Report to Rockcliffe Parish Council – 18 May 2026
Hespin Wood Landfill
I know the Parish Council has been extremely active on this issue, for which I am very grateful. From Cumberland Council’s end, I have had a series of meetings with the minerals and waste planning and waste management teams, keeping pressure on them to take further action. Cumberland has continued to work alongside the Environment Agency on inspections, enforcement conditions and deadlines. There is currently a stop on new landfill waste going to the site, and I hope the operator will use this time to address issues around landfill height and odour. The waste management team has also been involved in tackling littering on roads serving the tip, working with other agencies on a joint approach.
I have also been working with the Westmorland and Furness councillor for the Flusco tip near Penrith, and with Tim Farron MP, who has been raising the issue of these tips in Parliament. I submitted a written question on Hespin Wood to the Full Council meeting of Cumberland Council on 12 May 2026.
Boundary Review
The Local Government Boundary Commission published its final report on new Cumberland council wards on 5 May 2026. The new boundaries – 55 councillors in 55 wards – will be used for the first time at the May 2027 local elections. Longtown Ward is unchanged, one of only two wards in the whole of Cumberland to see no changes at all. The ward will be very slightly larger than the average population, particularly once the new houses at Harker are built. There had been suggestions that Harker might be moved out of Longtown Ward, but I felt it was important to keep all of Rockcliffe Parish within the same ward.
Traffic Speed
One location in Rockcliffe Parish has been submitted for consideration in Cumberland Council’s speed review for the rural Carlisle area – the area around the Harker Lane Ends junction near Heathlands, which is currently subject to a 60mph limit.
Asset Transfer
Sadly there is still no process in place for asset transfers at Cumberland Council. The potential transfer of ‘Bunny Hill’ remains on the list of potential sites, but there is no further news yet.
Tour de France
The race does not pass through Rockcliffe Parish, but it remains an important opportunity for the whole area. The Tour de France men’s race will come through Longtown and down through Smithfield on 2 July 2027, finishing with a sprint to Carlisle Castle – the largest international sports event Cumberland will ever have hosted. I have met with the Assistant Director leading preparations, and a new Project Manager is in post. There is significant work ahead on road repairs and closures. We will be expecting a large influx of visitors, which is a real boost for local accommodation and hospitality businesses, and there are opportunities for schools to get involved.
Highways
I am aware of inappropriate use of Lonning Foot by waste lorries and am raising with Highways whether a weight limit on this road would be appropriate, with suitable exemptions for agricultural traffic. I am sorry there has been no progress yet on the missing fingerpost and the grass verge south of the school – I have chased both.
Planning
Just outside the parish, a new planning application has been submitted for a major solar farm to the south of Sandysyke and the River Lyne. I have no further news yet on the appeal inquiry for the Gasification Plant at North West Recycling.
The second stage consultation on the cross-border pylon route – which, as the Council will be aware, may involve additional pylons to the substation at Harker – is due later this year. My understanding is that this stage will present a single preferred route with actual proposed pylon locations.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if there are issues I can help with.
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