Follow Find us on Facebook a link to our facebook Find us on Twitter a link to our twitter Listen to our Podcastsa link to listen to our podcast Spotlight on Local Newsa link to go to our news page Contact Us
A A A

‘Making a Difference’

a drawing of 3 people stood next to eachother

Thacka Beck Field Improvements

You may not know that the Town council own Thacka Beck Field behind Penrith Hospital close to Pategill. There are a lot of utilities that run under the field and you may have noticed a lot of work taking place on the field over the last several months. The Council are pleased to inform residents that Northern Gas Networks have completed their work. This is great news as we can start enhancing the area.

We have completed  boundary fencing around the field and as Thacka Beck Field is an important green open space in Penrith and since having been given the land by Cumbria County Council, people have asked the Council if we might be able consider enhancements such as to plant some trees, make a footpath and allow the field to become a wildflower meadow. In the next few months we will be planting trees with community groups, developing a path and putting in benches. We hope to keep any disruption to a minimum and we appreciate your understanding at this time.

Fairhill

We will aslo be planting trees in Fairhill with local groups. Both tree planting projects are taking place as part of the Queens Jubilee Cannopy and as part of our committment to reduce the effects of Climate Change by increasing wooded areas in Penrith.

We will also be installing gates and bollards to prevent vehicular access to the green areas on the firled where children play and may be at risk of injury were a car to drive over the recreation field.

Queens Platinum Jubilee

Penrith Town Council joined the community in celebrating the Queens Platinum Jubilee in June 2022.

The Town Council was pleased to work with Gwen from Eden Valley Artictic Network to fund a free ceramic workshop as part of the jubilee events. 5 classes throughout the day on Saturday saw 34 people of all ages (including several families including grandparents and toddlers) make some jubilee disks and cane toppers.

All primary school children were given a special Jubilee coin whihc was commissioned by the Town Council.

On 2 June at 9:45pm the Town Council  along with other towns and villages across the country lit three flame beacons within Penrith. They were specially commissioned nationally by the Pagentmaster and form part of the national celebrations for the Jubilee.

The Council lit a beacon in  St Andrew’s, continuing the tradition where similar torches were lit to mark previous coronation and jubilee celebrations. Beacons were also lit at Fair Hill and in Cstle Prk. A huge thank you to Penrith Lions for all their help.

Prior to the beacons being lit, and in line with the national requirement, at St Andrew’s a piper and bugle played. At St Andrews the beacon lighting was accompanied by a joint choir of Penrith Singers and Eden Singers who performed the specially written Song for the Commonwealth.

In collaboration with community groups and businesses we took over St Andrews and the towbn centre to celebrate the Jubilee on Saturday 4 June providing inclusive free family activities and events.

After a mammoth Platinum Jubilee weekend celebrating HM The Queen’s fantastic 70 years on the throne serving her country and the commonwealth we had to say thank you to people:

  • Andrew’s Church, Penrith for hosting a beacon
  • Chris Ford of Penrith Town Band for playing the bugle and
  • The combined choir of St Andrew’s, Penrith Singers and @ Eden Singers for singing A Song For The Commonwealth so well.

The atmosphere was amazing.

In St Andrew’s:

St Andrew’s Church, Penrith who ran the teddy bear zip wire (pity that Paddington was busy elsewhere)

  • Penrith Town-Band
  • Committed2Rock with their combined group of Penrith, Keswick and Workington who got everyone on their feet
  • Blue Jam Arts – drumming extraordinaire!
  • ACT Youth Theatre – weren’t they good (they’re performing Oliver at Penrith Playhouse later this year)
  • Penrith Soroptimists for providing eco fun
  • First Class Kids who provided fun and games for little ones
  • Penrith Players who did a fancy dress booth with some fab costumes and Making Magpies who were running kids crafts

As well as all this we have to thank:

  • Penrith Library who ran a royal QR trail round town and a cupcake competition.
  • Swing Dance Cumbria who got people up and in the party mood along with Salsa in Cumbria – great moves from both groups.
  • Eden Valley Artistic Network who had urban artists round town and Gwen who did the sessions beforehand making ceramic can toppers and plaques.
  • Dan Fox On his Boom Bike for music on the go and individual businesses who set up outside to to get involved – thank you all for making Town so vibrant.

Our three bands in the bandstand who got everyone rocking:

  • Vacant Weekend
  • Absolutely and Tarzans Nuts

And last but not least thank you to all who came into town, supported local business and had a good time in the sun for 70 Glorious years.

Penrith Pumas

Councillor Charlie Shepherd, Chair of Penrith Town Council and Mayor of Penrith, was invited to go and watch Penrith Pumas WRC Cumbria’s only wheelchair rugby team, on Tuesday 22 February, describing it as inspirational. A fast paced, all inclusive, adrenaline rush full contact sport for individuals with a disability or physical impairment. Able bodies individuals are also welcome to go along and train, learn the ropes and get the opportunity to become an official or refere. Since meeting the Pumas the Town Council has provided a grant for a specialist wheelchair and the group have become one of the Mayors chosen charities.

Town Recovery

Covid 19

We donated £3,000 to Penrith Foodbank and helped primary school children who did not have access to stationery at home by purchasing 400 craft bags. We purchased paper, pens, pencils, scissors, rubbers, glue and books with support from grants from The Cumbria Community Action Fund, Cumbria County Council and Barnardos. These bags were delivered by volunteers from the Fell Runner Community Transport Service to school and direct to some families.

The Town Council along with the BID and Chamber of Trade successfully lobbied Eden District Council to allow free parking in off street car parks to help essential workers who had to come into town to work. This support was greatly appreciated.

VE Day

We were looking forward to proving the community with a large free family event in May to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of VE Day. After so much planning, it was disappointing to have to cancel the event, which we had organised with Brougham Hall Wartime Weekend, Penrith Lions and Penrith Rotary. However, we were able to move The Cry for Peace Around the World and the Nations Toast online by creating a video and we thank them for their enthusiastic involvement.

Remembrance Day

A sunny Remembrance Day was also very different, as church services were not permitted, however it was important that we marked the day to remember those who lost their lives in conflicts across the world. Representatives Penrith organisations that normally attend the civic service and parade, were invited to lay a wreath. A short but poignant section of the day was live streamed onto our social media when, at 11am the church bell tolled whilst the Last Post played by Chris Form from Penrith Town Band and Rev David Sergeant read out the citation which was followed by Reveille. Trudie Smith, who donated her time to the Royal British Legion and Help for Heroes, took photos of all those laying wreaths uploaded to social media to mark the occasion.

Christmas Wanderland

We were pleased to support Eden Valley Artistic Network’s Window Wanderland in Penrith that was part of the national Window Wanderland project. It ran from the start of December and finished at the start of March. Free creative packs were made available for anyone who wanted to take part and a local musician or band could be heard via posters with QR codes in local business windows. We hope that on your walks you enjoyed the sights of windows that had been transformed into magical scenes.

All things blooming

We provided grant funding and/or Officer support to help with projects and initiatives when required. Stomping Ground developed a Nature Trail for us that provided work sheets for families to complete as they did their daily walk during the first lock down. We also commissioned a film to highlight the work of volunteers and others in town to act as a record of 2020 and the efforts to keep Penrith blooming during Covid. The film has captured Penrith’s strong community spirit, volunteer determination and peoples’ genuine love for the town and one another. The film can be found on this  website and is an inspiring watch.

Other community projects have been developed during the year such as a Community Garden on a formerly derelict area of common ground at Ullswater Community College. Teachers support the project with local volunteers and the Team from Stomping Ground. The Town Council were delighted to be able to provide support and funding for a tarpaulin that has been used as a shelter in the Community Garden so work and activities could continue during adverse weather.

Thakka Beck

In response to a community need we now own Thakka Beck Field, which is used for informal recreation, and connects the A686 with Tynefield Drive. Northern Gas Networks are in the process of installing utilities underneath part of the field as part of wider infrastructure improvements across Penrith. When this is completed, we will explore options with the community on the improvements they may wish to see to the field to improve access and informal recreation.

Fairhill Play Area

The Town Council have been liaising with the Fairhill Community Group  and are happy to announce the installation of the latest inclusive play equipment in Firhill Recreation ground. The Council helped with fund raising and managed the tender and installation processes. The play equipment was installed in July and August.

Penrith Town Council receives Quality Award

After an in-depth review by the Local Council Award Scheme (LCAS) the Town Council was awarded the ‘Quality Award.’ To achieve this award, a council ‘must demonstrate that it meets all requirements of the Foundation Award and has additional documentation and information in place for good governance, effective community engagement and council improvement. The Quality award criteria includes the eligibility criteria for the general power of competence.’

Allotments

We are about to start improvements in one of our allotment sites that has been experiencing flooding problems for a number of years. We will be working closely with members from The Penrith Allotment Association to deliver the project.

Town Centre

Partnership working is essential to Penrith’s future growth and success. In 2019, the Penrith Town Working Group was established to bring together local authorities, key stakeholders and partners to identify and deliver projects that are of benefit to the town. From this partnership the outturn from the Penrith Parking and Movement Study, is progressing to develop a timeline of projects, identify funding opportunities, and to create a communication plan that will ensure that residents are consulted and kept up to date with developments.

A group has been established to scope and plan the proposed Cycling and Movement interventions and create a LCWIP (Local Cycling Walking and Movement Infrastructure Plan) for Penrith with workshops and consultation being held in the next few months. A communication, marketing and branding for Penrith group will continue to work with partners to promote and share key messages about recovery and reopening and we are working with partners and stakeholders for the Borderlands Place Programme to create a Place Plan for Penrith. This collaborative approach is bringing together all three levels of local government, key stakeholders and most importantly residents. Our approach is one that is being seen as an example of good practice and is being duplicated within the County.

Penrith in Bloom Video, September 2020

While the global pandemic has affected everyone, the Penrith community has come together once again, albeit at a safe distance, to ensure the town continues to bloom. Below is a short video funded by Penrith Town Council, illustrating what has been achieved in 2020 by the wonderful collective of local people involved in making the town bloom during the pandemic.

The video has been viewed on many social media platforms and the link has been included in the ‘RHS Britain in Bloom’ Magazine, which has UK wide circulation.

Shopping QR Code

QR Code to access an up to date list of all the businesses open in the town centre, their opening hours, contact details and COVID restrictions

Scanning the code will allow you to  access information provided by local busineses.

What to do if you cannot access parts of this page

We want to ensure that everyone can access our information and we are working to improve our website. Please contact us if you need information on this website in a different format like accessible PDF, large print, easy read or in an alternative format.

We will consider your request and respond to you in ten working days.