myWhitehaven

Rape inquiry continues

2012-02-20T16:32:00.001Z

Detectives in Workington are continuing their investigation into the serious sexual assault at Whitehaven.

A woman, aged 41 from Cleator Moor was found by a member of the public in a distressed state at around 8:20 am on Sunday 19th February, police are able to confirm that she had been raped.

Five men were arrested, aged between 22 and 52 from the Whitehaven area and all will be bailed until April, while the investigation continues

Detective Sergeant George Atkinson, who is leading the investigation, said: "We are not looking for anyone in connection with this incident and we are currently in the process of establishing the circumstances.

"We are still appealing for the elderly gentleman who may have spoken to the woman whilst he was out walking his dog. We are asking him to contact us because he may have information which will help with the investigation.

"If you were in the area at the time, maybe on your way to work or out walking and can recall hearing or seeing anything unusual in the Market Place, then we would like to hear from you.

"I would like to reassure the public that this was a isolated incident and we are not looking for anyone else."

Anyone who witnessed anything or has any information in relation to this incident, is asked to contact Workington CID on 101.

Your opinion sought

2012-02-09T20:31:00.001Z

Plans have been announced for a large scale opinion survey to find out what people in West Cumbria think about the possibility of a nuclear waste repository being sited in the area.

The West Cumbria Managing Radioactive Waste Safely Partnership has commissioned Ipsos MORI, one of the country's leading opinion polling companies to carry out the statistically representative opinion survey.

The Partnership is in the middle of a major communications and consultation programme to raise awareness of the discussions that are taking place and to give members of the public the chance to have their say on whether or not West Cumbria should take part in the search for somewhere to put an underground repository for the nation’s higher activity radioactive waste.

If this happens there would be studies and investigations, looking in detail at things like the area’s geology, to see if there is anywhere suitable to put a repository. The Councils would be able to withdraw from the process up until the point where construction could start.

Tim Knowles, the current chair of the Partnership, says: "We've been holding consultation events across the county. However, as this issue would particularly affect people in West Cumbria, we decided that an opinion survey should be carried out in this area to gauge public opinion.

"It's vitally important that we know what local people think. The poll, together with the responses we get to the consultation, will therefore play a key role in helping the Councils decide whether the area should take part in the search for a repository site."

Ipsos MORI has produced a draft questionnaire for the survey and this is now available for people to comment on before 20th February. A copy is available on the Partnership's website - www.WestCumbriamrws.org.uk

Two independent experts on polling have also being commissioned to give their views on the survey and the methodology for carrying it out.

Tim Knowles, the current chair of the Partnership, says: "We want to make sure that the results of the survey are as reliable as possible so the Partnership, and the Councils that will make the formal decision, have a clear idea what the public thinks.

"It's obviously important that the survey is carried out fairly. That is why we are using a reputable polling company, getting the views of independent experts and giving other people the chance to comment on the questions that are asked in the survey."

The opinion poll will be carried out by telephone and Ipsos MORI will start calling people, selected randomly, around the 8th of March.

The Partnership has said that one of its key criteria for assessing whether there is credible support for taking part in the search for a site is whether there are more people who are for than against in Allerdale and Copeland, where a repository could be located. People in other parts of Cumbria will also be surveyed for the poll and these views will be taken into account when the Partnership considers whether or not there is broad support for its initial opinions.

Some people have suggested that there should be a referendum before a decision is made. However, the Partnership concluded that a referendum would not be appropriate at this point. This is partly because it is not yet known where a repository might be sited and therefore there is only general information available on key issues such as safety, geology and the impact of constructing these facilities.

The Partnership has produced a briefing note with more information on the opinion poll which is available on its website.

Help wanted

2012-02-02T16:41:00.001Z

Around midday today, on Meadow Road in Mirehouse, a dog was mown down by a car driver that failed to stop - this is illegal. Two little children are now heartbroken.

If you know who the driver of this car was, please pass on the details to myself via the form below (I won't publish anything) or by telephoning Cumbria Police on 101.

Many thanks for your help.

Our money to unions?

2012-01-26T14:27:00.004Z

In today's Whitehaven News, J. Bush from Cleator wrote an open letter to Copeland Borough Council regarding the 2012 budget and their cost cutting consultation exercise. For me, the letter raises some very interesting questions about ethics.

During a question and answer session at Egremont, a member of the public asked how much the council gave in funding to Trade Unions. Ms. Stannard, who was representing the council confirmed that money is given, but couldn't answer how much - the response was that funding was on a par with the rest of the country.

The council consultation period ends at the end of January - we can expect to see cuts in services, increases in charges and possible job cuts. I've approached Copeland Council twice myself this morning via Twitter, and have not received a reply in relation to how much money has passed between themselves and unions - the resident Copeland Tweeter was online, but it appears that my question was ignored.

If council services are to be cut, surely this is one of the services than can be cut - unions receive substantial funding from Union membership. I, myself am a union member, and was unaware of this situation - I'm also unhappy that I'm paying my dues twice.

Question - What influence do unions have over Copeland Council? Considering the fact that the Council is primarily run by Labour councillors, is it wise to have money passing between two organisations that are intrinsically linked?

Answer - Labour councillors are chosen by union membership. It is not wise for councillors to transfer OUR money to unions from council coffers. By doing so, it could lead to a conflict of interest, and could suggest that things are not as transparent as they should be.

Whitehaven Coal Hurrie

2012-01-26T12:35:00.000Z

Delivering coal from the face, to waiting ships was facilitated by Coal Hurries which were located on the harbour at Whitehaven. They were a pretty ingenious, but simple mechanism, which allowed coal to be transported from pit to boat in a short period of time.

Coal was placed in the cart, which you can see located on the top of the Hurrie. The cart moved along, and was tipped when it reached a stop on the line. Coal slid down a chute (can be seen to the right of the hurry) into the hold of a waiting ship. The Hurrie, and the ship didn't move during loading - so men were employed to disperse the coal evenly... moving tons of coal daily, by shovel - it was back breaking work! Beneath the Hurrie, a number of men (coal rangers) were employed to collect the black gold as it fell to the ground.

Preston Street Goods Yard

2012-01-24T14:02:00.000Z

These photographs seem to be from a lifetime ago - can you remember this scene from Preston Street, in Whitehaven?

Got a news story? tell us

2012-01-24T13:56:00.003Z

If you have a news story that you think would be worthy of our readers, please get in touch. We would love to hear from you. Add your story, along with associated photographs to the form below.

Alternatively, email: sean.f.duffy@gmail.com

Police sea rescue

2012-01-23T15:28:00.001Z

At 2pm, police responded to calls that a woman had been seen in the water at Whitehaven harbour. Officers pulled a woman from the water, adjacent to the western pier - outside the confines of the harbour.

A police spokesperson confirmed: “Police officers entered the water and managed to bring the female to shore.”

Officers were observed to be resuscitating the woman.

At approximately 3.15pm, the woman was transferred to the West Cumberland hospital with a police escort.

Update - 24/01/2012 17:00
Police have confirmed that the woman, despite the best efforts of emergency services and medical staff, died in hospital. She was named as Sheena Norman, aged 42, of Grisedale Close, Whitehaven.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or who may have seen the woman enter the water is urged to please contact Whitehaven police on 101.

Pervert calling women

2012-01-12T12:12:00.002Z

Cumbria Police have issued advice to women in the Copeland area - a man has been making threatening phone calls. He has been ringing lone women and saying:

I know where you are and that you’re alone, do you want me to come round?

Officers say his victims have been scared and upset by the calls. The man makes the calls from a withheld number.

Police are advising anyone who receives a call not to talk to the man, but to put the phone down and report the incident to their telephone provider.

Alan Willison, police community support officer for Copeland west, said:

The calls from this male seem to be purely to upset and scare the individual receiving the call. If you receive such a call, hang up as soon as possible and advise your provider.

Anyone who knows who is making the calls should ring the police on 101.

British Telecom offer advice on their website, on how to deal with calls of this nature. I have transcribed the information below for ease of use:

Remember, you are in control – and you can take a few simple precautions when answering the phone. Stay calm and don't engage with the caller. Many malicious callers are motivated by getting an emotional response from you, and walking away from the phone for a few moments before replacing the handset can be more of a deterrent than simply slamming the phone down or retaliating verbally.

Don't disclose any personal information. This may seem obvious, but many people answer their phone by stating their telephone number, or sometimes, their name. If the caller has dialled your number at random they are more likely to remember it and call you again if you've given them some personal information. It's always better to answer the phone with a simple 'hello' or wait for the caller to speak first.

Keep any answer phone messages short and to the point: never leave a message informing people that you are away from home. For example, simply state that you are unable to take the call at the moment. A male voice message may be more of a deterrent than a female voice, and if you're a woman, you could consider changing your phone book listing if this gives any indication of your gender or marital status.

Taking action

If you are receiving abusive, threatening or obscene calls that are distressing to you, then you should report them to the police.

For every malicious call you receive you should note down the date, time and nature of the call. Note specific details of what the caller said, including any background noises you can hear. Any information you gather may help towards identifying and prosecuting the caller.

Someone from BT will talk to you and advise the best course of action. This may include changing your number or placing a trace on your calls. Most malicious calls can be traced, whether they come from private, public or even mobile telephones, anywhere in the country.

You may need to be prepared to give evidence if the malicious caller is traced, charged and taken to court.

Reporting malicious calls

If you are receiving persistent malicious calls, please contact the Nuisance Call Advice Line on 0800 661 441 (Monday to Friday – 8am to 10pm and Saturday – 9am to 6pm).

Other ways BT can help

Caller Display – lets you see the number that's calling you before you answer so you can decide whether to pick up the phone or ignore unwanted calls. BT Privacy at Home – a free service that includes Caller Display and registration with the Telephone Preference Service.

Choose to Refuse – helps block particular numbers from getting through to you.

Anonymous Call Reject – lets you block incoming calls from withheld UK numbers.

Call Sign – gives you an additional number with a different ringtone. If you give this to family or friends you can distinguish between incoming calls.

BT Answer 1571 – a voicemail service for callers to leave a message if you don't answer the phone.

BT 1471 – dial 1471 to check the last person who called you.

Ex directory service - make your telephone number ex-directory.

Lindow Foundation at Festival

2012-01-11T08:41:00.004Z

The Samuel Lindow Foundation is building upon the success of its Science Day in 2010, and West Cumbria Science Festival in 2011, by holding an awe-inspiring, interactive Theatre of Science in 2012 as a part of the Whitehaven Festival, celebrating the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

The Foundation has a marquee right at the heart of the festival and is bringing the Science Museum from London to provide two days of fun, informative and educational demonstrations for all the public to enjoy. There will be shows every hour, and hands-on demonstrations for people to play with and enjoy. The Foundation will also be working with local collaborators to provide additional ‘pop-science’ around the Festival, as a sort of science based street theatre.

The Principal of the Samuel Lindow Foundation, Dr Rick Wylie, said that “The Samuel Lindow Foundation aims to develop knowledge and skills for global citizenship, and when developing nations such as China are turning out many more highly qualified students than the UK, we have to work to keep children interested in learning at all ages. This event, like our science events of the past few years, will engage people young and old, and educate at the same time. We’re delighted to be working with Gerard Richardson and the Whitehaven Festival team to make this happen.

Gerard Richardson, CEO of the Whitehaven Festival Company welcomed the Samuel Lindow Foundation's Theatre of Science. Gerrard said:

To say I'm thrilled is the understatement of the year. After 13 years of Festivals I thought we'd seen it all and done it all but this announcement has blown my mind. This is going to excite people of all ages and we're indebted to the Samuel Lindow Foundation for arranging it.

The Whitehaven Festival is on from Friday 1st June - Sunday 3rd June 2012.

Bullets v Calpol - part 2

2012-01-09T17:40:00.002Z

Following on from my post on the 6^th January, regarding Jamie Reeds assertion that Bullets are easier to buy than Calpol, I have to report on a blog calling themselves the Public Authority Watcher. Claims on the site, are quite frankly outrageous – there was a suggestion that I was a cohort of MP Jamie Reed by claiming that I was involved in a damage limitation exercise. They couldn't be any further away from the truth.

Just to make this clear, so that you understand – I'm not a member of the Labour Party. I do not work with Jamie Reed. I am not a friend of his. I do follow and speak to him on Twitter.

Many of my friends will confirm, that if I believe that there is something wrong, I will voice my opinion, and if I believe that something is right, I will offer praise, encouragement, etc. Hence this website. It just happens to be my opinion on this occasion, that Jamie is right in attempting to bring gun law back to the forefront, considering recent events in Durham, and that which happened in Whitehaven, in June 2010.

If the author read my entry correctly, they would see that I was highlighting the fact that Jamie was attempting to create a debate regarding gun law. The Public Authority Watcher need to get their facts straight prior to publishing information – some of which could be damaging if incorrectly reported.

The gun lobby appear to have hijacked Jamie’s comment regarding Calpol, to divert away from the facts. Ammunition is easy to obtain. I pointed out that the Calpol quote was a joke – this was my opinion. OK, maybe it was a bad choice of words, but I can also pull out my trusty dictionary to look up the meaning of words!

OK – now for the screen-shots that you grabbed from my site – By hiding behind anonymity, it's easy for someone to write something without recourse. The anonymous person wrote a rather unpleasant comment about Jamie, which I refused to publish. Hence my reaction to their poor attempt at discussion.

About anonymous posting - this isn't really anonymous! If, for instance, I wanted to take legal action against a postee, I could pursue my host through the courts to get the required information relating to the said user. Alternatively, I could look in my log files to check IP addresses of visitors at the time that comments were published. Nothing on the Internet is anonymous.

In my previous, regarding obtaining ammunition online, I refrained from identifying online outlets, because I thought it was irresponsible. But, to make a point, that the gun lobby don't want you to see, check out these websites:

The three websites above took me seconds to find - they do ship ammunition internationally - some online stores only require that your address matches your credit card, others ask for a copy of your drivers licence. Often, there is no mention of gun licences. It's maybe something the Public Authority Watcher should look into, before jumping to wrong conclusions!

It would also help if a two sided approach was taken, instead of siding with one anonymous party. This is a rather foolish tactic to follow. Oh - and I can grab screenshots too!

On the Public Authority Watcher website, comparing the purchase of Calpol from a UK source against bullets from a international source was questioned and reported that the methodolgy was fallacious.

Definition of fallacious: Characterized by fallacy; false or mistaken; Deceptive or misleading.
- See... I can use my dictionary as well!

This is a massive blunder on the behalf of the writer. The internet is a international marketplace, and should be taken into consideration. It also re-enforces my position that the writer was biased in his reporting (siding with the anonymous poster). That's a very foolish, and dangerous tactic.

On a separate, but related note - this is my website. If someone uses foul, or abusive language, or misrepresents information, I reserve the right to omit their comments, and to ridicule them.

[end]

Bullets v Calpol

2012-01-06T10:57:00.003Z

Yesterday, the News and Star ran a story from Local MP, Jamie Reed - I believe that his aim was to spark debate about gun law in the UK - it certainly did that on the N&S website!

The vast majority of comments were from people attacking Jamie's assertion that Bullets are easier to buy than Calpol.

Over here, in the UK, Calpol is marketed as pain relief for children. Because of UK Law, customers are only allowed to purchase two bottles, due to the amount of paracetamol contained within - this is in an attempt to reduce the number of suicides within the UK.

Jamie Reed is passionate about changing the law, following the tragedy that hit Whitehaven, when Derrick Bird killed 12 innocent people. Due to inaction, on the part of the Government, Mr. Reed claimed:

Responsible firearms owners deserve better, but most of all the public deserves better. It is still harder to buy Calpol for a poorly child than it is to buy bullets.

What the motives are behind the prime minister’s refusal to implement sensible change remain to be seen. Mr Reed argued that Mr Cameron had left the door open for similar atrocities.

This latest tragedy has regrettably again demonstrated deficiencies in the law. The need for urgent, sensible change following our own tragedy was obvious.

I have asked him about implementation of the recommendations at Prime Minister’s Questions. As usual, he refuses to engage with the question or give anything like an answer.

As a member of the opposition party, Jamie's job is to challenge the government for change - to spark debate, and to represent those from his constituency. I firmly believe that in raising the issue of gun ownership - especially after the recent shootings in Durham, he is doing a fantastic job... it's what he was elected for.

Is it easier to buy Bullets than Calpol?
It is difficult to buy more than two bottles of Calpol from UK chemists - that's a fact. Yes, you can go from shop to shop, buying up more than you need - Jamie was looking for debate.

The gun lobby will tell you that you need all sorts of certification to buy ammunition. In the UK, this is 100% correct. However - when buying from the Internet, things are much easier. You can buy ammunition online, from many outlets that ship worldwide. Yes - you have to get past UK Customs, but they cannot check everything entering the UK, can they?

PLEASE
Put lives before sport - let's get talking about how to make change.

Albion Square Scheme Go-Ahead

2011-12-29T14:32:00.000Z

Just as I went to press with my story about Copeland Council wanting to save £2million over the next year, the Council have announced that the Albion Square scheme has been given the go-ahead.

If the scheme had been cancelled, it would have saved the council money, without affecting jobs. Now, that the go-ahead has been given, the whole scheme will cost £20million - paid for by taxpayers.

Once complete, the complex will house up to 900 office workers from the Sellafield plant.

Elaine Woodburn, leader of Copeland Borough Council, said the council had been in talks with a number of potential developers. She added:

For a long time we've been advocating getting Sellafield workers who don't have to be on the site into the town centre. It's going to be fantastic. We'll get different shops attracted to the area. We're talking well-paid workers who have money to spend and want to make sure they spend it in Whitehaven.

Copeland Council Job Cuts?

2011-12-29T14:07:00.002Z

Today, it was revealed that Copeland Council had to make £2million in savings over the next year. Parks and Refuse staff have been informed that they will be affected by the savings.

Copeland Council leader Elaine Woodburn said:

This is the second year of budget cuts and I can only see it getting worse. People will see a difference. Simply we have no choice – we can’t magic money. The budget cuts faced by Copeland were the maximum any authority had to find – 8.9 per cent a year for four years.

The council said that they hoped to minimise redundancies. I have to ask, are they using their heads? Do they know what they are doing? Any redundancies in this current climate are wrong. Redundancies will also affect front line services - they say they won't, but I have to strongly disagree.

Last week, I highlighted a scheme that nobody in Whitehaven wants to take off - it will result in gridlock in the town centre. The Copeland Council budget from December 2010 shows a carry over of £2million for the Albion Square development - to me, this is a no brainer. Stop the scheme - it is magic!

This £2million saving won't be the last time that you hear about the issue. The council are looking to increase car parking fees, etc. By increasing parking fees, the council will drive out more revenue to other areas.

Maybe I'm just an idiot? I'm thinking Homer Simpson would make a better councillor.

Copeland residents are being asked to give their views on how cuts are going to be made. A consultation document points out:

We have worked to put together a budget that helps us deliver the services that you have told us are important whilst also reducing the amount we spend by £2 million.

Tell them how to make the savings

Behave, or be banned

2011-12-28T15:07:00.001Z

Police in West Cumbria are reminding people of the “Behave or be banned” message during the festive season.

Christmas for most people is spent with friends and family, enjoying the festivities and having a few drinks. Throughout the festive period, the pubs and clubs in West Cumbria provide a warm and friendly atmosphere.

Unfortunately, there is a small minority of people who are unable to control their behaviour when drunk and police officers in West Cumbria are advising that this will lead to harsh consequences.

Not only will they face action by police, but people who indulge in violent, aggressive or anti-social behaviour in any of the bars and clubs will find themselves banned from all local premises in the West Cumbria Pubwatch scheme.

There are 132 people in West Cumbria who are currently excluded from entering all the pubs in their home town, due to the Pub Watch scheme. Exclusions are for a minimum of three months and are longer for more serious offences.

There are approximately 500 participating premises in West Cumbria. In Allerdale there are Pub Watch schemes in Workington, Cockermouth, Keswick, Maryport, Wigton, Aspatria and Silloth.

In Copeland the schemes are working in Whitehaven, Cleator Moor, Egremont and Millom.

Sgt Richard Farnworth, from the Police Community Safety Department, said: “Being banned from every pub and club at this time of year it will have a huge impact, with friends going out and leaving those who have been banned behind because they were unable to control their behaviour.

“We want people to enjoy themselves in our local towns without the fear of being involved in violence.

Immediate action can be taken by police officers to anyone who is acting in a disorderly manner by issuing a 48 hour ban from the town centre. This could definitely ruin your Christmas party.

“The Police are also using CCTV and body worn cameras to film people involved in town centre violence. Therefore even if people are not arrested at the time they can still be brought to justice and then banned under the Pub Watch scheme.

“Licensees are also under scrutiny during the busy period to ensure they do not serve to under age and also to make sure they are not allowing their premises to become over crowded”

“By working together with the Council and licensees we are all are sending out a very strong message, “Behave or lose your social life.”

If you wish to report a crime, please contact Cumbria Constabulary on 101. In an emergency always dial 999.

A year in review

2011-12-21T12:48:00.000Z

myWhitehaven.co.uk was relaunched in September, so the year in review covers this period only. It's been a interesting time since the relaunch and reinforces my belief that it was the right thing to do.

There have been a small number of successes in the region. These are:

Cumbria police working hard to remove criminals from our streets.
Whitehaven being selected for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.
Whitehaven in Bloom winners for best large town, 2011.

Unfortunately, the failures have massively outweighed the positive:

The Whitehaven Transport Interchange was scrapped.
Controversial harbourside flats were given the go ahead.
Albion Square development plans submitted.
Draconian dog control orders introduced.
Community Stadium given go ahead.

The main theme since September seems to be Copeland Council. They would do well to sit up, and listen to the public, instead of bickering over party politics. It's time to put the town first.

What next?
The Albion Square development will be in the news shortly. The scheme is currently being investigated by the Government to assess if the plans stack up financially. This is another building, which will drastically affect the look of Whitehaven - it doesn't fit in with the old. The roads in Whitehaven will struggle to cope with the 2,000 empleyees that are expected to be housed in the bulding, which will be leased to the NDA. Albion Square would be best located at West Lakes Science Park.

Will it get the go ahead?
That depends on the assesment by the Government. My gut feeling is that it will. Copeland Council have set aside £2million for the development, in their draft programme budget, published December 2010 - this appears to make a mockery of the planning process.

Saltom pit access closed

2011-12-20T16:44:00.001Z

Today, Copeland Council announced that they have closed the access path to Saltom Pit due to land slippage. Please keep away from the area.

Pat Graham, Copeland Borough Council’s Corporate Director for people and places said:

"I would urge people, to stay away from the Saltom Pit access footpath which is unsafe. There is a real risk to people’s safety, and this is why the pathway has been fenced off. Unfortunately people are still using it."

"We are particularly concerned that young children have been seen climbing over the fence. If your children use this area, then please ensure they stay away from this footpath."

The footpath has been subject to previous slippages and Copeland Borough Council carries out regular monitoring visits to ensure public safety is maintained.

A few years ago, the pit buildings were renovated, and the area landscaped. It was pointed out at the time of the work, that there were ongoing concerns over the stability of the land.

Are we now nearing the end game for this historic monument? I hope not. Let's hope that the slippage can be prevented from encroaching on what is perhaps, the worlds most important mining structure.

Christmas taxi marshals

2011-12-20T16:23:00.001Z

A pilot marshal scheme will be introduced in Whitehaven town centre this Christmas to assist in curbing trouble and help revellers get home safely.

Cumbria Police in partnership with Business Against Crime (BAC) Whitehaven have set up the scheme that will see marshals patrol the taxi rank on Duke Street, on two of the busiest nights of the year over the Christmas period, Friday 23rd and Monday 26th December 2011. The scheme has been introduced after complaints of disorder in the area.
The Taxi Marshals are door security staff who are fully trained to deal with disorder. They will be in contact via radio with the police, CCTV operators along with other licensed premises and will be on duty from late evening until 03:30 am.

It is hoped the scheme will continue into the New Year with marshals being in place on Friday and Saturday nights.

Sergeant Ashley Bennett, said: "This initiative is the first of its kind in West Cumbria, with the main aims of the taxi marshals being to ensure people get home safely, increase public reassurance as well as preventing queue jumping and stopping people taking open food and drink in the taxis.

"They will be there to ensure the orderly organisation of taxi queues and promote good conduct from the public to ensure passenger safety, which in turn will help reduce incidents of disorder."

Bus time tables

2011-12-20T15:03:00.001Z

Bus time tables for services in Cumbria are produced either by the County Council or, in the case of wholly commercial services, by the service operator (principally Stagecoach).

Timetables for most services are now available online for viewing or download. Downloads are provided courtesy of Cumbria County Council.

Right click on your preferred service. Select Save Target As...

Over 100 years in prison

2011-12-19T12:13:00.002Z

Police officers in West Cumbria have successfully brought criminals to justice throughout the year. A snapshot of some of these criminals has resulted in over 100 year’s imprisonment.

Offences vary from violence to burglary, but one thing remains consistent, which is the amount of time and hard work employed by West Cumbria police officers in aiming to ensure our streets and homes remain safe.

Detective Inspector Adrian Johnson said:

We work hard throughout the year to make sure the minority who wish to cause harm and disruption to our lives are held to account for their actions.

On behalf of Cumbria Police I want to thank all the members of the community who report crimes and assist us in our investigations. A simple call about something not quite right often leads to positive policing. Without the public support we would have greater difficulty in achieving our goal of making West Cumbria a safe place to live.

The criminals mentioned will all be spending Christmas in prison this year, away from family and friends and all of the celebrations.

If you wish to report a crime, please contact Cumbria Constabulary on 101.
In an emergency always dial 999.

Whitehaven Transport Interchange Scrapped

2011-12-15T15:50:00.001Z

During October, I revealed that new plans for the Whitehaven Transport Interchange had been submitted to Copeland Council's Planning team. Today, I can reveal that the scheme has been scrapped.

Cumbria County Council today announced that spiralling costs, and doubts over how beneficial the interchange would be, has resulted in the plans being permanently withdrawn.

The county council says it is:

Committed to improving transport links in West Cumbria

Elaine Woodburn, leader of Copeland Borough Council, said:

We were disappointed to hear that the county council has pulled out of the transport interchange development. We support this project as we believe it would both improve transport connections in the borough and improve one of the main gateways into Whitehaven.

The interchange was one of a number of major regeneration projects for Whitehaven, which also includes the Pow Beck Community Stadium, Albion Square and the new Tesco store.

Much progress has been made on these schemes, and we will continue to work with all of our partners to ensure they continue to move forward. We will be holding further discussions with the county council in the near future to better understand their thinking around the change of requirements for the transport interchange and the transport and wider needs of people in Copeland.

Sounds of the past

2011-12-14T16:00:00.002Z

During the early 1970's the sounds of Whitehaven were captured, and presented on vinyl as a lasting memory to the steam powered railway. The recordings by Kenneth Granville Attwood are very scarce, hence this entry on myWhitehaven.co.uk - the sounds are reproduced below to ensure that they are not lost to the generations that Attwood intended.

Track 1 - June 1970
Fifteen, 21 ton wagons are pulled around the harbour. Laden with coal, from Ladysmith Washery.

Track 2 - April 1971
A small engine, pulls a short train around the harbour.

Track 3 - April 1971
Two trains approach each other at Ladysmith. Whistles sounded as a warning.

Track 4 - June 1970
Eight, 21 ton wagons are pulled up a steep incline to the coal preparation plant at Lowca.

Missing: John Walker

2011-12-13T15:46:00.001Z

Police officers in Whitehaven are becoming increasingly concerned for the safety and welfare of John Walker, aged 60, who has been missing from his address in Whitehaven since 9:00 am on Friday 9th December.

Mr Walker is described as being white, 5ft 9, slim build with a fresh complexion and has short straight grey hair. He was last seen wearing combat trousers, a navy blue fleece, walking shoes and is believed to be carrying a dark coloured back pack. He does wear glasses.

If anyone has been contacted or seen Mr Walker, or know of his whereabouts, they are asked to contact Cumbria Constabulary on 101.

Non emergency? Dial 101

2011-12-13T13:08:00.001Z

An easy to remember non-emergency police number is being launched across our region.

From Tuesday December 13, the public will be able to dial 101 to report non-emergency issues to police such as minor traffic collisions, criminal damage, or if they want to speak to a local neighbourhood officer about an issue affecting their community.

The new number is being introduced in the Cumbria, Cleveland, Durham, Northumbria and North Yorkshire force areas as part of a national roll-out in England and Wales designed to make it easier for people to contact police.

Assistant Chief Constable Michelle Skeer said: "This simple number gives people one easy way to contact their local officers and to report crime and disorder that doesn’t require an emergency response.
"It will make us more accessible to our communities while reducing pressure on the 999 system, meaning every caller receives the best possible service."

The new number will replace Cumbria Constabulary’s current non-emergency number, 0845 33 00 247, but calls will still be answered in the same police communications centres by the same police personnel.
When calling 101, the system will determine the caller’s location and play a recorded message announcing the police force they’re being connected to. If they are on a boundary between two or more forces, the recorded message will give them a choice of which force to be connected to.

Calls to 101 will cost 15p per call, no matter what time of day it is, or how long the call lasts. This means everyone calling the police will know exactly how much a call will cost them, whether they’re calling from a landline or a mobile phone.

Senior police officers from each of the Constabularies participating in the roll out attended an official launch that took place in Durham Constabulary this morning, 13 December. All of the officers based themselves in the Force’s control room and were present when the first calls came through from the new ‘101’ number.

People should continue to call 999 in an emergency - when a crime is in progress, there is danger to life or violence is being used or threatened.

Taxi rates for holiday period

2011-12-12T19:03:00.001Z

Taxi hire rates for the holiday period in Copeland have been announced - make sure you know the rates to avoid being ripped off.

The premium holiday rates are:

For journeys commencing between 6pm and 6am on the Friday before Christmas: the standard rate of £2.80 for the first mile, then 18p per 1/10th of a mile or uncompleted part thereof, plus an additional 50% of these rates.

For journeys commencing between 6pm on Christmas Eve and 6am on 27th December, and from 6pm on New Year’s Eve until 6am on 2nd January 2012: the rate of £6.00 for the first mile, then 27p per 1/10th of a mile or uncompleted part thereof.

Councillor Peter Connolly, Chair of Copeland’s Taxi and General Licensing committee, said, “We’re keen to ensure that people are aware of the price they will be charged for a hackney carriage over the Christmas and New Year holidays. Prices do increase at certain times, as was agreed many years ago.”

For your own safety during the holiday period, do not use unlicensed cabs. All legitimate vehicles will have a yellow Copeland licence plate on the rear of the vehicle, with yellow and black stripes along the side. Stay safe.

Please be aware that during the holiday period, taxis are in high demand. If you can pre-book, you should do so.