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  • "As far as I can find out unitary authorities vary in size from Cornwall with a population of 535,000 to the Isles of Scilly with 2100 inhabitants.
    On that basis Cumbria with a pop of 494,000 could be divided into either a single authority or 235 authorities of the size of the Scillys. I suspect the answer lies somewhere in between, closer to the average size of a unitary authority which is 224,000.
    The answer for Cumbria should be two or three authorities, each having a reasonable similar population, good transport and possibly historical connections.
    This would give us authorities of a size which would provide our services efficiently but closer to public they are serving.
    It would be to much to hope that it will not be messed up by the politicians."
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'Bring back Westmorland county authority,' says MP Tim Farron

9:01am Monday 11th June 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Allan Tunningley

Tim Farron MP: 'We need to cut bureaucracy' Tim Farron MP: 'We need to cut bureaucracy'

THE historic Westmorland county should be recreated as a modern unitary authority, MP Tim Farron has suggested.

The Westmorland and Lonsdale MP spoke out as the debate hotted up over whether Cumbria should have one or more unitary authorities rather than the present county and six district councils.

His suggestion follows council leader Eddie Martin's statement last week that there should be fewer district councils in Cumbria.

Coun Martin said the current seven authorities could be cut down to three, two or even one unitary authority - that is, able to provide all local authority services.

Mr Farron said: “I'm happy to join all the other MPs, council leaders and, more importantly, the public in a discussion on the future of local government in Cumbria.

"I think we need to cut bureaucracy and costs and take out layers of local government. But my personal view is that we should re-create the old Westmorland county council. I think this will best fit the economy and challenges of Eden and South Lakeland.”

South Lakeland District Council leader Peter Thornton said it was important for the district to become involved in the debate about the future of local government in Cumbria.

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