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The Melbreak Communities 
Lorton Apple Day 2025
A few pictures of the event at Lorton over last weekend are now published on-line at :- https://www.loweswatercam.co.uk/251006_Sweetness_after_the_Storm.htm
United Utilities has recently updated its website in relation to the future of its proposals to change/modify the outlet of Crummock Water to the River Cocker. This seems to represent a re-think on several important issues such whether it is necessary or desirable to remove the outlet weir completely and whether it is possible to retain the existing path over a naturalised Park Beck. Further public engagement plus clearer, simpler information on key issues is also envisaged before new proposals are submitted to the LDNPA in 2026. This information can be found here.
I have updated my page on the UU Crummock Water scheme, see here. It is good to see that NT has made a comment, albeit brief, at last.
I am glad about this
I would like to see it include boats/boards/ canoes used in other stretches of water
Claire,
Thanks, but the picture was a spoof, although I was making a serious point that the spawning sites of Charr (and salmon) could be adversely affected by swimmers (and paddlers) without them realising it. There is some published research on this, albeit not conclusive, but it’s entirely credible to my mind that that there could be negative impacts.
BTW, I enjoyed your book on Buttermere which I bought a few years ago.
PS I have added a few additional comments at http://www.damsonghyll.co.uk/Crummock/
Ahh … Yes this did occur to me and I was wondering how it might be enforced !
The Char did have a fungal skin disease years ago when I was a child.
I do get concerned about so called wild swimming and about using boats and boards etc transferring diseases from other more polluted waters.
Thank you for you comments about my book Buttermere Return. I have about 80 copies left ( out of 500. )
I now live in Morecambe. There will be an exhibition about Buttermere in the Morecambe library including historical artefacts with a special opening on 12 August 2 – 7 pm until 20 September.
Very best wishes Claire
A new sign has appeared on the Crummock Water shoreline – see
http://www.damsonghyll.co.uk/Crummock/
Countdown to waste collection changes
Changes to waste and recycling collections in the former Allerdale area will start from Monday 26 May.Check your collection date
Residents are also being urged to check their updated collection dates at http://www.cumberland.gov.uk/waste/binday
Around half of all Allerdale households will have no waste collection next week and will have their waste collection the week after.
A small number of residents may see changes to their usual collection days.
Following feedback, we are in the process of creating some new printable calendars. These will soon be available to download from the council’s website. We’ll let you know when they’re available.Replacement bins
We have received more than 10,500 requests for replacement bins and in advance of the change to fortnightly waste collections we have started delivering replacement 180 litre bins.
Due to the large number of requests, we are advising residents that don’t get their new bin before next week/over the next few weeks to carry on using their existing bin and to recycle as much as they can. If they can’t fit all their waste into the bin, residents can put out up to two bags of excess waste.
Residents that have provided an email address when requesting a replacement bin, will be contacted a day or a few days before the delivery. Bigger bins
Householders may also be eligible for an even larger or extra bin if they have a large household, young children in nappies or your household produces extra waste due to medical needs.
http://www.cumberland.gov.uk/waste/largerbin Tetra pak collection
We’re making recycling easier – you can now recycle Tetra pak liquid carton packaging in your kerbside recycling – in all areas of Cumberland.
What’s a Tetra Pak? They’re the paper-based cartons often used for passata, milk and juice. Just rinse them out and place them alongside your plastics in your kerbside recycling.
Let’s keep Cumberland green and reduce waste together!
Find out more about what you can recycle in Cumberland: https://bit.ly/4d6r8rnService standards
New consistent approaches to missed collections and other standards are also now in place. They can be viewed on the council’s website.
For updates on the new refuse and recycling service, visit http://www.cumberland.gov.uk/wastechanges
Crummock Water Planning application by United Utilities
There are claims that the above will result in a 20% reduction in the volume of Crummock Water, which appears to be based on an incorrect calculation by Friends of Crummock. The true volume reduction is 3-5% which is consistent with the ca 6.5% reduction in the lake’s surface area. If you wish to comment on the scheme, it is important to do so based on the correct info. I am in favour of the removal of redundant structures such as this, but I object to the present proposal for various reasons (see my submitted comments to LDNPA).
I have written an extended article about the UU plans for Crummmock Water which you can find here – http://www.damsonghyll.co.uk/Crummock/
Some changes to the website
The events list now consists of three colour-coded sections: Yew Tree Hall events are coded green and sourced from their booking system. Loweswater Village Hall events are red and other non village hall events blue, both currently sourced from The Link. The list is displayed on the home page (What’s On) and followed there by Recent Messages. By default the view is “schedule” (list) which show the next seven/ten days but you can switch to month view to see further ahead. The pages side-bar has gone with links re-positioned to the page footers.
If you have any queries or questions please either reply on this Message Board or email melbreakcommunities@gmail.com.
Thanks
Richard
Hi came across the enclosed for your site
Front row 2nd right is Raymond Armstrong
Second row 2nd left us Susan Cunningham, 3rd right is Kathleen Cunningham and end of that row is me I think Sheila Cunningham, we used to live at Palace How Loweswater also on second row is the late Valerie Stoddart 2 along from Susan.
Third row. Four in on right hand side is Hilary Hope.
If anyone can out names to the others it would be really lovely.
Kind regards
Sheila Drewery
sheila.write17@hotmail.co.uk
Good evening, the Cockermouth School and Community Association would like to invite you to our ‘Ladies Fashion Show and Pop-up Shop’ on Friday 8th November at Cockermouth School.
You’ll be able to buy some gorgeous new clothes at MASSIVELY reduced prices! Brands include:
🛍️ Mango
🛍️ Zara
🛍️ River Island
🛍️ Oasis
🛍️ Kendall & Kylie
🛍️ Wallis
🛍️ M&S
and lots more! Including a large assortment of leather handbags! 👜
Tickets cost just £6 or buy 3 for £15! Under 18s are free – just remember to get them a child’s ticket.
Buy your tickets here! 👇
https://www.pta-events.co.uk/cockermouthschool/index.cfm?event=Shop
There will be a raffle on the night with some FABULOUS prizes, more details coming soon. All money raised will go towards buying some much needed outdoor benches for Cockermouth School.
If you have any questions just drop us an email. 👇
✍️ cscaqueries@gmail.com
This may be of interest.
Lostrigg Solar Farm nr Cockermouth (RWE)
https://uk.rwe.com/project-proposals/lostrigg-solar/
There’s a proposal out and community consultations upcoming on a new large scale solar farm – would generate over 50MW and as such considered an NSIP – a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project.
meeting and webinar dates:
Apologies if I have this wrong..but when I have looked on the calender it has Harvest Festival on Oct 6 at Lorton Church and the map does show St Cuthbert’s Lorton.However this is incorrect as the Lorton harvest festival and supper were last weekend. I was actually looking to see if I could think why there were fewer than usual people at the supper. Maybe this is a factor?…on the other hand I may have this wrong? Thanks
Ann Peck
Hi Ann you were quite right there was a surfeit of Harvest suppers in the events diary, it is now corrected. Apologies for that.
Richard
Hi, i am wondering if there is someone who can help me, i am trying to find out who either owned, or managed “Kent Cottage” in Lorton during WW2
Latest info on Whinlatter road closure: https://melbreakcommunities.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/whinlatter-closure.pdf
Melbreak Communities Website
http://www.melbreakcommunities.org.uk
Over the next few weeks we will be making some changes to the website. This will involve updating the content of pages, deleting unused pages and reorganising the menu structure.
Existing bookmarks/favourites may need to be reset. Use the Search box at the bottom of any page to find the information you need.
Any comments please let us know at pip.wise@hotmail.co.uk
Great news – it looks as though the Lorton-Loweswater “road” via Thackthwaite is to be re-surfaced in June at a cost of ca £180k. It will inevitably involve some disruption for 2 weeks, but should be worth it for those of us using it most days.
Correction – the Google newsflash that I got this from was in fact dated June 2023 and referred to the main valley road. Sorry to have raised the hopes of residents along the lane. Although the lane up to Thackthwaite was done a few years, only patching has been done above and this is a waste of time given the state of the lane in places. Do complain to Cumberland Council about it if you can.
Please find attached the latest copy of ‘What’s On’ in libraries across Allerdale in May
Many thanks
Elaine
Elaine Lewis
Library Outreach Project Officer | Cumberland Libraries
Customer Solutions | Cumberland Council
Workington Library | Vulcans Lane |Workington | CA14 2ND
http://www.cumberland.gov.uk
https://melbreakcommunities.files.wordpress.com/2024/05/may-2024-workington-group-whats-on.pdf
Melbreak Communities Local Events Diary
This list is drawn from The Link and mostly just covers the next month’s events. We would like to extend this coverage into the future, up to about a year in advance. This should help with scheduling and avoid the clash of events on the same day. Can I encourage anyone who wants to add, delete or amend an event to email me at melbreakcommunities@gmail.com. The minimum details needed are: Name of event, date, time. But feel free to add other information, location, attachments etc as they become available. Groups and societies are especially asked to let me have their annual programme if it is available.
Thanks
Richard
The Great Cumbrian Litter Pick 2024 (Calling everyone in the Melbreak Communities parishes to come and help Friends of the Lake District with a LITTER PICK)
Litter not only spoils how our beautiful landscapes look, it also creates toxins and pollutants that are harmful to the land and the wildlife and livestock that live here.
Come and help us make Lorton a more beautiful and safer place for us and our wildlife to live!
When: Saturday 23rd March 2 – 4pm
Where: Gather outside Lorton School
What to wear: Old clothes and gloves. High Vis jacket if you have one. Bring a friend!
Pickers and high vis provided.
Cakes and tea afterwards!
Email Deb on beech.lane35@yahoo.co.uk to register by Wednesday 20th March
Sorry, no children as we will be on roads around Lorton
Hello. I’m Angela from Sustainable Keswick and would like to invite Melbreak Communities to join us at the Keswick Alhambra on Friday 23rd February for a theatrical/cinematic event about species extinction. The details can be found on the Alhambra website. We also want to tell positive stories of local initiatives to address species loss to inspire people to get involved so if you’re willing to say a few words about what you do that would be great. Please let me know if you’re planning on coming on 07818531695. Many thanks, Angela
Here is the full information on how to book for the Ceilidh being held at Loweswater Village Hall Saturday 24th February 7.00pm -10.00pm. Apologies that booking information is missing from the advert in The Link this month. Please book in advance with Lyn Furniss on 07970218239 or alloyslyn@btinternet.com Ticket £6 and Sausage Bap in the interval £4. Tea, coffee, soft drink provided but bring your own booze. Get your dancing shoes on for a great evening out!
We have a large Bosch chest freezer for sale. It’s in excellent working order – please let me know if you would like to come and have a look (I can also send photos). It is 114cm long, 85cm high and 65cm deep. £50 – buyer would need to collect (near High Lorton). Feel free to contact me if you are interested – Gill Locking 07736 659313
The 2023 Christmas season is fast approaching and we would like to welcome you to join us on a Carol Singing Evening in the Loweswater Valley on Monday the 18th December.
Just one event this year, meeting at Keith and Gill McNeil’s house at Littlethwaite at the slightly earlier time of 5.30pm, then driving up the valley to Thackthwaite, Oak Bank, Scale Hill, the Kirkstile and ending up with an invitation from Karen and Peter to join them at the Village Hall around 8pm.
If you can’t join us for the whole evening, or we are not passing your door, then you would be most welcome to meet up with us on the way around, or at the Village Hall at the end, on what we hope will be very sociable occasion.
Song sheets will be provided, please bring your best singing voices. A door to door collection in aid of NSPCC will be made as usual.
Unfortunately, the article on energy that I wrote for The Link in October has some missing info in the chart so I am attaching a link on the LCP page to a PDF version of the piece here – https://melbreakcommunities.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/2023-link-energy-v3.pdf
Before they go in the glass recycling,does anyone have any use for a large quantity of glass jars ( 500 ml mostly) useful for pickles/ etc, too big for marmalade/jam unless you make very large quantities !