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REPORT OF ALSTON MOOR PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

6 JULY 2026 at Nenthead Village Hall

This report is an informal one, and should not be taken as an accurate and agreed record of the parish council meeting. It is written to give our local residents some general information about the meeting, but only the formal minutes, which will be posted later, are a proper record.

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MINUTES OF LAST MEETING, MATTERS ARISING

The minutes of the meeting of 1 June 2026 were approved.

  • The agreed garden waste bins for Alston and Garrigill have been paid for. 
  • There was discussion about the proposed planter to be placed to prevent parking and ensure that emergency vehicles can access the Butts, and a tall half barrel planter was agreed. 
  • Westmorland and Furness Council has agreed that the replacement fence for Nenthead War Memorial can go ahead, on a like-for-like basis.
  • Miranda Cannon, the new Chief Executive of Westmorland and Furness Council, is visiting Alston Moor on 24 July; she wants to get to know the area and its issues.

CHAIR’S REPORT

There was a good Gala day.  There is a need for a sign at the entrance to Church Road saying No Through Road, as it has become obvious during the closure of the lower part of Front Street that people imagine there is a through route.

Councillors thanked the Clerk, Chair and Town Hall caretaker for their speedy and effective work in dealing with the flooding of the Town Hall, caused by a blocked drain under the road into which the Town Hall drains run.

GRISEDALE CROFT UPDATE

Alston Moor Parish Council has persuaded W&F Adult Social Care to hold a public meeting.  This will be at the Town Hall on 16 July at 6pm, and everyone on Alston Moor is urged to attend.  Several of our challenges have still received no response.  Of the responses they had received, many opted for refurbishment, and W&F has realised that the information given was inadequate as they believe this would cost too much.  They have therefore produced a new booklet with revised wording, and a new closing date. It was pointed out that they have not gone back to Cabinet about this, as they should have done.  They have still failed to explain how they calculated the cost or time to do the possible refurbishment, information that is needed for people to make an informed response. 

It was also suggested that we should contact Healthwatch, but this has already been done and it does not appear that they could offer us much help.  Councillor Grew has contacted the CQC.  The adult social care team has said they won’t consult with the NHS, even though their plan says they should do so.

W&F councillor Mary Robinson suggested that the parish council should write to Miranda Cannon, the CEO, about all this, as she really needs to know what is happening and how W&F is functioning.

NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN & LOCAL PLAN

Councillor Martin suggested that we should work on a Neighbourhood Plan, which would take precedence over the W&F local plan, on which consultation has opened.  Our plan should not be finalised until after the W&F local plan has been agreed.  Councillor Robinson pointed out how different a Neighbourhood Plan is from the local plan, and recommended that we speak with Howard Bellis, the Chair of Ainstable Parish Council, as that council has started creating such a plan, but has put it on hold.  A motion was passed to begin work towards creating a Neighbourhood Plan.

POLICIES

Councillor Monk has amended all policies as requested and they will be put on the website.

WESTMORLAND AND FURNESS COUNCILLORS’ REPORTS

W&F Councillor Michael Hanley has circulated his report of the Place Action Group.

Councillor Grew complained that the garden waste will not be collected for three months over the winter, despite the fee being charged.  W&F Councillor Robinson spoke about apparently absurd decisions made to cancel existing school buses for fellside villages and, because the distance is shorter *as the crow flies* to Alston, children are apparently expected to attend secondary school here, apparently without regard for the road distance and winter road conditions!!

There is considerable disquiet from those responsible for the Nenthead and Garrigill toilets, once funded by Eden.  There is now no funding from W&F, and that received from the parish council is not enough to cover all costs.  Various possibilities were discussed.

Councillor Mary Robinson reported that there is a new gate for the cemetery, but there are ongoing issues about cemetery maintenance.

NENTHEAD WARD

The issue of the dying ash trees has been referred to W&F.  The setts outside the Hive are to be reinstated.

ALSTON MOOR PARTNERSHIP

A new director has been recruited, with useful specialist knowledge. 

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR

Sarah Stamford had circulated her report for June.  She has carried on with things started under AMP.  An information bulletin has been produced and she continues to work on the Community and business Directories.  The Footpath Maintenance group is carrying on but there is as yet no-one to take over the organisation of the work.  She has had discussions about establishing a Garrigill Youth Club.  Planning has begun for the Volunteer Recognition event in October.  She is creating an Alston Moor-specific funding guide.

FIBRE AND MOBILE CONNECTIVITY

Councillor Bondi reported that, at the Place Action Group meeting, we were urged to gather information through Connecting Cumbria and write to the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology and our MP about the many not-spots.  She had had an online meeting with Connecting Cumbria and seen their ‘not-spots’ map (which, for confidentiality reasons, is not publicly available).  No company is currently willing to supply fibre to properties accessed via tracks, as they do not want to deal with wayleaves and the greater work required for maintenance checking.  A letter for DSIT, the Secretary of State and the MP had been drafted, and the council agreed for it to be sent.

AI FOR COUNCIL WORK

Councillor Martin explained that it is clear we will need to be using AI, and it would not only make it possible to create the much-needed new website, but would also be of great assistance to the Clerk.  It was agreed to fund this, at about £200/month, for the next six months as a trial period, during which we will assess what impact it has on council work as a whole.  Five people (the Clerk and four councillors) will be able to use it for council work.   

DOUBLE YELLOW LINES

Councillor Reay had inspected the sites, and recommend that at Townhead there should be double yellow lines for 10 metres from the corner down to the fire station, and up along the Nenthead road to the turning for Back of the Burn.  On Station Road, he recommended 5 metres each way from the corners of the Tyne Willows access road, but not the section further up.  It was noted that without enforcement there will still be problems.

PLANNING

Most applications were approved but more information is to be sought concerning water supply and arrangements for the toilet for the proposed shepherd’s hut at Browngill.  More information was also requested about the proposed Alston Heritage signs.

NEXT MEETING

Monday 3 August 19.00 at Alston Town Hall.  The following one will be at Nenthead Village Hall.