Westmorland and Furness

Last updated

Westmorland and Furness
Unitary authority area
Lake Windermere MMB 56.jpg
Market Square, Penrith.jpg
Kendal-Cumbria-6.jpg
Duke Street, Barrow-in-Furness.jpg
Market Street, Dalton-in-Furness - geograph.org.uk - 3566186.jpg
Westmorland and Furness UK locator map.svg
Westmorland and Furness shown within Cumbria
Coordinates: 54°19′34″N2°44′42″W / 54.326°N 2.745°W / 54.326; -2.745
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Country England
Region North West
Ceremonial county Cumbria
Historic county
Incorporated 1 April 2023
Named for Westmorland and Furness
Administrative HQ Kendal
Government
[1]
 • Type Unitary authority
 • Body Westmorland and Furness Council
 •  Executive Leader and cabinet
 •  Control Liberal Democrats
 •  Leader Jonathan Brook (LD)
 • ChairmanMatt Severn
 •  MPs
3 MPs
Area
[2]
 • Total
1,450 sq mi (3,756 km2)
 • Rank 3rd
Population
 (2022) [3]
 • Total
227,643
 • Rank 81st
 • Density160/sq mi (61/km2)
Time zone UTC+0 (GMT)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+1 (BST)
Postcode areas
GSS code E06000064
Website westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk

Westmorland and Furness is a unitary authority area in Cumbria, England. [4] [5] The economy is mainly focused on tourism around both the Lake District and Cumbria Coast, shipbuilding and the port in Barrow-in-Furness, and agriculture in the rural parts of the area.

Contents

The council area formed on 1 April 2023, on the abolition of Cumbria County Council [6] [7] The council covers the areas formerly served by the districts of Barrow-in-Furness, Eden, and South Lakeland, which also ceased to function. It includes all of the area of the historic county of Westmorland as well as the Furness district of historic Lancashire. It also incorporates a very small part of historic Yorkshire, together with about a quarter of the area of (but only 10% of the population of) the historic county of Cumberland. The other part of Cumbria, to the north and west, forms the unitary authority area of Cumberland.

The first elections to the new authority took place in May 2022, with the Westmorland and Furness Council acting as a 'shadow authority' until the abolition of the three former districts and Cumbria County Council on 1 April 2023. [8]

Background

Elections to Cumbria County Council were due to take place in May 2021; however, they were postponed for one year by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government due to a consultation on local government reorganisation in the area. [9] In July 2021, the government announced that the current authorities in Cumbria would be abolished and replaced with two unitary authorities, with an east/west split of the county. [10]

Opponents of the reorganisation claimed that the proposal was being pursued to benefit the electoral prospects of the Conservative Party. Cumbria County Council, which would be abolished under the plans, sought judicial review to prevent the reorganisation from taking place. [11] The judicial review was refused by the High Court in January 2022. [12] Draft statutory instruments to bring about local government reorganisation in Cumbria were subsequently laid before parliament. [7] The Cumbria (Structural Changes) Order 2022 (2022 No. 331) was made on 17 March 2022, and came into force the following day. [13]

The name of the unitary authority derives from the county of Westmorland and the peninsula of Furness. [14] Westmorland was previously an administrative county until it was abolished by the Local Government Act 1972 and became part of the new county of Cumbria. Furness was part of the administrative county of Lancashire until 1974; together with the Cartmel Peninsula, it formed an exclave of that county, historically part of the Lonsdale Hundred of Lancashire known as North Lonsdale or Lancashire North of the Sands. [15] In addition to those areas, the district includes part of the historic county of Cumberland in the Penrith area and an area centred on Sedbergh, which was part of the West Riding of Yorkshire.

Geography

Steamer Street, Barrow.jpg
The densely residential Barrow Island
Barrow skyline.jpg
Skyline of Central Barrow
Ruins of Furness Abbey - geograph.org.uk - 2042958.jpg
The medieval ruins of Furness Abbey
Black Combe from N. Walney - geograph.org.uk - 473071.jpg
A coastal scene in North Walney
Bowness-on-Windermere from a kite.jpg
Piers at Bowness-on-Windermere
Kendal Castle From Above, Sept 2015.jpg
Kendal Castle with the town in the background
"Some Fern", Grizedale Forest sculpture - geograph.org.uk - 4793639.jpg
Sculpture within Grizedale Forest
Rydal Rd, Ambleside, Cumbria - June 2009.jpg
The town of Ambleside
Helvellyn Summit Triangulation Pillar - geograph.org.uk - 2340210.jpg
View from the summit of Helvellyn
Kirkstone Pass - geograph.org.uk - 1502994.jpg
The scenic Kirkstone Pass
Arthur's Pike View (34687862110).jpg
Arthur's Pike overlooking Ullswater
Lowther Castle today.jpg
The historic Lowther Castle

Major settlements and civil parishes:

Neighbouring council areas
Local authorityIn relation to the district
Cumberland North
Northumberland North east
County Durham East
North Yorkshire South east
City of Lancaster South

Politics

Westmorland and Furness Council has 65 councillors, [16] and the first election to the local authority was in May 2022. At that election the Liberal Democrats secured a majority on the incoming council with 36 out of 65 councillors. Labour have 15 councillors, the Conservatives have 11 councillors, the Green Party have 1 councillor and 2 councillors were elected as independents. [17] [18]

AffiliationMembers
Liberal Democrats 36
Labour Party 15
Conservative Party 11
Independent2
Green Party of England and Wales 1

Westmorland and Furness, together with neighbouring Cumberland, constitute a ceremonial county named "Cumbria" for the purpose of lieutenancy and shrievalties, being presided over by a Lord Lieutenant of Cumbria and a High Sheriff of Cumbria. Ceremonial counties do not discharge any administrative function. [19] [20]

Police services are provided by Cumbria Constabulary and fire services by Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service. These are both overseen by the Cumbria Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner. [21]

Twinnings
SettlementTwinned settlement
Dalton-in-Furness Dalton, Pennsylvania, United States
Kendal
Penrith Penrith, New South Wales, Australia
Sedbergh Zreče, Slovenia
Ulverston Albert, France
Windermere Diessen am Ammersee, Germany

Economy

Transport

The West Coast Main Railway Line runs through the district, with stations at Penrith and Oxenholme. Services on the line are provided by Avanti West Coast and TransPennine Express. The Northern Settle–Carlisle line also runs through, with stations at Armathwaite, Lazonby, Langwathby, Appleby, Kirkby Stephen, Garsdale and Dent. Other lines in the district include the Cumbrian Coast (the line terminate at Barrow-in-Furness), Furness (to Lancaster) and Lakes (which runs through Kendal).

Roads through the district include the M6 motorway, the A6 and the A66.

Media

In terms of television, the area is covered by BBC North West and ITV Granada which both broadcast from Salford and BBC North East and Cumbria broadcasting from Newcastle and ITV Border that broadcast from Gateshead.

Radio stations for the area are BBC Radio Cumbria, BBC Radio Lancashire can also be received, Heart North West, Smooth Lake District, Greatest Hits Radio Cumbria & South West Scotland and community based stations: Eden FM Radio, Lake District Radio [31] and Bay Trust Radio. [32]

The district's local newspapers are the Cumberland and Westmorland Herald, "The Westmorland Gazette and North West Evening Mail . [33]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cumbria</span> Ceremonial county of England

Cumbria is a ceremonial county in North West England. It borders the Scottish council areas of Dumfries and Galloway and Scottish Borders to the north, Northumberland and County Durham to the east, North Yorkshire to the south-east, Lancashire to the south, and the Irish Sea to the west. Its largest settlement is the city of Carlisle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ulverston</span> Market town in Cumbria, England

Ulverston is a market town and civil parish in Westmorland and Furness, Cumbria, England. Historically in Lancashire, it lies a few miles south of the Lake District National Park and just north-west of Morecambe Bay, within the Furness Peninsula. Lancaster is 39 miles (63 km) to the east, Barrow-in-Furness 10 miles (16 km) to the south-west and Kendal 25 miles (40 km) to the north-east. In the 2001 census the parish had a population of 11,524, increasing at the 2011 census to 11,678.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Westmorland</span> Historic county of England

Westmorland is a historic county in North West England. People of the area are known as Westmerians. The area includes part of the Lake District and the southern Vale of Eden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Windermere, Cumbria (town)</span> Town in Cumbria, England

Windermere is a town in the civil parish of Windermere and Bowness, in the Westmorland and Furness district in the ceremonial county of Cumbria, England; it is within the Lake District National Park. The town lies about half a mile (1 km) east of the lake, Windermere, from which it takes its name. In 2021 it had a population of 4,826.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grange-over-Sands</span> English Victorian era town

Grange-over-Sands is a town and civil parish on the north side of Morecambe Bay in Cumbria, England, a few miles south of the Lake District National Park. In the 2011 census the parish had a population of 4,114, increasing at the 2021 census to 4,279. Within the boundaries of the historic county of Lancashire, the town became administered as an urban district in 1894. Though the town remains part of the Duchy of Lancaster, since 2023 it has been administered as part of the Westmorland and Furness Council area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Lakeland</span> Former local government district in England

South Lakeland was a local government district in Cumbria, England, from 1974 to 2023. Its council was based in Kendal. The district covered the southern part of the Lake District region, as well as northwestern parts of the Yorkshire Dales. At the 2011 Census, the population of the district was 103,658, an increase from 102,301 at the 2001 Census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eden District</span> Former local government district in England

Eden was a local government district in Cumbria, England, based at Penrith Town Hall in Penrith. It was named after the River Eden, which flowed north through the district toward Carlisle. Its population of 49,777 at the 2001 census, increased to 52,564 at the 2011 Census. A 2019 estimate was 53,253. In July 2021 it was announced that, in April 2023, Cumbria would be divided into two unitary authorities. On 1 April 2023, Eden District Council was abolished and its functions transferred to the new authority Westmorland and Furness, which also covers the former districts of Barrow-in-Furness and South Lakeland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Furness</span> Peninsula and region of Cumbria, England

Furness is a peninsula and region of Cumbria, England. Together with the Cartmel Peninsula it forms North Lonsdale, historically an exclave of Lancashire. On 1 April 2023 it became part of the new unitary authority of Westmorland and Furness.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Civil parishes in Cumbria</span>

A civil parish in England is the lowest unit of local government. There are 284 civil parishes in the ceremonial county of Cumbria, with most of the county being parished. At the 2001 census, there were 359,692 people living in those 284 parishes, accounting for 73.8 per cent of the county's population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Westmorland and Lonsdale (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1983 onwards

Westmorland and Lonsdale is a constituency in the south of Cumbria, represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2005 by Tim Farron, the former leader of the Liberal Democrats (2015–2017).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barrow and Furness (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1885 onwards

Barrow and Furness, formerly known as Barrow-in-Furness, is a UK Parliament constituency in Cumbria. It has been represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament by Michelle Scrogham of the Labour Party since 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service</span> Fire and rescue service in north west England

Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service is the statutory fire and rescue service for Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness in England. Since 2012, the headquarters for the service's 38 fire stations are at Penrith next to the headquarters of Cumbria Constabulary.

The high sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the high sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct, so that its functions are now largely ceremonial. The high sheriff changes every April.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cumbria County Council</span> Former local authority in England

Cumbria County Council was the county council for the non-metropolitan county of Cumbria in the North West of England. Established in April 1974, following its first elections held the previous year, it was an elected local government body responsible for the most significant local services in the area, including schools, roads, and social services.

Structural changes to local government in England took place between 2019 and 2023. Some of these changes continue the trend of new unitary authorities being created from other types of local government districts, which was a policy of Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick from 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Westmorland County Council</span> Defunct county council in England

Westmorland County Council was the county council of Westmorland in north west England. It came into its powers on 1 April 1889 and was abolished on 1 April 1974. The county council was initially based at the Town Hall in Kendal and then, from 1939, based at the County Offices in Kendal. It was amalgamated with Cumberland County Council to form the new Cumbria County Council in 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cumberland (unitary authority)</span> District in Cumbria, England

Cumberland is a unitary authority area in Cumbria, England, which means that it is a non-metropolitan county and district. It borders Scotland, Northumberland, Westmorland and Furness, and the Irish Sea. Part of the area is in the Lake District National Park and notable landmarks include Carlisle Cathedral, Carlisle Castle and Hadrian's Wall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Westmorland and Furness Council election</span> 2022 UK local government election

The 2022 Westmorland and Furness Council election was held on 5 May 2022 to elect members of Westmorland and Furness Council in England. The council area will consist of the area covered by the districts of Barrow-in-Furness, Eden and South Lakeland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Westmorland and Furness Council</span> Local authority of Westmorland and Furness, England

Westmorland and Furness Council is the local authority for Westmorland and Furness, a local government district in the ceremonial county of Cumbria, England. It is a unitary authority, being a district council which also performs the functions of a county council. The council has been under Liberal Democrat majority control since its creation in 2023. It has its official headquarters at the Town Hall and adjoining South Lakeland House in Kendal, with additional offices in Barrow-in-Furness and Penrith.

References

  1. ↑ "Councillors and committees". Westmorland and Furness Council. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  2. ↑ "Mid-Year Population Estimates, UK, June 2022". Office for National Statistics . 26 March 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  3. ↑ "Mid-Year Population Estimates, UK, June 2022". Office for National Statistics . 26 March 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  4. ↑ "The Cumbria (Structural Changes) Order 2022". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  5. ↑ "Lieutenancies Act 1997". legislation.gov.uk . Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  6. ↑ "Next steps for new unitary councils in Cumbria, North Yorkshire and Somerset". Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government. 21 July 2021. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  7. 1 2 "The Cumbria (Structural Changes) Order 2022".
  8. ↑ "Names for two controversial Cumbria councils revealed". BBC News. 5 November 2021. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  9. ↑ "Local elections postponed in three English counties". BBC News. 23 February 2021. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  10. ↑ "Cumbria councils to be replaced by two authorities". BBC News. 22 July 2021. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  11. ↑ "Cumbria County Council launches legal action over shake-up". BBC News. October 2021. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  12. ↑ "Bid to stop local government reorganisation lands county council with £30,000 bill - cumbriacrack.com".
  13. ↑ "The Cumbria (Structural Changes) Order 2022".
  14. ↑ Kenyon, Megan (8 November 2021). "Names of two new Cumbria unitaries confirmed". Local Government Chronicle. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  15. ↑ "North Lonsdale Lancashire". Vision of Britain.
  16. ↑ "Elections – May 2022". New Councils for Cumbria.
  17. ↑ "Westmorland and Furness". www.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk.
  18. ↑ "Westmorland & Furness result – Local Elections 2022". BBC News.
  19. ↑ "The Cumbria (Structural Changes) Order 2022".
  20. ↑ "The Cumbria (Structural Changes) Order 2022".
  21. ↑ Milligan, Laura (4 April 2023). "PCC officially takes on responsibility for Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service's governance". Cumbria Police and Crime Commissioner. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  22. ↑ BAE Workforce 2024
  23. ↑ "Port of Barrow". Associated British Ports Holdings. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
  24. ↑ "Kimberly-Clark Barrow". Kimberly-Clark. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  25. ↑ "James Fisher & Sons Barrow". James Fisher & Sons. Archived from the original on 30 August 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  26. ↑ "Stollers Barrow". Stollers. Archived from the original on 1 March 2010. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
  27. ↑ "Center Parcs". Center Parcs. Archived from the original on 12 July 2010. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
  28. ↑ "GlaxoSmithKline Ulverston". GlaxoSmithKline. Archived from the original on 28 June 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
  29. ↑ "Lakeland Windermere". Lakeland. Archived from the original on 5 May 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
  30. ↑ "Heinz Kendal". Applegate. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
  31. ↑ "Real Radio, Real People and Really Local!". Lake District Radio. 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  32. ↑ "Welcome to Bay Trust Radio". Bay Trust Radio Radio. 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  33. ↑ "Local Newspapers for Cumbria and the Lake District".
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.