Some junior doctors at the Morecambe Bay NHS Trust will go on strike today.
They join a national campaign of industrial action surrounding a dispute over new contracts.
They'll refuse to do anything but emergency care for 24 hours from 8 o' clock this morning.
The British Medical Association yesterday accused the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt of personally veto-ing a deal that could've ended the walkouts.
Journeys for commuters through Kendal will be a little quicker this morning (Wednesday) now Victoria Bridge has reopened in the town centre.
The bridge was shut for safety reasons last month but work to protect the structure from fast-flowing water has been completed.
Cumbria County Council now says the repair of the flood-damaged St. Sunday's Bridge in Old Hutton is its priority in the South Lakes.
South Lakes MP Tim Farron said: “Local residents and businesses alike will be pleased and relieved that Victoria Bridge is back open, and traffic problems through Kendal will be hugely helped by this.
“The challenge now is to ensure that the many other roads and bridges which remain closed across South Lakeland are repaired and reopened as soon as possible. The continued closure of roads and bridges is having a detrimental impact on residents and businesses, many of whom have already been badly hit by flooding.
“I will continue to put pressure on central government to provide the necessary funds, so that the County Council can press ahead with the work required to repair our infrastructure. At the moment, it is estimated that the cost of repairing damaged infrastructure across Cumbria is around £500 million, yet so far the Conservatives have only provided around £40 million of this.”
A man who's taking on 401 consecutive marathons is doing one in Lancaster today.
Ben Smith takes his charity challenge to Kendal tomorrow; and then he's in Barrow on Friday.
He's running the distance each day at locations across the UK to raise money for 'Kidscape' and 'Stonewall'.
You can find out more about why he's doing and how to sponsor him and those who are joining him by clicking here.
A half-a-million-pound donation could be lost if a decision isn't made soon on whether Kendal's getting its own radiotherapy unit.
A benefactor has left a legacy of £500,000 to go towards the proposed unit at Westmorland General Hospital - but the offer expires in June.
A pledge to fund the £15million pound cancer treatment facility was secured from the Treasury more than a year ago.
However, nothing can be done until a national review of radiotherapy services is complete - South Lakes MP Tim Farron is pressing NHS England to finish it.
Mr. Farron said: “This review is dragging on – local people, and in particular those who currently have to travel regularly to Preston for treatment, want to see a decision made about radiotherapy services in Kendal.
“The government recommends that patients should not have to travel for more than 45 minutes to access radiotherapy services, yet we all know that the vast majority of South Lakeland residents live further than this from Preston. It is unacceptable that local people have to travel so far to access such essential services.
“The fact that an individual generously left half a million pounds for the establishment of a radiotherapy unit in Kendal, which will be lost if the unit is not given the go-ahead by June, adds extra urgency to the situation. A decision must be made without delay.”
Farmers who suffered flood damage in the worst hit areas of Cumbria have responded to an industry led survey, which has revealed what are described as "staggering" results.
Around 1,000 farmers were contacted by the Cumbrian Farm Flood Action Group with 144 of them reporting a collective £1.7 million in losses.
Defra has estimated that 650 Cumbrian farms were affected by storm damage, meaning the survey represents detailed information from a third of those farms. Data collection was funded by the Prince’s Countryside Fund, the survey was conducted by The Farmer Network and Westmorland Agricultural Society with analysis carried out by the NFU.
Of the 1,000 farmers contacted, 220 of them completed a detailed survey and the findings have now been analysed.
* 63% of those surveyed lost sections of watercourse bank sides
* 37% have lost walls
* 14% have lost hedgerows
* 38 farmers reported 701 sheep deaths between them and in addition 16 farmers reported a total of 189 sheep missing
* 53% reported river stone/gravel deposit and 22% have had land slips
David Hall, NFU North West Regional Director, said: “This survey shows us clearly the impact of the storms and what farmers face in terms of immediate recovery. In the longer term farmers face higher costs as stock will need to be fed with bought in fodder. It’s also highly likely that forage yields will be low this year.
“The NFU is working alongside others to ensure that farmers are supported through this challenging time. Policy and practices must be reviewed to find more resilient ways of managing flood risk. Our approach must be catchment based and look at all interventions resulting in sufficient and well placed flood alleviation actions across the area.”
15 Farmer Network coordinators, including a team from Westmorland Agricultural Society, made contact with farmers as part of the survey.
Adam Day, Managing Director of The Farmer Network said: “The results of the survey can now be used to help flood affected farm businesses with not only flood recovery issues, but also essential future flood planning and mitigation. Farmers want to have much more hands on involvement in managing catchment areas, on and near to, their land than has been allowed in the past.”
Farmers who want help from the government to recover from the recent floods have to get their applications for support in by the 1st of April.
Farmers in Cumbria and Lancashire whose businesses have suffered during Storm Desmond and Storm Eva could be entitled to up to £20,000.
The Rural Payments Agency is handling the Farming Recovery Fund which can be used to restore land; rebuild tracks; repair drains; and reinstate boundaries.
Farming Minister George Eustice said: “These payments are part of a wider £200million package of government support set up to help communities affected by the devastating floods in Northern England. The grants could make a real difference to farm businesses trying to get back on their feet.
“So far 107 applications worth over £1.1million have been submitted to the RPA and the agency has been acting swiftly and doing a great job approving applications within 10 working days.”
"But I want every eligible flood-affected farmer to be able to access this vital money as soon as possible to help them get back to normal. Help is at hand via the Rural Services Helpline and farmers wanting support to apply should call 03000 200 301.”
Farmers wanting to apply can find the form by clicking here.
The South Lakes MP has been speaking during a debate about the urgent need for a long-term plan for affordable housing in the area.
Tim Farron focussed on the challenges facing rural areas including his constituency, largely caused by second-home ownership.
In Cumbria, house prices are an average of 10 times local incomes.
Mr Farron said: "Rural areas such as mine in Cumbria face particular challenges in tackling the issue of affordable housing. If we consider the fact that some 8% of homes in rural areas are affordable, compared with 20% across the country, we will realise how difficult it is for children who grow up in rural communities to cling on, make a living there and raise their own families when they get older, and, indeed, for workers to live in the areas in which they work.”
He called on the government to commit to building 300,000 homes per year, and asked the government to lift the borrowing cap to enable councils to borrow to build. It is thought that this scheme, backed by the Local Government Association, could lead to an extra 80,000 homes over four years.
He repeated his call for the government to support Lib Dem plans to allow second homes to be charged double council tax “to tackle the immense damage that excessive second home ownership does to towns and villages in places such as the west country, Northumberland and Cumbria”.
However, his motion was defeated due to Conservative opposition.
Commenting on the debate, Tim said: “It is clear to everyone that the government must take radical action to address the housing crisis, yet it is not willing to do so. The government must work with councils and local communities to build more affordable homes, yet the Conservatives’ main priority is to sell off social housing, leaving fewer homes for those on the waiting list. The evidence suggests that these homes won’t be replaced, and will simply end up in the private rented sector.
“Many of our local communities have been badly hit by very high levels of second home ownership, and I have been calling on the government to allow these communities to keep the money raised from second home sales to compensate them for the impact on local services, as well as to be able to raise council tax on second homes. It is disappointing that the Conservatives voted against these plans.”
Elderly residents of Windermere are due to start moving back in to flats at their sheltered housing scheme, after they were flooded out during Storm Desmond.
Eight ground floor flats, along with the communal lounge and kitchen areas, were flooded at the South Lakes Housing owned Birthwaite sheltered accommodation in December.
Four tenants had to be evacuated to an emergency reception centre set up by South Lakeland District Council at the Marchesi Centre, before being moved to other vacant flats, nearby nursing homes or to stay with family.
Repair work on some of the flats at Birthwaite has been completed and the first three tenants are due to move back in from this Friday.
They include 102-year-old Aileen Bostock, who was able to move in with her son in Windermere during the Christmas period and then into a local nursing home until the flats were ready.
Staff at South Lakes Housing managed to rescue Mrs Bostock’s cherished telegrams from the Queen when her ground-floor flat flooded. Mrs Bostock is moving back into a refurbished first floor flat at Birthwaite.
Another of the returning residents is 90-year-old Emma Willis, who was placed in the guest room at Birthwaite whilst her flat was repaired and she will be the first tenant to move back into her own flat on Friday.
John Mansergh, Assistant Director at South Lakes Housing, explained: “The flood water started coming in at about 2pm on 5 December and one of our joiners, Dave Harris, was able to get out to isolate the electrics and then worked with a carer to help the tenants.
“Within half an hour the situation had got a whole lot worse with the lift flooded and five foot deep floodwater flowing through the corridors.
“A 999 call was made and mountain rescue teams and the fire service helped with the evacuation, with one elderly lady in a wheelchair carried to safety along with three other vulnerable residents.’’
The work has been completed by the South Lakes Housing repairs team with the help of plasterers from MK Conversions in Sedbergh, flooring from Nevinson’s Carpets of Ulverston and sterilising by UPM, also from Ulverston.
The flood repairs at Birthwaite come just over a year since South Lakes Housing spent £270,000 on ‘dementia friendly’ improvements at the 46 flat scheme.
Mr Mansergh said that 62 of South Lakes Housing’s 3,000 properties across the district were damaged by Storm Desmond flooding.
The housing association has been working with local contractors and nationwide regeneration firm ‘Keepmoat’ to accelerate the repairs programme meaning that all flood-affected tenants should be backin their homes by the end of June.
The Leader of Cumbria County Council Stewart Young, Leader of the Opposition James Airey and council Chief Executive Diane Wood have described meetings with Ministers in London to discuss the funding needed to repair damage caused by December’s floods as "constructive".
The Cumbria representatives met first with Greg Clark, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and then with Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport Andrew Jones.
The meetings were facilitated by Minister for Floods and local MP Rory Stewart, who also attended both discussions.
Cllr Young, said: “The council is working hard to assemble a funding package which will enable all the flood damage to be repaired. This is a cross-party effort and the council will be contributing as much as it can from its own resources. But we will need a substantial contribution from Government, on top of what has already been announced. The talks yesterday were constructive, are continuing, and we are pushing for an early decision.”
An additional million pounds a year will be invested in mental health support for young people in Cumbria over the next five years.
The money will fund a new, Cumbria-based, children and young people’s community eating disorder service, as well as supporting improvements in the Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS).
Work has started to develop the service, but is expected to take some time to establish, as specialist staff will need to be recruited and trained.
Dr Mandy Boardman, GP lead for Children and Safeguarding for NHS Cumbria CCG said: "It is an exciting opportunity to invest in new services allowing children and young people to receive the support they need closer to home, in a familiar place with the support of their family and friends.
"We hope this new service will then avoid the need for hospital treatment for eating disorders wherever possible.”
The money from NHS England was awarded after NHS Cumbria CCG and Cumbria County Council submitted a ‘Children and Young People’s Emotional Health and Wellbeing Transformation Plan’ for the county.
The creation of a specialist community eating disorder service will bring Cumbrian services into line with the best services in other parts of the country.
Cumbria’s CAMHS has struggled in recent years to find the right staff and meet rising demands.
Some of the new funding will be used to improve and develop this service with this investment enabling teams to make the mental health crisis service more effective and robust – particularly for children and young people needing help out of hours.
Cumbria will receive £1 million each year over the next five years.
The service will be commissioned and supported by NHS Cumbria CCG and will run alongside other mental health services that are provided by Cumbria Partnership Foundation Trust as part of a whole system approach to ensure all our children and young people can access the support they need to achieve emotional wellbeing and mental health.
It will link with a wide range of other services, including third sector providers.
People in Arnside and Burton-in-Kendal are being invited to raise any concerns they've got about crime today, with Cumbria's Police & Crime Commissioner.
Richard Rhodes is at the Arnside Educational Institute on Church Hill between 10am and midday.
He'll also be at Burton-in-Kendal's Memorial Hall between 1pm and 3pm.
No appointment is necessary.
A Flood Alert has been issued by the Environment Agency for the Coast at North Morecambe Bay for tomorrow lunchtime (Thursday).
It's for the high tide that's due at around ten-past one tomorrow afternoon, with high water expected for two hours before and after the peak.
The high tide tonight at around 1am will not reach Flood Alert levels.
An update from the Environment Agency reads: "A Flood Alert is in force for the high tide on 11/02/2016, tidal spray and onshore flooding may occur to roads and some properties along the coast may be affected. People are warned to stay away from the coast.
"The tide is forecast to peak between 13:07 and 13:12. We forecast that the astronomical tides of 5.48m AoD at Heysham and 4.10m AoD at Barrow will have an additional surge of 0.1m.
"Locations likely to be affected are Roosebeck, Canal Foot, East Plain Farm, Arnside, Sandside."
A report's been published into how Cumbria Police deals with the public and uses tasers and stop-and-search powers.
HMIC inspectors found a good ethical culture within the force and said officers had a good understanding of local issues.
The use of tasers was well managed; however improvement's needed when it comes to recording the use of stop-and-search.
Richard Rhodes said: “I am pleased to see that the overall rating for Cumbria Constabulary in this assessment is classified as ‘good’.
“In particular, I welcome that HMIC Inspectors found a positive and supportive culture within the force, and they were satisfied that staff were encouraged to behave professionally and ethically. Senior leaders were clear on the expected standards and the workforce had a good understanding of the Code of Ethics. In addition, wellbeing of staff was considered important and there is a good system in place to support staff.
“I also welcome the HMIC view that the Force effectively engages with the public and officers and staff understand the importance of treating people with courtesy and respect. The force has a good understanding of local issues and concerns.
“Another area that was examined during the Inspection was the Force’s use of Taser, and I was pleased to see that Taser officers are adjudged well trained and the oversight of the deployment of Taser is well managed.
“That said, it was noted that the Force’s use of Stop and Stop requires some improvement, and as one of my key responsibilities as Police and Crime Commissioner is to hold the Chief Constable to account I shall be asking for a report from the Chief Constable for my March Executive Board, so that I can monitor what action has been taken and what is planned going forward to address the shortcomings.”
A Cumbria Constabulary spokesperson said: “The Constabulary welcomes the findings from HMIC’s latest PEEL inspection into police legitimacy, where the constabulary was graded as good.
“We are pleased that the inspection highlighted positive and supportive culture within the Constabulary which leads to officers and staff adhering to the standards that are expected of them.
“The findings also show that the force has a positive relationship with the public of Cumbria. One of the cornerstones of our policing is this relationship and we look to maintain and improve this by effective and visible engagement. Public confidence is also maintained by our policing style and our understanding of any concerns that communities may have.
“The Constabulary have already begun work on the areas for improvement, including increasing the understanding of how to record stop and search, as well as building on the success of our strengths as we strive to develop and improve the policing service we provide to our communities.”
People who chose to train as GPs in Cumbria will get a £20,000 bursary.
The incentive is part of a pilot scheme by NHS England.
There's a national shortage of General Practioners - and that's particularly felt in rural areas.
Last year, a survey of surgeries in Cumbria found some GP vacancies had gone unfilled for more than 2 years.
Dr James Hayton, Emergency Medicine Consultant at West Cumberland Hospital said: “The West Cumberland Hospital team is looking forward to welcoming GP’s and GP trainees who wish to develop an interest in a hospital specialty.
“Once trained, we hope these doctors will lead sustainable integrated teams providing specialist services across primary and secondary care in West Cumbria.”
Dr David Rogers, Medical Director, NHS Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “We hope this will encourage more medics at the start of their careers to choose Cumbria as a place to live and train. GPs who live and work here know it is a great place to work and this scheme will encourage GP trainees to discover this for themselves. We know that if people train in an area they are more likely to choose to stay and work there.
“There are various new opportunities for doctors being developed in the county including research opportunities in partnership with UCLAN working alongside colleagues in the acute hospitals to develop more specialist skills or to work within community services.”
Further details of the scheme are listed on the National Recruitment Office website, which also gives existing applicants the chance to switch their preference.
Walkers in the Lake District are being offered the chance to take part in a charity event for MS Research - to climb ten mountains in ten hours.
The organisers of the annual 10in10 event - which is held in June, have now decided to encourage people to do the challenge on any day of the year, renaming it the 'Everyday 10in10'.
They're also launching a fell running challenge called the 'No Cure, Always Hope Ultra Run', which heads over 25 peaks and covers 39 miles and a combined ascent of 17,000 feet.
Every June, 400 people set off at the crack of dawn to climb ten mountains in ten hours on one of three specially designed routes in the Newlands, Buttermere or Borrowdale valleys near Keswick.
Part of the reason for opening up the challenge from once a year to any day of the year is to reduce the impact on the fells and also because Yvonne and Duncan Booth want to allow more people to take part.
They also say some people want to do it alone, without the marshals and when it’s a bit quieter.
Duncan, who was diagnosed with MS in 2010, explains: “At the annual 10in10, there are a lot of people with MS who take part. Some manage 10in10, some 5in5 and sometimes 1in1 - depending on how the disease is affecting them on the day. We’ve realised that people want to take on the challenge, but if their holiday in the Lake District doesn’t coincide with the event, they can’t. Or if their MS is causing problems they can’t. We wanted to give people the chance to train and then try the challenge when they are ready, not just once a year when we are.”
Yvonne explained why Duncan’s diagnosis spurred her on to create the walking challenge and why she is developed the new Everyday 10in10 and the No Cure, Always Hope Ultra Run: “We just want to find a cure for MS. The 10in10 gives Duncan and I a real focus for our families. We don’t know whether there’ll be a cure in Duncan’s lifetime, but it gives us hope and that’s what we live for everyday. It’s not about putting on the event, it’s about helping lots of people achieve independent goals. We can’t stop now, everybody wants to hear when the next challenge is. We are really proud of what everyone has achieved.”
To sign up, visit here.
Police have arrested a 27-year-old man from Kendal following an attempted robbery in the area yesterday.
The man has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and is being questioned by police.
It's after a shop worker was threatened with a knife at Castle Stores on Castle Drive at around 8.15pm
Nobody was hurt and the offender made off empty-handed on a bike towards the cemetery.
Police are still appealing for witnesses, so anyone with information that may assist their investigations is asked to contact Cumbria Police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
"Keswick Rocks" - A new mountain biking event and more race routes have been added to the Keswick Mountain Festival's 10th anniversary programme.
This year's festival will run from Thursday the 19th until Sunday the 22nd of May, with its main base being the Festival Village in Crow Park.
That base will be open from Friday the 20th of May.
Lucy Scrase, Keswick Mountain Festival sporting director, said: “We are determined to make sure that the 10th Keswick Mountain Festival is very special indeed and our plans for the sporting events really put the spotlight on that.
"It’s about time Keswick had its own mountain bike event, so we’ve created one and it will give riders an exciting taste of some amazing landscapes. And everywhere else in the schedule, we’ve introduced additions and improvements that will make a visit to Keswick in May more enjoyable than ever for participants and spectators alike.”
More details are here.
UPDATE, 3.52pm: A man who went missing in Ambleside has been found safe and well.
The family of West Yorkshire man Daniel Witham put out an appeal earlier today, but the 41-year-old was located this afternoon in the Kirkstone Pass area.
Police have thanked everyone for their help.
The government has announced today that Kendal Magistrates’ Court and County Court will be closed.
The workload from Kendal Magistrates Court will move to Lancaster Magistrates’ Court and Barrow-in-Furness Magistrates’ Court, whilst the workload from Kendal County Court will move to Barrow-in-Furness County Court.
HM Courts & Tribunals Service will work with SLDC to explore further options for alternative local access to justice, but there are no firm proposals at present.
Kendal Magistrates Court was first names as one of 91 courts that could be closed in September 2015.
Under the new system, some local residents will have to travel up to two and a half hours to access the justice system.
Justice Minister Shailesh Vara has claimed that more than 97% of citizens would still be able to reach their required court "by car within an hour".
However, during the consulation, Cumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner pointed out that “The majority of those attending courts in Cumbria (over 80%) travel by public transport.”
The closure has been criticised by South Lakes MP and Lib Dem Leader Tim Farron, who had been urging local people to sign a petition to save it.
He says it shows a “total disregard” for local communities whose access to the justice system will be harmed.
Tim said: "The Government's closure of Kendal court will make it very difficult for local families to get fair access to justice in South Lakeland.
“The government’s consultation showed that 98% of local people opposed this move, yet despite this Michael Gove has pressed ahead with the closure.
"This decision shows a total disregard for rural communities like ours, where people will now have to travel significant distances and at considerable cost simply in order to have access to justice.
“Justice will be diminished as people will be put off going to court because of the time and money involved. We will also end up with the perverse situation in which defendant, victim and witnesses could all be sat together for hours on the same bus to Barrow – to suggest that this wouldn’t have an impact on the system’s ability to deliver justice is absurd.
“The closure will also heap additional costs in terms of time, effort and money, on to our police force in Cumbria who have already been cut back by the government.
"I will continue to campaign to see a return for fair access to justice in South Lakeland.”
People affected by the recent floods are being urged to visit a flood support and advice service that's rolling into Kendal next week.
It will be parked at Asda from 3.30pm to 8pm on Wednesday and Thursday - that's the 17th and 18th of February.
Rep's from Age UK and the Red Cross will be there, to offer help on applying for grants and how people can access other support services.
The mobile unit will also be visiting Morrisons in Kendal on the 24th and 25th of February at the same times.
The unit has been organised as part of a co-ordinated response to the district’s flood recovery, through the South Lakeland Community Flood Recovery group, which includes representatives from Cumbria County and South Lakeland District Councils, the Environment Agency, local and national charities and representatives from the business community.
Penny Pullinger, who is helping to manage the Gateway Mobile Support Unit, said: “What we are finding now is that many people affected by the flooding before Christmas are aware of some of the support that is available, but perhaps not everything they can access.
“By understanding their situation we can help them to get the support they need now and to think about the support they may need over the coming weeks and months.
“By registering they will also be kept up to date with information about grants and flood recovery help."
For those who are interested by won't be able to visit the team, forms to apply for help are also available at the Encouragement Cabin on Sandylands, the Flood Felief Centre in the Westmorland Shopping Centre, or by calling in to the Age UK South Lakeland offices on Finkle Street.
The Gateway Group is also running a flood support advice line on 01539 792028.