Archive

  • More bins needed

    Sir, I wish to bring to people's notice the amount of rubbish, such as bottles, cans, polystyrene containers for beef burgers and chips, between Castle Street and Little Aynam on Gooseholme in Kendal. This is a beautiful grassed area in the centre of

  • In or out of EU that's what the vote should be

    Sir, I should like to reply to the letter from P. E. Robin on Europe (Letters, May 21, Questions of Europe'). The political elite of Europe have no mandate from the electorate to abolish the nation states and create a federal entity. Thus far it has

  • Storth village hall 'feud' is sad

    Sir, As Chairperson of the Storth Playing Field Committee, I feel that I have a right to reply to both the article in last week's Westmorland Gazette (Gazette, May 21, Fun licence divides village') and the letter from Mr Franklin (Letters, May 21, Licence

  • Boundary shake-up is recipe for chaos

    IT IS no wonder that district councils throughout Cumbria have taken the hump over the options for local government reorganisation put forward by the Boundary Committee, bringing to mind, as they do, the old adage about a camel being a horse designed

  • Police draw up battle lines...

    POLICE chiefs in Cumbria and Lancashire could be at loggerheads if the option for a Morecambe Bay Authority is eventually adopted. The proposal to create a new authority from the existing districts of South Lakeland, Barrow and Lancaster could mean that

  • MP welcomes Bay council option

    LANCASTER City Council leader Ian Barker is pleased that a Morecambe Bay authority option will appear on referendum papers in Lancashire and Cumbria. The option, proposed by the city council and Barrow Borough Council, will appear alongside one for a

  • Uncertain future for town halls...

    If the Morecambe Bay option goes ahead in the wake of a yes' vote in the regional devolution referendum, it will throw up some difficult questions with serious implications for the area. For instance, where will the new authority's headquarters be: Kendal

  • Options rule out reviving old counties

    Any chance that the old counties of Westmorland and Cumberland might be resurrected in a local government shake-up has been virtually ruled out by the Boundary Committee. The committee did consider the option, which was proposed by several stakeholders

  • Shake up will 'hit council tax bills'

    Committed anti-regional government campaigners warn that the restructuring of local government in the wake of a yes' vote will hit Cumbrian taxpayer's pockets. Former Tory minister Sir David Trippier, chairman of the official No' campaign against evolution

  • Boundary changes referendum vote

    IN NOVEMBER, the people of the Cumbria, Lancashire and Cheshire will be asked to vote in a referendum on whether they want an elected regional assembly for the North West. A yes' vote in that referendum will usher in the biggest overhaul of local government

  • Changes will save £millions

    IN ITS deliberations on the structure of local Government in a post-devolution Cumbria, the Boundary Committee estimates that the current system of Cumbria County Council and the six districts costs £17.6 million a year to run. According to the committee

  • Chance to redraw boundaries...rewrite history

    IN NOVEMBER, the people of the Cumbria, Lancashire and Cheshire will be asked to vote in a referendum on whether they want an elected regional assembly for the North West. A yes' vote in that referendum will usher in the biggest overhaul of local government

  • Residents reject coloured lights

    A GROUP of residents have seen red over coloured lights that were originally draped from Bowness pier to lift spirits during the foot-and-mouth crisis, reports Lisa Frascarelli. The rainbow of red, green, yellow and blue lights which have illuminated

  • Residents see red over coloured lights

    A GROUP of residents have seen red over coloured lights that were originally draped from Bowness pier to lift spirits during the foot-and-mouth crisis, reports Lisa Frascarelli. The rainbow of red, green, yellow and blue lights which have illuminated

  • Kendal crematorium plans back on agenda

    AN ENTREPRENEUR has revived his failed plans to create a crematorium on the outskirts of Kendal and this time he claims he has the backing of the clergy. In Memorium a group of private investors headed by Kendal man Peter Michels, whose controversial

  • Plans for crematorium back on agenda

    AN ENTREPRENEUR has revived his failed plans to create a crematorium on the outskirts of Kendal and this time he claims he has the backing of the clergy. In Memorium a group of private investors headed by Kendal man Peter Michels, whose controversial

  • Sailing: 'Deva' holds final sway in Cup

    THE 17ft fleet raced for the Nomad and Gossip Cups at the weekend. In a fickle north-easterly breeze Chas Ingham in Chameleon went ahead at the start, but there was a lot of place-changing with Mark Ormerod's Pilgrim, helmed by Graham Tullet, first round

  • Police five-a-side

    THE ANNUAL Kendal Police Schools Five-a-side football competition took place last Sunday, when junior schools from all over the area played for trophies and medals provided by the Cumberland Building Society. All of the teams played excellent and committed

  • Westmorland: Top bat switches to Warton

    TALKING-point in the Cumberland View-Volkswagen Westmorland League this week was the decision by Phil Bovis, who topped the league averages last year, toleave Silverdale and join in-form Warton. The former Kent Seconds batsman made his debut for the

  • Skippers' Say ...Ashburner epic deserves credit

    Skippers Dave Fallows and Tommy Prime give the view from their side... DAVE: Away to Darwen and although we lost the toss we took 15 points! Quite a feat when you consider that deepest, darkest Lancashire has not been our happiest hunting ground in recent

  • Miller's super seven

    SCIENCE teacher Russ Miller had the right formula for 7-46 as Netherfield Seconds beat Leyland Motors by four wickets in the NPL Second Division on Saturday. After Miller's medium pace ripped through the batting Motors were confined to 136 all out

  • Kirkby winger scores for county

    KIRKBY Lonsdale's teenage winger Gavin Thompson scored a try and a clutch of Kendal forwards played a vital role in helping Cumbria to a vital win in the County Championship decider at Aspatria on Saturday. Along with Thompson, 19, the South Lakes

  • Mental health services to be modernised

    Proposals to modernise mental health services across Morecambe Bay could result in the closure of hospital beds for patients in both Kendal and Barrow, writes health reporter Michaeal Robinson-Tate. Health bosses this week unveiled plans that they hope

  • Mosquito rediscovered 60 years after crash

    THE wreck of a Second World War fighter plane that has been lying undisturbed at the bottom of a Lake District tarn since the crash that claimed the lives of both its crew has been rediscovered 60 years on. A team of divers that included Bill Smith,

  • Khan century sparks Kendal

    A COMMITTED team effort from Kendal was rewarded with a 35-run victory over reigning Northern Premier League champions Darwen at Birch Hall on Saturday. Professional Kabir Khan led the way with the bat, hitting 104 - his second century for the club

  • Walmsley hits top gear with 123

    MAN for all seasons Craig Walmsley led Netherfield's batting onslaught with a magnificent 123 against Leyland Motors in the Northern Premier League at Parkside on Saturday. Walmsley, who plays football for Kendal County during the winter and cricket

  • Change ahead for lakes users

    TIMES are rapidly changing on the waterfront as summer 2004 witnesses the last days of speed on Windermere and a shift of emphasis from the Lakes to the much-neglected Cumbrian coastline. When the 10mph by-law for Windermere was given Home Office approval

  • Tales from a special island

    ANYWHERE else in Britain an island with a ruined castle, a pub and a regular ferry link would be a major tourist attraction but, being at the very end of the Furness peninsula, Piel Island is largely ignored by all but locals and the few others who know

  • Adrian's arts diary

    The passion and magic of a European Ballet performance can be seen at Lancaster's Grand Theatre on Saturday, June 5 (7pm). Led and directed by Stanislav Tchassov, former principal dancer of the Bolshoi Ballet, the company of first-class international

  • Five go on show

    Pinfold Gallery has opened its doors to a dynamic new show featuring five fabulous artists. In the frame at the Bowness arthouse are the works of Martin Greenland, Tiana Marie, Susan Glassford, Clare Money and Robert Newton, all fine proponents of colour

  • Disaster strikes

    What if we are on the brink of a new Ice Age? This is the question that haunts climatologist Jack Hall (Dennis Quaid) in the new blockbuster disaster movie, The Day After Tomorrow. Hall's research indicates that global warming could trigger an abrupt

  • Trio returns to Kendal

    CELEBRATED pianist Martino Tirimo returns to Kendal with the Rosamunde Trio. A favourite of South Lakeland audiences, Martino is world-renowned and founder of the trio, which toured for the first time last year. The trio's playing is highly-acclaimed

  • Sweet music

    THE Westmorland Orchestra concluded its 59th season with a concert of music in a lighter vein in the Westmorland Hall, Kendal. The symphonic repertoire - the staple diet of any symphony orchestra - gave way to two colourful overtures, ballet music, two

  • Memorable spring serenade

    AN AUDIENCE of more than 80 Keldwyth Award supporters was entertained to a Spring Serenade at St Martin's College, Ambleside. The concert opened with the trio performing Mozart's A Spring Rondo, which set the tone for the evening. Edward Lawton (oboe

  • BBQ ideas

    Your guide to local speciality & seasonal food and drink. Hutchinsons, Coniston: Something for the BBQ beef steaks in chilli sauce..............£4.95 per half kilo minted lamb chops..............................£4 per half kilo Chinese spare ribs

  • Reality tester

    AIDAN Shingler describes himself as a reality tester who, as result of an altered state of consciousness, is now using his artistic side as a campaign tool to highlight and raise awareness to the trauma psychiatric treatment can cause. "My experience

  • Millenium piece was a thriller

    A LARGE audience responded enthusiastically to the concert given by the Dentdale Choir in St Andrew's Church. The choir opened the concert with a sensitive performance of the Cantique de Jean Racine by Faure conducted by Rita Corpe. Next, Caroline Smith

  • 'Long Way From Home' at Folly...

    DRIVING Blind brings the collaboration between photographer A.J. Wilkinson and writer Richard McCann into the public arena. On show at Lancaster's Folly gallery, it features images and text from independent travel experiences combined at random in

  • Political groups set out their priorities

    LIBERAL Democrat group leader Brendan Jameson said that their main policy was to "axe the tax", and to replace Council Tax with a local Council Tax which would be much fairer, particularly for people living on a low income in a high-value house. They

  • Summer song well received

    SUMMER Song, this year's musical production by Storth Entertainers was, as usual, well received. Mike Cooper as Anton Dvorak was excellent in the main part. Karolka, a young Czech immigrant played by Carol Hollis, and Derek Bamber as Shaun, complemented

  • Head above the parapet...

    ANTHONY Coles says he doesn't have a "snowball's chance in hell" of winning a seat on South Lakeland District Council, but that he believed somebody had to put his head above the parapet. Mr Coles, 65, had originally wanted to stand for the Grange ward

  • Postal vote running to plan

    ELECTORS in South Lakeland look set to escape problems dogging the postal voting experiment in the North West, reports Justin Hawkins. Voters across the region are among 12 million Britons taking part in a trial of postal voting in local and European

  • Make the most of the great outdoors

    Summer is here so it's time to bring out the barbecue - b ut what wine to choose? The weather of the last couple of weeks or so is, hopefully, a taste of what may lie ahead this summer. However, us British will find a cloud in every silver lining.

  • Half term family fun

    AS MAY Day bank holiday signals the start of half-term and hopefully some summer sun, why not gather the family and make the most of the area’s activities and attractions with this handy guide to what’s on and worth a visit over the next few days

  • Punk legends play at village ...institute!

    A SLEEPY South Lakeland village is bracing itself for a rude awakening as punk veterans the UK Subs prepare to play. Milnthorpe may seem like an unusual destination for the punk legends but organisers say the Bank Holiday Monday gig is creating quite

  • Former Stone Roses axeman in town

    FORMER Stone Roses man Aziz Ibrahim is one of many guitar gods preparing to play at next week's International Guitar Festival. The three-day event brings a long weekend of concerts, workshops and masterclasses and a chance for the public to strum along

  • Celebrating the ‘love apple’

    Sweet, succulent and juicy, it's no wonder the French call tomatoes pommes d'amour' or love apples'. Tomatoes are just as highly regarded in Britain. They are the fourth most popular fruit eaten in this country and, thanks to tasting panels created by

  • Test stalwart spoils Cumberland party

    THE SIGHT of ex-England Test bowler Devon Malcolm bowling was one of the treats for spectators watching Cumberland's opening Minor Counties Championship match against Suffolk at Netherfield's sun-drenched Parkside Road ground this week. Malcolm helped

  • Mercury music nominee at the Brewery

    MERCURY MUSIC prize nominee Kathryn Williams heads for Kendal's Brewery Arts Centre on Sunday night. Often compared to Joni Mitchell and Beth Orton, she released her debut album Dog Leap Stairs which was co-produced by PJ Harvey in 1999. While her

  • Musical mix comes to Mint

    BLIGENESS and Jiblet bring hip hop, R'n'B and dancehall to Mint tonight while Richie Haigh plays his favourite funk and soul sounds downstairs at the Kendal bar. While Saturday night sees new DJ collective Foulmouth and their guest Fraser Dootson Tribal

  • ‘All-dayer’ reminder

    BANK holiday weekend brings two band nights to Kendal courtesy of promoters Evolved Addict with an acoustic session featuring Nana's Revenge, Call of Duty and Mental Note at The Phoenix tomorrow night (8pm) and an all day gig at the rugby club on Monday

  • Creeping beauty..

    BEING out in the fresh air is one of the best bits of being a gardener. The fresh air in Cumbria is especially clean and often moist, which means that we share our gardens with several forms of plant-life not generally recognised as garden plants. These

  • Thai treat

    Travel writer KEN BENNETT discovers something really fishy on a film set trip to Thailand... It took less than 20 minutes to find Nemo in the swirl of sun-dappled water he was weaving playfully in the feathery coral just ten feet below us on the bed

  • Keep up with the sporting summer

    THE sun may be shining. The outdoors may be calling. But the summer sports line-up is going to keep many of us glued to the sofa this summer. Summer Olympics, Euro 2004, Wimbledon, Test Cricketthe list goes on. Here's a look at some key sites, and a few

  • Pour & Explore

    Your monthly wine guide. Co-op Lime Tree Chardonnay 2003, 13%, £4.29. Australia – South Mild buttery pear and blossom fragrance with nutty hints opens up fresh tropical fruit flavours with a dominant pineapple backdrop that becomes richer to a soft

  • Fake Euros alert

    POLICE have issued a warning about the passing of fake 200 Euro notes. There were two unsuccessful attempts in Kendal on Wednesday morning, two successful attempts in Barrow later in the morning, and one unsuccessful attempt in Ulverston. Police are

  • Horse ‘trade’ watch

    APPLEBY Horse Fair comes under the watchful eye of a consultant this year who will be assessing what can be done to ensure businesses get a financial boost in future. Attracting up to 30,000 visitors to the town and around 5,000 travellers, gypsies and

  • No holiday trains

    EXTENSIVE engineering work will cause massive disruption on the West Coast Main Line over the Bank Holiday weekend. The line, which links Oxenholme train station to Glasgow in the north and London Euston in the south, will be disrupted from Saturday,

  • Waterfornt Diary 2004

    May 29 -31 Burlington Trophy for cruisers, Dinghy handicap & Osprey open - Coniston Sailing Club May 29-31 Submarine weekend - Dock Museum, Barrow May 29 & 30 Topper Area Championship - Ullswater Yacht Club June 2 Coniston Festival Special race

  • Kendal man conquers Everest

    NEARLY two months after heading out to the Himalayas a Kendal man has fulfilled his boyhood dream and conquered Everest, reports Lisa Frascarelli. Barry Roberts spent half-an-hour soaking up the scenery at 8,848 metres on Monday morning before beginning

  • Councils leaders to challenge boundary changes

    Council leaders across Cumbria are threatening to mount a legal challenge against the Government after an announcement setting the stage for the destruction of SLDC and five other district councils. The Government's Boundary Committee this week published

  • Walk, work and volunteer for Trust

    A WALK up the 2,500ft mountain of Wetherlam in the Furness fells near Coniston awaits people wanting to take part in Volunteers Week. The Ulverston-branch of the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers stages the event on June 2 as part of Volunteers

  • Volunteers needed for fell walks

    A WALK up the 2,500ft mountain of Wetherlam in the Furness fells near Coniston awaits people wanting to take part in Volunteers Week. The Ulverston-branch of the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers stages the event on June 2 as part of Volunteers

  • Five year plan for conservation

    A FIVE-year plan to rescue three major Lakes has been launched in a project which will help protect the 10,000-year-old species of Vendace and the famous Ospreys. Bassenthwaite Lake and the surrounding rivers and streams which gush into it will be the

  • Skate park gets funding boost

    HOPES of securing a skate park for South Lakeland have been dealt a £60,000 cash boost, reports Ellis Butcher. The money has been set aside by South Lakeland District Council's Cabinet but if the idea is to be progressed it will need financial support

  • Funds in for skate park

    HOPES of securing a skate park for South Lakeland have been dealt a £60,000 cash boost, reports Ellis Butcher. The money has been set aside by South Lakeland District Council's Cabinet but if the idea is to be progressed it will need financial support

  • 30,000 expected for Mediaeval Market

    KENDAL'S Mediaeval Market is sure to be an eye-catching affair thanks to pupils from Kendal's Stramongate Primary School. As well as getting the chance to try on some authentic costumes and look at examples of mediaeval manuscripts and illustrations

  • Road Racing: Midweek series starts

    Steve Littler from Wesham AC won the first race in the Kendal AC 10k Midweek Series, held from Kendal Leisure Centre. Littler (32.42) had a minute and 40 seconds to spare over second-placed Danny Parkinson (34.22) of Lancaster and Morecambe. Alasdair

  • Number of afforable homes build drops

    A SOUTH Lakeland district councillor has warned that Ambleside and district may get only 14 new affordable homes this year and not the 44 anticipated. Speaking at the annual meeting of Lakes Parish Council, Coun David Vatcher said progress towards providing

  • Affordable homes growth slows

    A SOUTH Lakeland district councillor has warned that Ambleside and district may get only 14 new affordable homes this year and not the 44 anticipated. Speaking at the annual meeting of Lakes Parish Council, Coun David Vatcher said progress towards providing

  • Just being there a massive achievement

    WINDERMERE Hockey Club's under-11 boys team represented the North at Mini Hockey national finals in Nottingham. Although they failed to win a match against the top teams from the rest of the regions, they knew just to be there was a massive achievement

  • Furness-N. Lancs - decision on fewest wickets

    BARROW beat Fleetwood in the Cockspur Cup National Knockout on fewest wickets lost after the sides tied after Barrow made 185-8 and Fleetwood were 185 all out. Barrow hosted Preston in the Northern Premier League and lost by two wickets. Batting first

  • Fellrunner Jebb suffers setback in Wales

    STAVELEY'S Rob Jebb will have his work cut out defending his British championship title after Mercia's Simon Bailey won the second race of the campaign, writes Mike Addison. Jebb, who runs for Bingley, had to settle for second place in the five mile

  • Work can be deceptive...

    I STILL like the story about the farmer with two sons; one was a pessimist, the other an optimist. One Christmas he bought the pessimist a computer but the poor lad was frightened to use it in case he broke it. The farmer gave his optimist son a pile

  • Amazing '50' bow for Yate

    KENT Valley Road Club's Adrian Yate made a fantastic debut in his first 50 miles time trial on Sunday beside Bassenthwaite Lake, taking second place in the open section of VTTA North Lancs event in a stunning 1hr 53mins 56secs. Adrian reproduced the

  • Adventure racer goes sleepless in Adriatic

    ADVENTURE racer Keith Byrne knows he will get about five hours sleep in about five days when he competes for the North Face team in the Terra Incognita race in Croatia. Coping with sleep deprivation is one of the key aspects of adventure racing, in which

  • Father listens to son's rescue on phone

    A FATHER whose son was at the centre of three near-fatal accidents on a Lake District fell side has revealed he was listening on the phone when the helicopter that came to rescue his lad crashed. Student Alan McGing, 20, of Bootle, Merseyside, was climbing

  • Vaccine to be first line of defence

    VACCINATION is set to be the first line of defence in any future outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs announced on Wednesday that it had awarded a contract to UK veterinary pharmaceuticals distributer

  • New permit system for pass

    A NEW permit system for 4x4s, motorbikes and horse riders has been introduced to help protect a popular Lake District pass. Under a new management plan for Garburn Pass which stretches from Troutbeck to Kentmere vehicle users and horse riders will

  • Father listens to helicopter rescue on son's phone

    A FATHER whose son was at the centre of three near-fatal accidents on a Lake District fell side has revealed he was listening on the phone when the helicopter that came to rescue his lad crashed. Student Alan McGing, 20, of Bootle, Merseyside, was climbing

  • Planners role out pass protection

    A NEW permit system for 4x4s, motorbikes and horse riders has been introduced to help protect a popular Lake District pass. Under a new management plan for Garburn Pass which stretches from Troutbeck to Kentmere vehicle users and horse riders will

  • More phone boxes axed

    ANGRY town councillors have slammed British Telecom after the telecommunications company revealed nine of Kendal's phone boxes face the chop. In a letter to Kendal Town Council, the telecom giant said it was "aware of its social obligation" so would

  • Lakes business goes back to the future

    A SOUTH Lakeland business has stepped back in time for its latest commission, which is helping to breathe new life into one of the county's top tourist attractions. Peter Hall & Son of Staveley has carved out a top class reputation for making high-quality

  • Switch over to hi-tech showroom

    A South Lakeland firm that aims to bring a touch of magic into people's homes has undergone a major expansion. Majik House directors Tim and Carol Burrow say their new showroom, which has taken six months to assemble, is the only one of its kind in the

  • Pick the brains of bright undergrads

    SOUTH Lakeland businesses are being offered the chance to pick the brains of the country's brightest undergraduates this summer. Firms with fewer than 25 staff needing help to carry out a specific business or technical project can take advantage of the

  • New builder's merchants store to open

    THE Kendal store of timber and builder's merchants Jewson Ltd has undergone a major redevelopment with a brand new showroom and offices at Stockbeck. The work has taken six months to complete and is expected to create more jobs at the store, which already

  • Helicopters help repair footpaths

    FOUR Army helicopters have lifted around 400 giant bags of stone up the Lake District fells to help in the repair of popular eroded paths. As well as being an essential part of the National Trust and Lake District National Park Authority's ten-year upland

  • Trust volunteers face uphill climb

    A WALK up the 2,500ft mountain of Wetherlam in the Furness fells near Coniston awaits people wanting to take part in Volunteers Week. The Ulverston-branch of the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers stages the event on June 2 as part of Volunteers

  • County makes u-turn on care service sell-off

    CARE services earmarked for sale to the private sector will remain in the hands of Cumbria County Council following claims that the ailing service has been turned around. Just two years ago, Cumbria Care Services was more than £1 million in the red but