Town criers marked the biggest change to local government structures in nearly 50 years as they proclaimed the new Westmorland and Furness Council.

Ceremonies on Saturday in Barrow, Kendal and Penrith recorded Westmorland and Furness Council officially taking over responsibility for all council services in those areas and the end of Cumbria County, Barrow Borough, Eden District and South Lakeland District councils.

Town criers Alan Brown, Simon Unsworth and John Peacock proclaimed the vesting of the new Westmorland and Furness Council at Barrow Town Hall, Market Place in Kendal and the Bandstand on Cornmarket in Penrith town centre before pinning up the formal ‘proclamation’ for all to see.

The Westmorland Gazette: Town crier John Peacock with the proclamation displayed in PenrithTown crier John Peacock with the proclamation displayed in Penrith (Image: Westmorland and Furness council)

In Barrow and Kendal the town criers were accompanied by BSL interpreters Nicola Alloway and Karen Edmondson.

Westmorland and Furness staff were also handing out leaflets in the town centres with information about the new council.

Westmorland and Furness Council has become England’s third largest unitary authority by area, providing services to approximately 225,000 residents.

In the biggest change to local government structures since 1974, Government announced its decision to create two new unitary councils for Cumbria in July 2021. Since then work has been carried out to create the two new authorities.

The Westmorland Gazette: Kendal town crier Simon Unsworth proclaiming the new council in Market Place on Saturday, with Karen Edmondson from Cumbria Deaf Association signing Kendal town crier Simon Unsworth proclaiming the new council in Market Place on Saturday, with Karen Edmondson from Cumbria Deaf Association signing (Image: Westmorland and Furness council)

Westmorland and Furness Council will provide services - including waste and recycling collections, children’s services, planning, highways and adult social care - in the current Barrow, Eden and South Lakeland areas, while the new Cumberland Council takes over the delivery of services in Carlisle, Allerdale and Copeland.

Sam Plum, Westmorland and Furness Council’s Chief Executive, said: "This has been a significant day for local government in this area.

“We have worked very hard over the last 18 months to prepare for this moment and to ensure that the key services our communities rely on will continue unaffected.

“We have ambitious plans for the future and we are looking forward to starting the work to improve and transform services so that we can deliver the very best outcomes for our residents, customers and communities.’’