jones concluded that the three staff suspensions that followed the attempt to
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New venture bearing fruit
A SOUTH Lakeland firm's products are proving to be a bear' necessity for its customers around the globe. Since launching last summer, the business has steadily grown, thanks to the worldwide shop window opened up by the Internet. Say It With Bears sells
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Suspension Watch: The grading dispute
AS revealed on page 1, acting chief executive Mike Jones has written his promised report on the background to the suspension of the three senior officers at South Lakeland District Council. The Westmorland Gazette covered the episode as it unfolded
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150 volunteer forlunteer for Glaxo redundancies
SOME 150 workers at GlaxoSmithKline's Ulverston plant have put themselves forward for voluntary redundancy. The level of interest exceeds the 100 jobs the pharmaceuticals giant announced it was seeking to cut before Christmas, citing competition from
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Runners may act as prey
AS THE huntsman's horn sounds for what could be the final time, a north Lancashire hunt is searching for a fearless fell-runner to act as a substitute hare, reports Ruth Lythe. The Vale of Lune Hunt has been hunting hares with its pack of harriers for
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Pick Of The Week 18-2-05
MISCELLANEOUS DISTINGUISHED ornithologist Michael Carrier will present his memoirs in a talk entitled A Lifetime of Birds at Settlebeck School, Sedbergh, next Wednesday (February 23) at 7.30pm. For details, call 015396-21138 GREEN-fingered enthusiasts
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Suspension Watch: Floods stalwart suspended
A "CLIMATE of fear" has emerged among South Lakeland District Council staff claims a union boss, after the suspension of a senior officer apparently over comments he made to The Westmorland Gazette, reports Luke Dicicco. Environmental Services Manager
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Suspension Watch: Cost to council: £271,000
THE full costs of the suspensions at South Lakeland District Council and the subsequent investigation have been divulged this week. A report by acting chief executive Mike Jones concluded that the three staff suspensions that followed the attempt to
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Be on guard
SMALL businesses have been warned to be on their guard against letters demanding up to £249 to pay for a health and safety registration. Trading standards officers have received complaints from businesses that have received letters threatening prosecution
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Words by the Water makes waves
KATE Adie is one of the many well-known faces at this year's Words by the Water Literature Festival, which is packed yet again with talks, readings, workshops, discussions, interviews and book signings. Best known for her journalistic forays into war-torn
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Contractors still fight for F&M £40m
CONTRACTORS who worked on the foot-and-mouth clean-up are still battling the Government to settle £40 million worth of outstanding invoices. Among them is Cumbria County Council-owned firm Cumbria Waste Management which is owed more than £5 million.
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BT may axe more telephone boxes
THE axe continues to hover over nine unprofitable public telephone boxes in Kendal as British Telecom seeks to resolve the concerns of town councillors who are stepping up the fight to safeguard their future. Kendal Town Council resolved to write to
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More time for schools
SCHOOLS are being given more time to win a top prize of £3,000 in a competition being run by Barclays Bank and The Westmorland Gazette. Secondary and special schools in the Gazette's readership area (which covers South Lakeland, parts of Eden, north
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Town backs Herwick carpet firm
A TOWN council has put its money where its mouth is by supporting the local economy. Kendal Town Council has replaced the floor covering in the mayor's parlour at the town hall with Herdwick carpet supplied by Goodacre of Kendal. It is part of a refurbishment
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Police issue danger warning to boarders
YOUTHS are risking serious injury by scaling security fencing keeping the public out of Grange-over-Sands' decaying outdoor swimming pool to skateboard, the town's beat policeman has warned. PC Colin Morris told members of Grange Town Council on Monday
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Global warming could benefit our farmers
As central Europe risks being scorched by climate change, Cumbria's farmers could stand to benefit from our changing weather, reports farming reporter Jennie Dennett. Sir Ben Gill, the former head of the National Farmers' Union, told a packed Penrith
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Parks planning applications
PLANNING applications submitted to the Lake District National Park Authority include: Blawith & Subberthwaite: Roof to cover working area at Birch Bank, Subberthwaite, for D. Nicholson. Coniston: Renovation to provide improved hostel accommodation at
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University sets up cutting-edge ITC centre
FIRMS are set to benefit from a new state-of-the-art centre concentrating on cutting-edge information and communication technology. InfoLab21, based at Lancaster University, aims to establish a world class centre of excellence for research, development
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Fell Running: Sharpe leads Lakes Scottish challenge
TEACHER Nick Sharp (Ambleside AC), from Arnside, led home the Lakeland contingent in the 'Tiso' Carnethy '5' Hill Race in Scotland on Saturday, one of the first major challenges of the 2005 campaign. Racing in bitterly cold winds and boggy conditions
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Fell Running: Proctor in six race winning streak
CHAMPIONSHIP leader Billy Procter won the sixth race in the Kendal Winter League series on the precipitous slopes of Barbon Fell. The race involves an extremely steep ascent and descent that Procter easily took in his stride, managing to run the whole
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Armitt: A passion for nature
ALMOST a century since they founded the Armitt, the nature-loving sisters Sophia and Mary Louisa Armitt would surely be heartened to see the Armitt's latest celebration of Cumbrian native wildlife by the artist Marianne Birkby, writes Jane Renouf. Marianne's
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Fell Running: Borrowdale breakaway at Pennines
SOUTH Lakes based athletes Lee Siemaszko and Mark Roberts were key members of Borrowdale Fell Runners' record-breaking winning team at the Pennine Bridleway Relay, which took place at Waterfoot, Rossendale. Siemaszko was also fastest overall on
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Support for pedestrianisation - with 'provisos'
"I would ask people to support it", said Councillor Oliver Pearson, talking about Kendal's pedestrian priority scheme on the front cover of last week's Gazette (February 11, Back on the buses bid to ease traffic'). It's great that people are trying
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Fell running record breaker
FIVE new records were set in the fifth Kendal Winter League race centred on Whitestone Fell near to Staveley-in-Cartmel. Race of the day was the under 14s boys' race which saw Settle's Matthew Fretwell and Dallam's Alex Till battling all the way to
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Police target hole-in-the-wall gang
CUMBRIA Police are working with other forces to catch a gang targeting cashpoint machines at rural petrol stations after it struck in South Lakeland. The organised criminals, who use vehicles to rip out the machines, made off with £16,000 after striking
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Activities abound in Yorkshire Dales
BAT watching and guided walks are just two events sandwiched in a bumper package of things to do for residents and visitors in the Yorkshire Dales this year. The Dales park authority has put together 180 different activities to showcase exactly what
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Public inquiry for windfarm plan
Controversial proposals to build the biggest windfarm in England on fells near Tebay will go to a public inquiry in April after the Department of Trade and Industry refused to adjourn the hearing following a request from a consortium of opposing local
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Activities galore
BAT watching and guided walks are just two events sandwiched in a bumper package of things to do for residents and visitors in the Yorkshire Dales this year. The Dales park authority has put together 180 different activities to showcase exactly what
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Horse passports deadline looms
THE COUNTRY Land and Business Association is reminding owners of horses, ponies and donkeys that they have only to the end of this month to obtain a passport for their four-legged friends. According to the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural
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CWT windfall
CUMBRIA Wildlife Trust has won a £21,000 grant from Barclay's Bank in a donation to encourage local community involvement on their nature reserves in the north of the county. Rachel Herbinson, Barclays Regional Community Manager for the North West said
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Caravan plans welcomed
SOUTH Lakeland planners have welcomed a farm diversification project that will create a new caravan site near Flookburgh. Mr E. Wilson is seeking planning permission to site 27 static caravans on agricultural land at Sandgate Farm, to the west of the
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Council looks for Christmas light at end of tunnel
A CONTRACT wrangle over Kendal town centre's Christmas lights display last year has been put on hold as town councillors attempt to ensure there is a bumper display for 2005. Kendal Town Council has agreed to temporarily abandon its wrangle with Blachere
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Cocklers still using crossing
Cocklers still use crossing COCKLERS are continuing to access beds from Kents Bank, despite the closure of a railway crossing in the village and the reopening of traditional access points in nearby Flookburgh. A single vehicle is now using Cart
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Cocklers still use crossing
COCKLERS are continuing to access beds from Kents Bank, despite the closure of a railway crossing in the village and the reopening of traditional access points in nearby Flookburgh. A single vehicle is now using Cart Lane to access the cockle beds in
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Helping Hands...you are needed
n THE Rotary Club of South Westmorland is to stage its annual Swimarathon event at Kendal Leisure Centre on March 5 and 12. There are still times available on both evenings between 4pm and 8pm and teams of up to six people are required to swim in relays
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Africa bound to help fight Aids
A STUDENT is off to Africa to help in the fight against one of the world's most deadliest diseases. Penny Beck, 19, is on her way to Malawi, a small country in southern Africa, to work with Tearfund - a Christian relief and development charity
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MP's questions go unanswered
TOUGH questions over the 2001 foot-and-mouth outbreak submitted by the MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale have gone unanswered. Tim Collins submitted a raft of questions to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs under the new Freedom of
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Defra's contingency plans
If a foot-and-mouth-infected animal was found, Defra still plans to immediately cull it and all other susceptible animals on an infected premises, for example a farm or auction mart. That is the EU-wide policy a tough foot-and-mouth policy that Britain
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Shot in arm for vaccination supporters
MEAT and milk from animals vaccinated against foot-and-mouth would find a market among retailers, according to the food industry. The reaction of consumers and supermarkets was one of the key reasons why the National Farmers' Union resisted vaccination
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Fourth anniversary of foot and mouth...where are we?
SUNDAY will mark the fourth anniversary of the 2001 foot-and-mouth outbreak when the news broke that the feared disease had been found again in Britain. Seven months later, at least six million animals had been killed as the nation used a slaughter policy
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E authors and poets
The second annual E Short Story and Poetry Competition winners were announced over the weekend at the Word Market Writers' Day, in Ulverston. The competition, jointly run by www.thisisthelakedistrict.co.uk and Word Market (www.word-market.co.uk), encourages
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Over The Gate: Warming to a hidden agenda
GLOBAL warming has been much in the news lately and some of the top brass at Defra have been busy pointing out that expected changes in weather patterns could bring about alternative ways of farming. Someone suggested that Cumbria, because of hotter
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The final hunt
As the ban on hunting with dogs comes into force today (Friday), Countryside Reporter Ruth Lythe talks to Vale of Lune hunters and their supporters who oppose the ban, and an anti-hunt campaigner who says today couldn't come soon enough. Trotting
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Skateboarders warned about dangers
YOUTHS are risking serious injury by scaling security fencing keeping the public out of Grange-over-Sands' decaying outdoor swimming pool to skateboard, the town's beat policeman has warned. PC Colin Morris told members of Grange Town Council on Monday
