Coming soon: an exciting new play area for Plumbland School
Plumbland School has unveiled exciting plans for a brand-new play area!
Thanks to a £1,000 grant from ADCCA, £3,000 raised through FoPS’ fantastic fundraising, and a contribution from the PCG, the project is set to move forward. The remaining cost will be covered by school funds.
With a total cost of £12,000, a couple of more fundraising events are in the pipeline to help towards the playground equipment — so please join in and show your support. Any donations, big or small, will be warmly welcomed!
Plumbland C of E School Leavers
This year we say goodbye to nine Year 6 pupils, who are Eden, Ava, Freya, Oliver, Jake, Charlie, Laura, Iona and Lizzy
We wish them well in their new schools.
Plumbland C of E School SIAMS Report
In June this year Plumbland C of E School had its Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools, usually shortened to SIAMS.
In summary, the inspection found the school is guided by its Christian principles, fostering a supportive environment where the golden rule is central. The vision shapes school strategy, with regular input from staff, pupils, parents, and carers.
There is an inclusive curriculum focused on wisdom, encouraging academic progress and a love of learning. Early intervention and support help pupils with additional needs, while a rich extracurricular programme broadens opportunities, especially in music, arts, and sports.
Collaboration with local schools helps pupils transition smoothly to secondary education.
Collective worship is a core strength. It unites the school and church community through regular services, festivals, and partnerships, fostering reflection, prayer, and spiritual growth. Strong relationships based on trust and respect create a happy, safe, and inclusive community that celebrates diversity. Emotional wellbeing and behaviour are supported to ensure everyone feels valued and cared for.
Religious Education is integral and promotes respect for diverse worldviews while the curriculum and creative lessons boost knowledge of Christianity, though understanding of other beliefs could be deepened.
Justice and compassion guide school life, with pupils actively addressing issues like food insecurity and climate action. Students contribute positively to their local and wider communities.
Following this excellent SIAMS review, the governors at their meeting in July congratulated and thanked all of the staff. The review recognised the school as a special and inspirational place. This is the result of the days, weeks, months and years of dedicated work and commitment of the staff and children, and the continued support of parents to the school.
John Taylor Chair of Governors
Plumbland Parish Council
A meeting of the Plumbland Parish Council was held in the Meeting Room at Plumbland Village Hall, Plumbland on Tuesday 1st July 2025 at 7.00pm.
PRESENT: Messrs. A. Rutherford, J. Collins, and R. Miller
Also, present: T. Gear (Clerk), J. Perry (Cumberland Councillor) and a resident for Public Participation
Apologies: None
Councillor A. Rutherford in the Chair
APOLOGIES FROM MEMBERS
None.
MINUTES
On the proposal of J. Collins and seconded by A. Rutherford it was RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 6th May 2025 be approved and signed as a correct record.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
A resident of the parish asked for the council’s and Cumberland Councillors assistance to find the definition of the highway verge. He had received differing definitions from Cumberland Council according to the circumstance. J. Perry will make enquiries and report back.
CORRESPONDENCE
The following items of correspondence have been received since the last meeting and circulated to members for their information: -.
Various Cumberland Council Newsletters.
Connecting Cumbria Newsletter – May and June 2025
Cumbria Local Nature Partnership News and Recovery Strategy Public Consultation
Let’s talk food and health - Wigton – 28.05.25
Planning Outreach Programme
EA Incidents – online reporting now available
New password for CALC
Save the Date – CALC AGM 4th October 2025
Future of Libraries Survey and Cumberland Libraries News
Waste Update: Countdown to waste collection changes Digital Voice is coming to the Northwest – July 2025 CALC News March/April 2025
CLERKS REPORT
The clerk gave a brief report on matters that had arisen since the last meeting including Village Clean Up day had been postponed until the 9th August 2025
The Chair had reported areas which had not been cut to the contractor and had received an apology and a promise that they would be cut.
The chair had applied for a grant for several items to Aspatria Charity Shop and received £400.
CUMBERLAND COUNCILLOR’S REPORT.
J. Perry addressed the meeting and provided information on the Electoral Review of Cumberland Council: Draft Recommendations and the Cumberland Council Libraries Survey. She also tendered her apologies for the next meeting.
PLANNING MATTERS
Applications for consultation
Regulation 5 – Part16 Installation 0f Subtended Headend Sidepod No on BT Cabinet Plumbland Farm, Aspatria, CA7 2EZ Comment
Decisions: -
FUL/25/0068 Ground Mounted Small Domestic Solar Panels Approved Plumbland house, Aspatria, CA7 2HD
LBC/25/0010 Listed Building Consent for the above Approved
Appeals
The appeal by Thomas Armstrong regarding High Close Quarry has been dismissed by the Planning Inspector (J.P Sargent).
ACCOUNTS
i) The payment of the following accounts which had been paid since the last meeting were ratified, and the remainder were approved for payment:
Plumbland Community Grp Medals
Mrs. J Collins Defibrillator Pads
Mike Dowling Cont. Ltd Grass cutting (May)
T Gear Clerks Account (May/June.)
HMRC Income tax (May/June.)
Mike Dowling Cont. Ltd Grass cutting (June)
ii) Balances at 1.7.25 Current Account
HIGHWAY MATTERS: -
£54.45
£40.30
£504.00
£440.99
£87.25
£504.00
£3,963.49 Deposit
£5,305.87
Works to resurface part of the B5301 at Ellen Bank will start on 26th August for 2 weeks.
B5301 UPDATE
The Chair gave a verbal update on B5301.
HIGH CLOSE QUARRY
The Chair provided a verbal report which included a summary of the appeal decision and his thanks to all those who assisted in the process.
SPEEDING/SPEED WATCH
The Chair gave a verbal report on the Community Speed Watch and advised that eight speeding vehicles had recently been reported to the police.
FIBRUS
The Chair gave a verbal report on a video call he had with a representative of Fibrus during which he raised several issues and is now waiting for a response.
CLIMATE CHANGE
Information on Environment and Climate for Cumberland Council has been circulated.
MOOTA QUARRY
A full application for an extension is now under consideration.
CLINTS QUARRY PLANNING APPEAL
The Planning Inspectorate hearing will be heard on 8th and 9th July at Wigton Market Hall.
COMMONS REGISTRATION SERVICE
Members were advised that any applications must be submitted by 15th March 2027. Members were asked to consider any areas and to report back at the next meeting.
ITEMS FOR THE NEXT MEETING
High Close Quarry
B5301 Update
Fibrus
Commons Registration Service
J Perry apologies for the September meeting
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
7.00pm Tuesday 2nd September 2025 in Plumbland Village Hall, Plumbland
The meeting closed at 7.55 pm.
High Close Quarry Appeal Dismissed – June 2025
Dear Parishioners,
The appeal to overturn Cumberland Council’s decision on the High Close quarry has been dismissed. The Planning Inspector ruled the ROMP application invalid, confirming Plumbland Parish Council’s legal challenge. This ends an 8-year community-led effort dating back to 2017.
Key Contributions:
Special thanks to Brian Stephenson, the Working Group, and all who supported, objected, fundraised, and provided legal backing.
Ward Hadaway Solicitors, especially Frank Orr, were instrumental in verifying and presenting legal arguments.
A key legal point was the Lafarge v Scottish Ministers (2004) case, proving the site lacked a relevant planning permission required for a ROMP application.
The Planning Inspector sided with us; Thomas Armstrong’s case was weakened by flawed legal assertions from their King’s Counsel.
Outcome:
The appeal was dismissed.
The 1954 permission only applied to the old quarry and was not eligible under the 1996 First List—undermining the entire ROMP case.
The Council had issued a non-determination notice in Jan 2024, confirming our legal arguments.
Appeal by Thomas Armstrong:
Thomas Armstrong has appealed the decision. The High Court judges will review the application to determine whether the legal grounds for the challenge have merit. If it has, then the case will proceed to a hearing in the High Court; if not, the challenge will be dismissed. The solicitors had until 28th July 2025 to submit their full challenge (time extension was requested but refused) which is primarily to do with points of law (namely LaFarge caselaw issued by the Supreme court in 2004). As we are an interested party, we should receive the documentation submitted by the solicitor regarding the challenge.
I have been in contact with Richard Cryer (Cumberland Council Mineral Planning) advising him we fully support him and the Planning Inspector. If they require any input from the Parish Council, then don’t hesitate to ask. Also, communicated with our solicitor regarding this latest development.
To date, we have replied to Aaron & Partners confirming we have received their initial letter advising of the challenge.
Any further correspondence will be posted on our Community Facebook
Kind regards,
Tony Rutherford Chairperson, Plumbland Parish Council
The Parish Council would like to say a huge thank you to all who kindly assisted on Saturday 9th August 2025 with the Parish / Village clean-up day; thanks go to:
Oliver, Joanne and George Collins
Ashley, Amy, Oliver and Willow Irving
Anne Burbridge
John and Linda Spiers-Dawson
Chris, Beccie and Lizzy Watson
Darren, Tori, Fiachra and Eilis Finan
Bin Collections for Plumbland
Friday 22nd August: Domestic Waste Collection Service
Friday 22nd August: Glass, cans, tins, plastics and Tetra Paks
Friday 29th August: Green Waste Collection Service
Friday 5th September: Domestic Waste Collection Service
Friday 5th September: Glass, cans, tins, plastics and Tetra Paks
Friday 12th September: Green Waste Collection Service
Friday 12th September: Paper and Card Collection Service
Friday 19th September: Domestic Waste Collection Service
Friday 19th September: Glass, cans, tins, plastics and Tetra Paks
Plumbland Preschool
PLAYGROUP
Term time Friday from 9am - 11am Plumbland Village Hall
Everyone is welcome when accompanied by a child aged birth to four.
We operate in term time only from 9am to 11am.
Attendees include parents, grandparents, carers, childminders.
For any further information please contact Gillian Winder 07789542736
Plumbland Community Group
Plumbland Village Sports Day 2025
Race Winners
SPRINT
1 Preschool - Plumbland Sports Cup – Fiachra
Runners up: Aubrey, Noah, Alistair
2 Infants - Plumbland Sports Cup – Arthur Runners up: Noah, Evie, Chester
23 Seniors - Sharpes Landscaping Cup – Ceriyn Runners up: Ruby, Sophie
24 Adults - Plumbland Village Hall Cup – Dan Kershaw
WELLY THROW
25 Preschool - Rebecca Watson Design Cup – Fiachra
26 Infants - Gift & Stitch Cup - Freddie
27 Juniors 3/4 - Harry Mitchell U9s Cup - Danny
28 Juniors 5/6 - Austen Wren Cup - Oliver
29 Seniors - The High Close Cup - Leo
30 Adults - The Felicity Barwise Trophy – Henry Stephenson
EXCELLENT
SPORTSMANSHIP
Preschool – The Sun Inn Cup – Rome Infants – The Plumbland Community Group Cup – Evie Juniors – The Plumbland Community Group Cup – Matic
TUG OF WAR - New this year, PCG purchased medals for winners to keep: Winning team: Dawn, Helen, Leo, Abi, Maisie
Support our School
Plumbland School Sibson Trust
The Trustees of the above Trust will hold a meeting at the end September 2025 to consider all requests made to them by any eligible person for assistance from the fund.
The aim of the Charity is to provide pupils or ex-pupils of the school who live in the Parish of Plumbland (under 25 years of age), help in furthering their education and supporting further studies.
Such support may be the funding of provision of text book, training manuals and tools etc.
All applicants must be in writing stating clearly the reason for the request and be sent to Mr A Watson, Looking-Stead, Plumbland, Wigton, CA7 2ET no later than 1 st September 2025.
Plumbland Salsa Group - starts back 10th September
The salsa group have been meeting every Wednesday night now for the last two years and have finally mastered the basic moves. We meet for a dance and a chat, mostly to get out of the house and socialise. The music varies from week to week: some traditional salsa and some more modern (we have been known to salsa to Beyonce!).
We decided to expand our repertoire and have now moved into a bit of line dancing, inspired by a TV programme many of us had watched. So now ‘The House of Bamboo’ begins each session.
We are eagerly searching for new members to come and join us in September after our summer break. So if you fancy a little bit of salsa and splash of line dancing plus a few laughs, then join us on 10th September at 7pm in Plumbland village hall. It’s perfect time to start as we’ll be learning new moves and new dances. Bring a partner or just bring yourself and prepare to have a great time.
