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All About Eden Community News for Eden District March 2016 Issue Seven
SAIL INTO SUMMER WITH ULLSWATER STEAMERS
NEW ARTISAN MARKET FOR EDEN FLOOD RECOVERY UPDATE AND ADVICE
GET INTO CYCLING WITH SKYRIDE
Open 7 Days
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In this Issue March 2016
4
Eden Flood Recovery Update
8
Promoting the Ullswater Valley The Ullswater Association
9
Sail into Summer with Ullswater Steamers
13
New Artisan Market for Eden
15
Flood Action Groups
16
Flood Recovery Advice
19 Exercise and Fun at Penrith parkrun 20
Get into Cycling with Skyride
Accessibility information and contact details: All About Eden is produced for everyone living and work in Eden and is printed on paper from sustainable sources. If you have any concerns or queries regarding the magazine or require a summary of any articles in an alternative language or format contact: The Council’s Communication Officer: Telephone: 01768 212137 Email: communication@eden.gov.uk Disclaimer: We gratefully acknowledge the support of firms whose advertisements appear throughout this publication. Please note however, that the inclusion of advertisers in All About Eden is not construed as having a Council endorsement or recommendation of the firms featured. ALL RIGHTS-RESERVED – Reprwoduction in whole or part is prohibited without prior permission of the copyright owner. No responsibility will be accepted for any errors or omissions, or comments made by writers or interviewees. Views expressed are not necessarily those of Eden District Council.
Supporting Eden’s communities with flood recovery Welcome to issue 7 of our Community magazine, All About Eden. It has been an extraordinary time for the District over the last four months. Our communities have made national news headlines as once again they show bravery, resilience and compassion as they overcome the effects of extreme flooding. I have visited many of the communities affected and have been moved by the stories residents and businesses have shared with me. I have extolled the virtues of our communities and the needs of the area to government minsters and high ranking civil servants who have visited. You can find out more about how we are supporting these communities on pages 4/5. I am currently hosting a series of monthly public surgeries in flood affected areas and hope residents and businesses use this opportunities to speak to me directly about any concerns they may have. UK Charity, the National Flood Forum have provided some great step by step advice about how you can make your property more flood resilient and resistant, read more on pages 16 and 17. We also hear from Eamont Bridge resident and Parish Councillor Chris Battersby about the benefits of communities forming Flood Action Groups. Tourism is the life blood of our local economy and Ullswater Streamers and the Ullswater Association tell us about their plans for the forthcoming season. They are planning many events and special offers to attract both local residents and visitors to the Ullswater Valley in the coming months. Markets are a key part of Eden’s heritage and a new one is coming to Penrith this Spring called Gifted. Gifted will be Cumbria’s first artisan market and will attract quality arts and craft producers to the town on a regular basis. For more information see page 13. Did last year’s Aviva Tour of Britain cycling race coming to Eden inspire you to get out and about on two wheels? I am a keen cyclist and am delighted that the Council is supporting Skyride, a nationwide initiative by British Cycling to encourage people of all ages and abilities to try the sport. A series of rides are been organised across Eden this summer, to find out more go to pages 22 and 23 . I look forward to meeting people at my public surgeries and to find out more about Council services tune into Eden FM every Tuesday between 2pm-4pm to hear our new radio show.
Councillor Kevin Beaty Leader of Eden District Council edenleader@kevinbeaty.co.uk All About Eden | 3
EDEN FLOOD RECOVERY UPDATE
with Eden District Council’s Communities Director Ruth Atkinson
What was the Council’s role during the recent floods? Cumbria Police are the lead public agency during the ‘acute’ phase of a major emergency, when the primary aim is to preserve life. Eden District Council has defined responsibilities, including opening ‘reception centres’ to help people evacuated from their homes. During 5-6 December we opened reception centres four times. We are not required to provide sand bags, but we try to offer a limited service to communities with Flood Action Groups, and we can provide dumpy bags of sand and the bags to fill them to a central location. It is extremely difficult to deliver sandbags to individual properties in an emergency. 4 | All About Eden
How is the Council supporting communities and businesses affected by the December floods? We are working with partner agencies and have knocked on doors, visited businesses, attended drop-in sessions, processed various grants and donated £30,000 to the Cumbria Flood Appeal. The government’s £500 grant to help flood affected property owners has been issued to over 420 people. This is paid to the occupier/ resident. If a rented property, the landlord isn’t entitled to the grant. We are expecting to receive and process applications totalling up to £2.5million for the £5,000 Property Level Flood Resilience Grant. We are continuing to work closely with parish councils and are providing advice and support to people who need help, we expect this to continue for some months. Through Eden Housing Association,
Appleby Leisure Centre has now reopened after being affected by flooding.
The flood damaged Jenkins Field on the shores of Ullswater.
Council Officer Jessica Goodfellow offers advice at the Flood Drop in Advice Day at Pooley Bridge.
advice, support and new temporary homes have been found for those needing them. Where can people find out more information about what help is available? For more information visit www.eden. gov.uk or see pages 16/17 about the National Flood Forum. Support is also available from the Eden Flood Volunteers who can provide supplies, equipment and furniture. For more information telephone: 01768 593190 email: info@edenfloodvounteers.org. uk Twitter eden flood Facebook Eden Flood Volunteers. Were any Council facilities affected by flooding? Fortunately, only a small number of Council facilities including Jenkins Field on the shore of Ullswater were damaged. The Field has been ‘lost’
under 10,000 tonnes of stone and debris. The Environment Agency and local people are devising the best solution to remove this, then we can start work to re-instate it. Leisure facilities including Appleby Leisure Centre, sports pitches and play areas were also damaged, we have begun repairing these. What has the cost of the flood recovery work been so far for the Council?
The Council funds Action with Communities in Cumbria (ACT) to help parish councils produce community emergency plans, so they can prepare for events such as flooding: www.cumbriaaction. org.uk/WhatWeDo/ CommunityEmergencyPlanning. aspx or telephone: 01228 817224 email: info@cumbriaaction.org.uk
This will be thousands of pounds, we are still counting the cost as works are ongoing! Some money can be claimed from the government for the initial phase, but much will need to be borne locally. What help does the Council offer communities to prepare for any future flooding or emergencies?
All About Eden | 5
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Promoting the Ullswater Valley The Ullswater Association Who are they? The Ullwater Association are a very active group of tourism businesses located in the Ullswater Valley. The businesses recognise the importance of working together in order to maximise the promotional opportunities for the area. Sue Wallace (Reach beyond Adventure) is the current Chair and Jon Holdsworth (Patterdale Hall Estate) is the Vice Chair. Who do they work with? The Association works primarily with its members and local community plus other organisations including Eden Tourism, Lake District National Park, National Trust and Cumbria Tourism. What do they do? The Ullswater leaflet, produced by the Association, is a key piece of literature promoting the area; it is supported by many of the businesses in the Valley and receives a grant from Eden Tourism. It is widely distributed and highly valued. www.ullswater.com is the official website of the Association and is presently being updated to offer the visitor comprehensive information about the area. The website is mobile friendly and has a responsive design. The Association has been extremely active during the recent flooding helping to support businesses and getting out positive promotional messages that Ullswater is open for business as usual. How often do they meet? Meetings are held on a quarterly at various locations around Ullswater. How do you join? Contact Sue Wallace sue@reachbeyondadventure.co.uk
8 | All About Eden
Sail into Summer with Ullswater Steamers With Rachel Bell, Ullswater Steamers Group Marketing and Events Manager “After weeks or floods and tonnes of mud, many of said no when they bring along their best friends this Easter. Visit our website for details www.ullswater-steamers.co.uk way! But we are Ullswater Steamers and looking forward or follow us on Twitter @UllswaterSteam or find us on to the 2016 season ahead. Facebook Ullswater Steamers. We are working with many of our local business partners These boats have been sailing on England’s most and continue to lend support to the local community by way of a local residents pass for villagers severely affected beautiful lake for over 150 years so join us in 2016 to celebrate the views that nature created millions of years by recent events. ago and still inspire poets and writers from all over the World, today.” So now let’s look forward and share some of the news for this year that we think will play a part in helping the For more details about places to go and things to do in Ullswater Valley get back to normal. Eden District see www.visiteden.co.uk or pop into your local Tourist Information or Visitor Centre. Or why not All piers are operational but we will be in temporary pier follow Visit Eden on Twitter or find them on Facebook. houses until March at Glenridding and May at Pooley Bridge. The Aira Force cruise from Glenridding will expand its daily service through Easter and from the end of May to the beginning of October (weekend service through winter). More good news as better footpaths are in progress to provide improved access from Pooley Bridge to Aira Force on the West side of the lake ahead of a new round the lake branded footpath launch in late Spring. And, last but not least Teddyfest is back! Free travel for children All About Eden | 9
www.riverside-golf-club.co.uk Riverside Golf Club is a picturesque course in an area of outstanding natural beauty. Riverside is a unique 18 hole, 9 green, small course specialising in par-3 short holes with character 70140 yard fairways. The course is ideal for first time golfers, young and old, male and female. AVAILABLE FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS Club hire is available with prior arrangement Garshill, Ravenstonedale, Kirkby Stephen, CA17 4 NH Telephone: 015396 23654 Email: bern2409@yahoo.com
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All About Eden | 13
The Benefits of Forming Flood Action Groups
With Chris Battersby, Eamont Bridge Flood Action Group
What is a Flood Action Group and how are you involved? A Flood Action Group is made up of local people, who create a plan to respond quickly when flooding occurs. It contains practical actions to take before, during and after a flood to reduce its effects. I am a co-ordinator for Eamont Bridge’s Flood Action Group and Chairman of the local Parish Council. How long has the group been established at Eamont Bridge? We formed a Flood Action Group following the 2005 floods with help from the Environment Agency. How does this help in instances of flooding? Flood Action Groups are recognised and supported by the Environment Agency and local councils. As residents we receive Environment Agency flood alerts, but as a Flood Action Group we get messages directly from the Environment Agency to tell us when flood waters will rise and peak, or if an incident is not as serious as expected. Our Action Plan splits Eamont Bridge into manageable groups, each has a Leader who can pass on or receive warnings and information. During instances of flooding, this local knowledge helps the emergency services reach those in most need first and know which properties are empty so they can prioritise their response. Would you advise communities affected by flooding in Eden to form Flood Action Groups? Forming a Flood Action Group and having a plan in place provides peace of mind and gives you more clout with public agencies, as you now have a recognised point of contact in your community for flooding issues. The public agencies consult with Flood Action Groups on their work and provide information bulletins so you have the contact information for the help that is available. I would like to thank everyone that has and continues to support our community through its flood recovery. Where can people go for advice about forming a Flood Action Group? For support in setting up a Flood Action Group contact Maria Ullyart or Rebecca Arkley, the Environment Agency’s Flood Resilience Advisors telephone: 0203 025 5829 or visit www.environment-agency.gov.uk For help with Community Emergency Planning see information on page 5.
All About Eden | 15
Flood Recovery Advice From The National Flood Forum
W
e are the National Flood Forum, a charity working to support communities affected by flooding across the UK. We having been working in Cumbria in recent months by taking our flood recovery trailer around the county to offer help, advice and support.
Stage 1 Reinstating Your House
During January, we spoke to hundreds of people trying to rebuild their lives after the Winter floods. Amongst the many and varied questions we have frequently been asked, there is a recurring issue about surveys and instructing a surveyor.
This is about recovering your house, drying it out and getting it to a stage where it can be re-instated so flood resilience* measures can be implemented. For this you should use your insurance company surveyor. Be aware that insurance companies will probably offer you ‘like-for-like’ replacements. However you may wish to challenge this with requests for more resilient measures to be put in place, so you will need to do some research to ascertain the differences in cost and you may need to contribute or pay the difference.
One of the biggest problems is the shortage of independent surveyors with the right expertise in Cumbria. Our advice in the first instance is to speak to your local authority about the survey process, highlighting the problems you are coming up against and, where applicable, discuss the option of grouping several surveys in a neighbourhood together to reduce costs.
*Flood resilience measures, aim to reduce the impact of floodwater in a property if flooding happens again. They include things like laying a concrete floor with a damp proof membrane that is sealed to the structure of the building, raising electric sockets, boilers and meters. Thinking about replacing a kitchen with a stainless steel one or a solid wood free standing kitchen. Using tiles on the floor with rugs rather than fitted carpets. Using lime plaster, and dry-lining a wall.
We advise you to approach your recovery process in two stages. 16 | All About Eden
Stage 2 Installing Flood Resistance Measures
The second phase comes further down the line once your house has been re-instated. This is the time to think about flood resistance* for which you will need an independent surveyor. *Flood resistance measures, are those that can form a block against flood water, helping to keep it out of your home, such as flood boards, air brick covers etc. Examples of the types of products and services that are available are in our Blue Pages (www.bluepages.org.uk), but note that this is not a full list of products; nor does it imply that they are suitable for your situation. Please note that there is no such thing as absolute protection, but these measures are designed to reduce the risk of water getting in to your home and to give you additional time to act. Whilst we recognise this isn’t a direct solution to the problem of instructing independent surveyors in the immediate term, it does enable you to begin the process of recovery without further delay. We would encourage you to refer the problem of finding independent surveyors to your local authority so that they are aware of the scale of the problem.
merchants in Penrith or visit www.jtatkinson.co.uk/floodprotection-i26 PLEASE NOTE: We do not endorse specific retailers, suppliers or products but we would encourage people to look for the BSI kite mark. The government is offering a £5,000 Property Level Flood Resilience Grant to property owners whose homes or businesses were affected by 2015 winter floods. These grants are being administered by Eden District Council for more information visit www.eden.gov.uk or telephone: 01768 817817. There are a number of grants available to people and businesses who have been flooded and we strongly recommend that you submit your grant applications as early as possible. Cumbria Community Foundation is also offering grants so check www.cumbriafoundation.org to see if you meet the criteria. In addition some companies and businesses such as Curries and E.ON are offering discounts or grants to people affected by flooding. For more information about the National Flood Forum visit www.nationalfloodforum.org.uk telephone: 01299 403 055 email: info@floodforum.org.uk Facebook floodforum Twitter: natfloodforum
More information can be found at: www.nationalfloodforum.org.uk/property-levelprotection-community-tool An initial guide to resistance measures can be found in the Property Protection Advisor - www.nationalfloodforum. org.uk/flood-protection-adviser This is only a guide – you are strongly advised to seek expert advice from an independent flood risk assessor who will survey your property and identify options that are suitable for you, the property and the flood risk. If you would like the opportunity to see some of the different flood resistance products that are on the market you can also visit JTA Flood part of JT Atkinson builders All About Eden | 17
A little help makes a BIG difference Care Alarms Support Visits 24hr Emergency Response Home Care Practical & Social Support Aids for Daily Living Handy Person & Decorating Gardening Services We can also create tailor made services to suit your needs.
Call us on 0800 038 3161 or 01768 890657 www.eil.org.uk
Exercise and fun at Penrith parkrun Over 100 parkruns have taken place at Frenchfield, Ian Parker tells us more. What is Penrith parkrun and how are you involved? Penrith parkrun is a free weekly 5km timed run which is held at Frenchfield Sports Centre, Penrith. Penrith parkrun is one of 383 parkrun events which now take place all over the UK and around the world. I am what is termed the Run Director, which requires me to oversee the smooth operation of the weekly event. This will include ensuring the course is set up correctly, that volunteers are in place, the runners are briefed about any safety concerns and processing the electronic race results following the run. Is parkrun just for experienced runners? No, parkrun is for everyone regardless of running ability. At Penrith we have a broad mix of runners ranging from talented and experienced runners, through to recreational runners to complete beginners. We also have a large number of children and families. This broad mix of people taking part is one of the successes of parkrun which is inclusive for all. How many people have taken part so far? At Penrith we average 83 runners per week, but our highest turn out was 237 in February this year. We have had 1,979 different runners take part and a total of 8,217 runs completed. Distance wise Penrith parkrunners have covered 41, 200km which is slightly greater than the
circumference of planet earth. In addition we have had 960 volunteering tasks completed over the 100 runs. How can I get involved? People simply need to register their details at www. parkrun.org.uk . parkrun will then send you an email with your own personal barcode. From there just turn up at Frenchfield Sports Centre with your barcode and that is it. Please note that the run starts at 9am prompt so plan to arrive slightly earlier to ensure that you get warmed up and attend the pre run briefing. We are always keen to engage with volunteers who may be interested in helping out. If you are interested please get in touch. If I enjoy running are there any local clubs I can join? In Eden we have two clubs, Eden Runnersbased in Penrith and Howgill Harriers in Kirkby Stephen. In addition new beginner running groups have recently been set up including Ready 2 Run Eden which meets at Penrith Rugby Club, Mondays 7pm and Active Life Beginner Running Group which meets at Penrith Leisure Centre, Tuesdays at 9.30am.
All About Eden | 19
What initiatives and programmes are you promoting and encouraging in Eden? We’ve created a whole range of ways for you to get involved – from Sky Ride Local guided rides and womenonly Breeze rides, to tips, ideas and great routes. Our local ride leaders and route planners have scouted out the best routes, with friendly support and some cracking places to visit along the way.
What is your role at British Cycling? I coordinate British Cycling’s programmes of guided bike rides in Cumbria. We’d like to help get even more people riding their bikes and falling in love with cycling. Our rides are supported by Eden District Council, Cumbria County Council, Active Cumbria, the Lake District National Park Authority and The National Trust. 20 | All About Eden
Sky Ride Local rides On a free Sky Ride Local ride you’ll be guided by friendly British Cycling Ride Leaders along carefully-planned routes – whether you’re looking to get fit, spend time with the family, discover new routes or just enjoy the outdoors. Breeze women’s bike rides Our amazing Breeze champions in Eden organise fun, social, local bike rides for women. Rides go at a speed that suits everyone, and they often start or finish at a cafe so everyone can have a drink and a chat. www.breezebikerides.com
Ride Social You can join the Ride Social network for free and find local people to cycle with as well as plan, organise and promote your own bike rides. Ride Social rides are organised by members of the public who want to go on informal bike rides with other cyclists. (Ride Social rides are not organised by British Cycling, or led by British Cycling Ride Leaders) Visit www.ridesocial.co.uk to find out more.
What can we look out for in Eden Cumbria’s Sky Ride Local rides are open to everyone and you can take part in as many rides as you like. Starting on 20 March and running until October, the free guided rides explore Eden’s superb quiet road network. Look out for rides from Frenchfield Sports Centre (Penrith), the National Trust’s Acorn Bank (Temple Sowerby), and our ride and walk at Eycott Hill Nature Reserve (near Berrier) in partnership with the Cumbria Wildlife Trust and Greystoke Cycle Café. Where can people find out more information about British Cycling programmes? Visit www.goskyride.com/cumbria to find your local rides and book your free place. For more information about cycling in Eden visit www. visiteden.co.uk
What equipment do people need to participate in guided rides? You need to bring your own bike and suitable, comfortable clothing to cycle in. Helmets must be worn by all under 18’s regardless of ride level. Bike hire is available for some rides. It’s advisable to bring a drink and a snack. Are the rides graded for my different levels of rider? There are three levels for our guided bike rides: 1. Easygoing Not cycled for a while and looking for an easy way to get back in the saddle? Fancy a fun way to get your friends or kids riding? Easygoing rides are great for all abilities and ages, taking place along relaxed, mostly traffic-free routes.
2. Steady If you’re fairly confident on your bike and ready to broaden your cycling horizons, Steady rides are ideal. At a comfortable pace, and possibly with some modest hills, rides take place on mainly quiet roads with plenty of sights along the way. 3. Challenging You don’t have to be the next Bradley Wiggins, but you’ll need to be fairly fit to take part in Challenging rides. As well as covering a good distance, there may well be a few hills along the way! If you fancy a fresh challenge, these rides are perfect for you.
Rides in Eden 2016 Coming Soon
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