February’s Council Meeting
REPORT OF ALSTON MOOR PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
2 FEBRUARY 2026
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
The minutes of both the last monthly AMPC meeting and the precept meeting were agreed as correct.
MATTERS ARISING
The Traffic Management group will look at which roads are gritted/salted. It was agreed that if Garrigill and Nenthead each want to have a gritter – which depends on having somewhere to store it and someone to take responsibility – the parish council will buy one for each community. Those wards will have to make the relevant arrangements before AMPC will buy one.
CHAIR’S REPORT
The Chair raised the latest police report, which included reports of damage, shoplifting, burglary and a public order offence and, most concerningly, nine sexual offences.
TREE WORKS – TENDER
Tree Beard provided the lowest tender and were approved for the Tyne Willows tree work.
ZOOM/LIVESTREAMING OF MEETINGS
It was suggested that parish council meetings might be streamed via Zoom or YouTube so that local residents could watch and hear, without needing to attend in person. One parish councillor insisted that this was currently illegal although under consideration. It became clear that there was a misunderstanding – it is not intended (nor would it be legal currently) for councillors to ‘attend’ via Zoom and the rest of the council were in agreement with enabling members of the public to have this form of accessibility. However, it was recognised that work needs to be done to enable the Annex acoustic to be more conducive to such livestreaming.
WESTMORLAND AND FURNESS COUNCILLORS’ REPORT
Councillor Mary Robinson spoke about the chaotic waste collection last week. It seems the people who usually do the business (as opposed to domestic) collections were doing it, and didn’t know what to do. Many people’s blue bags were not picked up either on Tuesday as expected or later in the week. Garden waste was also not collected.
The Westmorland and Furness consultation about parish council boundaries and numbers of councillors had been responded to by the parish clerk, but no acknowledgement was received and it was clear that many councils hadn’t received it. There is an April closing date on the draft recommendations.
Councillor Michael Hanley spoke about the Place Action Group housing survey, which made clear that what is wanted is two- to three-bedroomed houses and social housing. Cllr Grew asked about the proposal for a charge for the second green (garden waste) bin, as in Garrigill many local people cut verges, which are not the responsibility of Westmorland and Furness, and should not be penalised for this public-spirited action. It was suggested that. Cllr Grew write to W&F Councillor Giles Archibald.
NENTHEAD WARD MEETING
Cllr Alastair Robertson reported on the Ward AGM. Nine people were present. There was concern about the grit bins where the grit has become solid and cannot be extracted. The Clerk said this had been reported at the Traffic Management meeting. The Village Hall now has wifi, new floors and flooring. The toilets had had problems with both a burst pipe and vandalism and may install CCTV. Nenthead Community Projects has now got the Roll of Honour from the church being repaired. There was much praise for the snowplough group. There are issues about the defibrillator at the shop. Brian Aves was unwilling for AMPC to take it over but considerable renewal/replacement is now required. Cllr Monk will explain to them what to do.
PUBLIC FOOTPATH CONSULTATION
Despite being labelled as ‘Wardway’, the claimed route merely runs from/to the Wardway to the road. Once it had been clarified that those living along the route were all in favour of designation as a right-of-way, the parish council approved this.
POTATO MARKET
Following Westmorland and Furness Council’s decision that Alston Moor Partnership can keep the remaining money from the Townscape Heritage Project (after five years of asking first Eden District Council and then W&F), so long as it was used for an appropriate heritage-related project, AMP are considering doing some work at the Potato Market. The ownership of this area has never been clear despite considerable efforts over decades to identify an owner. It is not being suggested that the Parish Council taken on responsibility for it, but AMP would like to work with the council to make it an area that is attractive, and used. It was proposed that AMPC would work with AMP to consider its future – this was agreed, with abstentions from those who are Board members of AMP.
ALSTON MOOR PARTNERSHIP
Quite apart from the proposed work on the Potato Market, AMP are looking for funding to continue the Community Development work currently undertaken by Sarah Stamford. A community directory arising from her work and a business directory in connection with a new AMP project to promote local businesses are both going to be available online as very accessible means of accessing information. A hard copy of the community directory will soon be published and distributed to every household on Alston Moor.
TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT GROUP
There had been little interest from W&F in the cleaning of signs until Cllr Hanley photographed and listed them, whereupon it was agreed that a lot needs to be done (so watch this space!).
Additionally, there is to be an assessment of the proposal for a crossing at Fairhill.
DOUBLE YELLOW LINES
It is proposed that double yellow lines be painted to one side of the exit from Tyne Willows, which is currently very difficult because of lack of visibility, and in the narrow area further up Station Road. Those residents currently parking there would be asked to park in the Tyne Willows car park. This was agreed, with one abstention.
FINANCE
All payments and forthcoming payments were approved.
ASSETS WORKING GROUP
The proposed four benches had been discussed and the group proposed that the council accept the particular benches suggested. Agreed, with one abstention.
The group had also discussed the best Christmas trees to get for next year. There will be further discussion before a proposal comes to AMPC.
Three tenders will be sought for the next tree survey, including from Tree Beard.
INTERNAL AUDITOR
Last year’s auditor has asked if we want her to do it again. As she is now familiar with our processes it should be cheaper than last year. There was general assent, but a formal decision will be made at the next meeting.
BUSES
Everything about the buses depends on forthcoming funding, hence there is a fear of cuts. The once-a-week Hexham and Penrith buses are getting well-used.
NEXT MEETING
The next parish council meeting will be on Monday 2 March at 19.00 in the Town Hall Annex.