COUNCILLORS complained that both district and county council were not taking responsibility for keeping kerbside drains unblocked and pavements and paths swept of wet or freezing leaves, which both caused problems in winter months. 
These and other Highways and SLDC responsibilities were being neglected and both councils will be asked what they propose to do about it.
Lakes PC insisted that responsibility must not be passed down by CCC and SLDC to the parish council to do such work at its expense. 

MOVES to de-clutter the narrow pavements of Ambleside of numerous A-boards will go ahead after councillors voted to pursue the adoption of a new protocol, following the example of Keswick.
This would be developed in partnership with the County Council, LDNPA and the police and in collaboration with local businesses, tourism organisations and retailers, and would be especially advantageous to wheelchair users and those with impaired sight. 
The protocol will draw up a set of agreed guidelines and as the local highways authority, CCC has the powers to prohibit and remove items or street furniture on the highway that are obstructive or otherwise unacceptable and that don’t comply with the guidelines. 
However, once the protocol was in place, councillors would have to monitor it to ensure compliance. 
Keswick’s guidelines included one A-board per business only, and if placed on a pavement must leave an unobstructed footway width of 1.5m minimum between the board and the edge of the pavement. 
There are also size restrictions, and boards must be stable, and taken in at night or when in danger of being blown over. 
They cannot be attached to trees or street furniture, and must not impede emergency vehicle access or be illuminated. 
They must also be in direct contact with the front or side of the business premises and not placed a distance away from the business. 

COUNCILLORS congratulated former SLDC member and Lakes Parish Councillor Vivienne Rees for being awarded a BEM in the New Year’s Honours list, for services to the community in Cumbria.

A GROUP of Rainbows, Brownies and Guides took a trip from Ambleside to Blackpool recently with a visit to Sealife  and to the Grand Theatre to see Peter Pan, followed by tea at Pizza Hut before returning home. 
Anyone wanting to join Girlguiding as a Rainbow, aged 5-7; Brownie, 7-10; Girl Guide, 10-14 or Senior section from 14 upwards can visit the website to find out more and register at www.girlguidingcumbriasouth.org.uk. 

ST MARY’S candlelit Christingle service on Christmas Eve raised £930 for the work of the Children’s Society, supporting disadvantaged young people.
Christingle service collections on Christmas Eve at St Mary’s has raised a total of over £16,000 since 2000.