From Saturday 1st April Cumbria County Council and the six district councils within it will cease to exist, and in their place will be two unitary authorities. Their functions will now be undertaken by Westmorland and Furness Council in Barrow, Eden and South Lakeland; and Cumberland Council in Allerdale, Carlisle and Copeland.
Dr Neil Hudson, MP for Penrith and The Border, has issued a full statement ahead of the change.
Statement from Dr Neil Hudson, MP for Penrith and The Border:
"I’ve put on record my reservations about local government reorganisation in Cumbria since the decision was made to push ahead with an East-West split. I was quite baffled to see such contrasting and disparate communities lumped together, particularly at a time when local services were still reeling from the massive impact of the pandemic.
“Since this initial disappointment, I have vowed to my constituents that I will work collegiately with all stakeholders to make the best of the changes in local government and remain hopeful that councillors will take the opportunity to boost local services.
“Recently I wrote to the new Councils on three issues that risk seeing a retrograde decline if not properly and promptly actioned by council leaders. These are utilising the Conservative Government’s £1.5 million investment in local bus services; making sure fair, affordable and sustainable transport is provided for 16-18-year-olds to access training or education; and ensuring garden waste services are provided fairly to all those paying the same council tax rates.
"For the sake of everyone in Cumbria, I look forward to putting my concerns to one side and working with the new Unitaries to deliver on the priorities of all Cumbrians.”
