General enquirieshttps://cadentgas.com/contactus Media enquiriesE-mail: [email protected] A multi-million pound project is due to begin this month to address an issue with a pipeline that provides essential gas to tens of thousands of homes in Cumbria will install 850 metres of new pipeline in fields next to Ulverston Canal and bore a new tunnel beneath the waterway This will enable the continued safe delivery of gas to homes the existing pipeline – currently located beneath the canal footpath which is showing signs of deterioration – will be decommissioned This ensures there will be no disruption to gas supply during the project Cadent has collaborated with numerous agencies and local landowners over several years to determine the best approach for this project This includes careful consideration of local ecology and wildlife The project is scheduled to start on Monday 24 March Access to the work site has been arran ed with local landowners with only brief closures (often no more than a few minutes) for equipment delivery Network Director for Cadent in the North West said: “We have been planning this crucial work for a long time and I want to thank everyone involved in getting us to the point where work can now commence “This essential work will mitigate the risk associated with the deteriorating condition of the current pipeline’s location ensuring every customer in the local area continues to receive a reliable and safe gas supply for years to come “Around 80 percent of homes in this area rely on gas central heating “I am pleased that we have developed a plan that keeps the footpath open we will invite local schools and other visitors to observe this major engineering feat up close Hopefully we can inspire some future engineers!” Updates will be posted at cadentgas.com/ulverston Cadent manages 21,000 miles of gas distribution pipes in North West England This gas is used to heat homes and other buildings Although we will do most of the work on this project in 2025 there will be some pre-construction work completed this summer in fields where we will be working next year part of the work we’ll do this year involves the removal of 40-metres of hedgerow and we have a window of opportunity to do that now There should be no impact on members of the public during this phase – the footpath beside the canal stays open so please continue to use this lovely local amenity This work will start 12th August and last for around 4 to 6 weeks Cadent manages the local network of underground pipes that carry gas to homes There are 21,000 miles of distribution pipes under North West England and this includes a section of pipeline that runs alongside Ulverston Canal This Whassett to Barrow High Pressure Gas Pipeline is a key pipeline relied on by tens of thousands of homes – from Ulverston to Barrow in Furness – for warmth in the colder months of the year Around 80 per cent of homes in this area have gas central heating Assessments of the pipe in recent years has identified a need to move it away from its current location which is within the towpath adjacent to Ulverston Canal we will be installing a new 850-metre section of pipeline in parallel with the existing pipeline but outside of the immediate embankment area the existing pipeline will be decommissioned This means there will be no impact on gas supply while the work takes place and Cadent can be confident of ensuring a long-term safe supply of gas to the local area Our teams have been planning this work for some time consulting with many agencies to consider a range of subjects from local ecology to availability of land Cadent made a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) to ensure it can acquire all of the land and rights required for the project We have positively engaged with all landowners and continue to do so The CPO enables Cadent to have certainty that it can deliver the project within the timescales needed to protect supply All the relevant documents relating to the CPO were published on this page in July 2023 (see 'CPO' tab below) and advertised Objections had to be submitted by 31 August 2023 The CPO was confirmed in June 2024 by the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero Preliminary works on the project will take place for around 4 to 6 weeks Cadent Gas Limited (“Cadent”) made The Cadent Gas Limited (Whassett to Barrow High Pressure Gas Pipeline Diversion) Compulsory Purchase Order 2023 (the “CPO”) to enable it to compulsorily acquire the new rights in land required for the construction operation and maintenance of an 850-metre diversion of the 300NB Whassett to Barrow High Pressure (HP) Gas Pipeline located within the embankment / towpath adjacent to the canal on the east side of Ulverston in Cumbria (the “Project”) The Project comprises the installation of 850 metres of steel pipe and other associated development The CPO followed a series of negotiations where Cadent tried to reach voluntary agreements to ensure that the Project can be delivered to maintain and secure the gas network and continue supply to parts of Ulverston and the town of Barrow in Furness as well as gas supply in the long term A copy of the notice confirming the making of the CPO was served on all those with an interest in the land included in the CPO and was published in a local newspaper Copy of Newspaper Notice the Maps which show the land included in the CPO and the Statement of Reasons which explains why the CPO has been made The CPO has been submitted to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero for confirmation Objections were made to the CPO and a public inquiry was due to commence on Tuesday 13 February 2024 The objections were withdrawn and a public inquiry was not required All the relevant documents relating to the CPO are published on this page Further detail on the compulsory purchase process can be found in theDepartment for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Guidance on Compulsory Purchase Process and The Crichel Down Rules (July 2019) Cadent executed a general vesting declaration (“GVD”) in order to vest the land rights that it was authorised to compulsorily acquire by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero pursuant to The Cadent Gas Limited (Whassett to Barrow High Pressure Gas Pipeline Diversion) Compulsory Purchase Order 2023 Cadent has served the notices required on the relevant parties on 3 September and the land rights will vest in Cadent on the vesting date General-Vesting-Declaration-dated-27-August-2024(698051523-1) 0800 111 999* Sign our campaign for a grant funding review West End Farm will now host 111 Story Homes developed properties Westmorland and Furness Council passed both applications with unanimous decisions opening up South Lakes land for developments by Story Homes and Quince Story Homes is set to develop 111 homes on the land at West End Farm in Ulverston The developer is working with planner Pinnacle and architect Pod to develop the 10.5-acre site directly southwest of an existing Story scheme at Laurel Place on-site works for this new development will commence in late summer 2025 Proposals are for a range of one- to six-bedroom homes across a variety of house types to suit the needs of various types of buyers Smaller homes on offer include eight one-bed apartments and 23 three-bed terrace and semi-detached houses Rounding of the housing mix will be 52 four-bed houses eight with five and seven with six bedrooms to complete the offer 19 would be sale properties and 20 for rental the housebuilder will contribute more than £1m towards the Community Infrastructure Levy projects as identified by the Council senior land and planning manager for Story Homes in Cumbria & Scotland said: “We’re thrilled to have received planning consent from Westmorland & Furness Council “This marks an exciting step forward in our commitment to delivering thoughtfully designed high specification homes that meet the needs of the local community … allowing us the opportunity to bring more of our high-quality homes to the South Lakes region “We take great pride in designing homes that not only reflect the character of the area but also enhance it.” 3.3 acres will be reserved as public open space for use by both new and existing residents in the area McNally added: “With a variety of house types designed around flexible living we’re confident that this development will become a thriving and desirable place to live for years to come.” The project team includes Westwood Landscape Approval for Quince Homes’ reserved matters application concerning the land at Nook Farm will allow the development of 266 homes to be known as Pippins Beck The applicant has proposed that 93 homes will be affordable – 46 at affordable or social rent and 47 intermediate units The developer will offer 14 one-bed apartments Work can now progress after the reserved matters approval concerning the scheme’s access ASC Planning and Robinson and Queensberry Design are advising Quince on the scheme Read our comments policy Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Main contractor McLaughlin & Harvey has rounded off the 818,000 sq ft Longtown storage shed for the Ministry of Defence and has handed over management to Defence Equipment & Support Westmorland and Furness Council has approved a supplementary planning document to guide development of the nearly 67-acre site Register for free North West property intelligence Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" Join more than 13,000 property professionals and sign up to receive your free daily round-up of built environment news direct to your inbox By subscribing, you are agreeing to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy. Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value" Quince Homes is closing in on reserved matters approval at Nook Farm where outline consent was established in 2017 while Story Homes wants to build 111 homes at West End Farm Westmorland & Furness Council’s strategic planning committee meets on 27 March to consider the applications drainage has been the sticking point for the Quince project Officers said: “It has taken a considerable amount of time to achieve an acceptable sustainable drainage scheme but the updated proposals contained within the application now have the full support of the lead local flood authority “The layout of the scheme has been amended to accommodate this and other issues that have arisen through publicity and consultation The scheme is now judged to be fully compliant with the development plan the outline planning permission and other material considerations A section 106 agreement and conditions will be necessary to secure various issues.” Although 330 homes are covered in the outline consent Quince is seeking permission for only 266 dwellings at the site Robinson and Queensberry Design are advising Quince on the scheme The outline consent fixed three points of access one off Mountbarrow Road and two off Urswick Road and adjoins housing to the north and open countryside to the south all consultees were contacted in February to look at the plans The response to such large-scale schemes inevitably majors on affordable homes and Quince is undoubtedly giving choice in this area there is a bias towards larger homes: more than half will be four bedrooms or more The Quince planning reference number is SL/2020/0397 Story is seeking full permission for 111 homes Access would be taken from West End Lane and Priory Road while the scheme involves the demolition of barns on site Story is working with planner Pinnacle and architect Pod the West End Farm site abuts another Story development Approval is recommended on the basis of a Section 106 agreement securing 35% affordable homes much of the market housing is planned as four bedrooms or more While applicants argue that the needs assessment requirements set out locally are outdated it is noted in the officer report that “there are concerns that the bias towards larger units will put much of the development beyond the reach of local people a point reflected in the representations we have received” it is admitted that the SHENA (Strategic Housing & Economic Needs Assessment) would be “weak evidence” to lean on should plans be refused and end up at appeal W&F’s conservation officer reasserts their previously voiced concerns over the loss of the historic barns on site summing up “I am not convinced their loss is justified” The Story Homes planning reference is 2024/0229/FPA Doesn’t look like there’s anything in the vicinity except houses Where are the shops and cafes for people to walk to Looks like a totally depressing place to find oneself Northern Trust Land wants to build 180 homes on an 18.5-acre plot in Carleton XFASTINDEX The existing Ulverston to Barrow pipeline helps transport gas to tens of thousands of properties in the area along with a history of settlement and leakages have created a need to re-position the pipeline away from the canal embankment and within the adjacent field United Living Infrastructure Services (ULIS) will install a new 850-metre diversion in heavy wall 12-inch steel pipe parallel with the existing pipeline but outside of the immediate embankment area ULIS will undertake the civil and mechanical installation of the diversion 1200 mm diameter micro-tunnel below the Ulverston canal minimising disruption to the surrounding area The working area is right next to Morecambe Bay Special Protection Area (SPA) and Special Area of Conservation (SAC) Therefore ULIS has to ensure provisions are in place within the programme for scheduled visits from ecologists before any ecologically sensitive works Got a story? Email news@theconstructionindex.co.uk 11 hours Following a recent expansion into North America, Murphy Group has now entered Australia. 3 days A Devon housing development has emerged as the centre of a web of corruption. 11 hours Controversial government plans to allow developers to pay into a central nature levy to offset local environmental harms are generating increasing opposition. 3 days Dolphin Living has appointed The Hill Group to deliver the redevelopment of the New Era housing estate in Hackney. 3 days Tilbury Douglas continues to progress after collapse of parent company 3 days John Sisk & Son has started work on a £65m refurbishment of Haringey Civic Centre in London. © 2025 The Construction Index [Company No ' + response[i].created_nice + ' ' + response[i].description + ' An Ulverston building has been awarded £500,000 for major improvements The Roxy Collective has been awarded the cash by the Borderlands Place Board and Investment Panel.  The Roxy project is part of Ulverston’s Borderlands-funded Town Investment Plan overseen by an Ulverston Town Team made up of representatives from Ulverston Town Council The Borderlands-funded work will include:  The Roxy building opened in 1937 as a cinema and the building now also hosts the Laurel and Hardy Museum The Roxy Collective purchased the building via several streams of funding Through the Community Ownership Fund the Collective was also able to complete their second phase of development which consisted of extensive structural repairs and renovations to the roof ensuring the building was watertight and giving the exterior walls a fresh colour scheme and new branding Solar panels were also installed along with a new battery room as the first steps forward in making the building sustainable.  said: “We are incredibly grateful to the Borderlands Committee and the Ulverston Town Team for their support which allows us to continue the much-needed development work on our beloved Roxy “The Roxy has been a cornerstone of our community for generations and this investment ensures that it remains a vibrant space for arts we extend our heartfelt thanks to the community for its unwavering support: your passion and dedication are what keep the Roxy alive.” The Roxy Collective will hold an open evening soon for members of the public to find out more about the plans The Borderlands Partnership Board is supporting five Cumbrian towns – Dalton-in-Furness; Egremont; Penrith; Ulverston and Wigton – as part of the Borderlands Place Programme a major programme to support the development and renewal of towns across the Borderlands region The £452 million Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal is a regional investment programme jointly supported by the UK and Scottish governments and local partners The Borderlands Partnership is made up of Westmorland and Furness Council Northumberland County Council and Scottish Borders Council Subscribe to our mailing list to receive daily updates direct to your inbox *We hate spam as much as you do. Privacy Statement Phone: 01768 862313Email: admin@cumbriacrack.com Registered in England as Barrnon Media Limited No: 12475190VAT registration number: 343486488 © 2025 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme Passengers in Cumbria are being advised of disruption to services following flooding of the tracks in Ulverston Network Rail engineers have been working around the clock to stem the flow of a nearby stream which has found its way onto the railway the team will be completing a temporary fix to the track and cutting (the earth next to the railway) The side of the track which has been affected by the flood is running at a reduced speed of 20mph* The cause of the flooding is being investigated by Network Rail’s specialist engineers said: “We’re very sorry to passengers travelling between Barrow-in-Furness and Lancaster who’s journeys have been disrupted by the flooding at Ulverston “A full inspection of the area will be carried out before a long-term fix is planned.” Passengers are advised to check www.nationalrail.co.uk to plan their journeys between Barrow-In-Furness and Lancaster to grow and expand the nation's railway network to respond to the tremendous growth and demand the railway has experienced - a doubling of passenger journeys over the past 20 years A teenager has been attacked and seriously injured by a large group in Ulverston The incident took place on Victoria Road yesterday Police said the youngster was assaulted by a group of similarly-aged males and was kicked to the head and face which resulted in serious injuries that required hospital treatment Officers are seeking information from members of the public who may have seen a large number of young males in Ulverston and anyone who may have witnessed the assault itself Information has been received that a car also stopped at the incident and the occupants of that car may have filmed the incident.Anyone with information relating to this incident can report online at www.cumbria.police.uk/report-it quoting incident number 280 of 28 February 2025 Or call 101.Alternatively you can contact Crimestoppers Some cookies are essential to make our website work we'd like to set other cookies to show us how our website is being used Independent social and economic research experts Ekosgen have undertaken a detailed appraisal looking at different options for reinstating a permanent library service in Ulverston That independent assessment has considered eight options against a range of objectives The appraisal considered how to best deliver library services going forward modern and ‘fit for the future’ and the preferred option is now subject to public engagement before any final decisions are made The options considered included looking at how much it would cost to re-open and upgrade the King’s Road building and whether co-locating the service in shared premises such as a more permanent solution at The Coro You can read more about the preferred option, see the plans, illustrations and complete the consultation on our online survey said: “We know that whatever we eventually approve it will involve significant cost with millions of pounds of public money needing to be invested We therefore need to make sure we get this right would require considerable investment to make it fit-for-purpose with not only the electrics but the heating system and fabric of the building requiring significant attention That level of work doesn’t come cheap and it’s incorrect for people to suggest we only need to spend a few thousand pounds to ‘patch-up’ the electrics “There is simply no quick-fix solution that would provide a safe sustainable service in that current building for our customers and staff It requires wholesale investment and when we are considering spending such large amounts of public money we are obliged to think about things carefully look at all of our options and have the evidence to support our decisions “This is especially important in the current climate where public finances are very tight and so many councils are struggling and we make no apologies for considering and balancing our options to ensure we invest wisely and in the best long-term interests of our communities.’’ Cabinet member for Sustainable Communities and Localities said: “Ulverston has one of our most important library services with a thriving membership and footfall. I am really disappointed that the King’s Road building is judged unsafe because obviously people are used to that building being the location for the library “We are absolutely not looking to close or diminish the library service in Ulverston the options we are looking at will enable us to look at ways to grow the library service in Ulverston “Libraries nowadays are multi-faceted places - for education and indeed for the council to have informal people-focused meetings - and for families especially to find support and advice “The council has to consider what’s the best way to meet the community’s needs now and in the future We believe our preferred option presents some exciting ideas involving significant investment in The Coro to provide a new permanent home for an extended library but also considerably improving community facilities at the Coro adding to the sustainability of that really crucial Ulverston cultural institution “Everyone cares about the future of library provision in Ulverston and we understand people’s frustrations that it has taken time to assess all the options but it is important that we do this in a careful “We have been in contact with the Government’s Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) to inform them of the situation and they have indicated they are supportive and comfortable with our approach “The community now has a chance to look at the proposals and comment on them before we commit to such an important decision.’’ The independent assessment puts the estimated capital cost of delivering the preferred option which involves the remodelling of The Coro to create a community café and more community meeting rooms along with an enhanced library service and flexible community use spaces, at £2.5 million The independent costings for the refurbishment of King’s Road - to deliver a standalone library on that site that is fit for purpose – are estimated at £1.9 million The scope of these works includes heating and electrical works to bring King’s Road up to the standard of Kendal or Barrow libraries To complete the refurbishment of King’s Road to house a stand-alone library service AND re-model The Coro to create the community café and better community spaces - but without the library service - would cost a total of £4.2 million The assessment concludes that the preferred option would deliver better value for money and a higher cost to benefit ratio than refurbishing both buildings “The presence of a permanent library offer within The Coro is expected to be a key driver of footfall supporting The Coro to become a focal point for the community and visitors.’’ We commissioned independent social and economic research experts Ekosgen to carry out a detailed appraisal looking at a range of options for reinstating a permanent library service in Ulverston to light touch repairs and full refurbishments of both The Coro and the King’s Road building We asked them to assess each of the eight options against the following key objectives: The evidence from those assessments was clear that the only option that met the majority of those objectives - and was both affordable and delivered value for money for the taxpayer - was the option that we are now consulting on the cost of refurbishing King’s Road to bring it up to standard would be around £1.9 million We also know that The Coro requires investment It is a valuable community asset but it is a large building that is costly to run and maintain and it needs to generate footfall and income to make sure it is sustainable in the future The previous operators understood this reality and were looking at their own investment programme to re-model the building and create The preferred option now being proposed by the council includes not only a café bar for The Coro but also brings in the library as an ‘anchor tenant’ to help increase footfall and revenue and put a key community service in the building The business case for the future operating model of The Coro will be considered by Cabinet in September 2024 and whether the library is co-located in The Coro or not will have a material impact on that business case We acknowledge that the campaign to save the King’s Road library demonstrates how valued the library service is in Ulverston the campaign has itself only been focused on a single proposal – to re-open the library in the King’s Road building Since the closure of King’s Road we have explained we needed time to look at a range of options for the future of the library service in Ulverston We needed to work through a number of complex and inter-related factors to ensure that any investment would deliver the very best outcomes for the wider community and the taxpayer.  for reinstating a permanent library service in Ulverston and to consider how those options related to and impacted The Coro It is important to remember that the council is also in the process of looking at the future operating model and business case for The Coro since the venue was handed back to the council by the previous operator at the start of the year.  So any discussion about best and most effective use of assets in Ulverston for the benefit of the community therefore must include consideration of how any decisions impact The Coro moving forward We have been through exactly the same process with our assets and services in Barrow and Kendal resulting in investment to re-model buildings to make them more flexible and co-locating community services like family hubs and adult learning alongside library services The options considered in the Ulverston appraisal ranged from ‘do nothing’ It has always been our intention to consult on any options that delivered against the key objectives but it was necessary to carry out the options appraisal first to see which of the eight options most successfully met those objectives It was also important that these options were independently assessed We are looking to invest millions of pounds of public money so we need to look at the options in detail to ensure we get this right and that we can be confident we have the evidence to support our case We also think the Ulverston community deserves to understand the outcome of that appraisal process.  We want people to understand the merits or otherwise of the different options judged against the list of objectives and particularly how the options relate to the future of The Coro and wider community ambitions We want people to be able to see the situation ‘in the round’ and recognise this is about far more than whether or not we should fix King’s Road.  Our current consultation shares that ‘bigger picture’ and explains the assessment of the various options – including investing to repair and bring King’s Road up to standard the preferred option for the campaigners - and how they scored against the objectives honest and democratic approach and allows people to come to an informed conclusion when responding to the current consultation The evidence from the appraisal is clear that the only option that meets the majority of the objectives - and is both affordable and delivers value for money for the taxpayer – and this is the preferred option of the options we are now consulting on local councillors and community representatives have attended briefings where this approach has been outlined and explained and we have held further briefings prior to the start of the current consultation to present options including the preferred option in more detail and to answer questions.  As well as the public consultation on the option we have also written directly to all library members schools and other users of the library and Coro to invite their views We have set up displays and information in the library and staff have been on hand to answer questions from library and Coro users We have shared extensive information through our website and in the online consultation documents including details of the options considered and how they were assessed videos and visuals to help people to see how the preferred option could look and answered many of the frequently asked questions on our website Q&A we have been in contact with the government’s Department for Media Culture and Sport (DCMS) throughout and they have been supportive of our approach We had hoped to start the consultation in June and had already arranged briefings to explain the process and answer questions.  the announcement of the General Election meant that we were unable (under pre-election rules) to commence the consultation until after the pre-election period ended which is why it started on 10 July and is running for 6 weeks We have to conclude our consultation and collate the results in order that they can be presented to the council’s Cabinet on 10 September As the decision on the library service has a material impact on the discussions about The Coro we therefore need to understand the results of the current consultation before 10 September so those results can inform Cabinet decisions about both the future of the library service and the future operating model of The Coro It needs to be remembered that this exercise was not just about the library service but was also looking at the impact of various options to inform decisions on the future operating model of The Coro looking at what investment would be required in that venue as well as for the library.  So this figure was not just for works associated with the library service but also to produce evidence to support discussions about the future of The Coro All the consultation materials were produced designed and printed in-house at the council Estimated cost for paper/products used is £500 Costs associated with the temporary library facilities are largely related to the hire costs of the Ante Room in The Coro paid to the previous operator before the venue reverted to council control at the start of the year We hired the Ante Room for 14 weeks from September to December at a total cost of £5,100 Other works to enable temporary library facilities in council-operated facilities at the market hall and Supper Room have been minimal mainly involving decoration and funded out of existing maintenance budgets Most of the shelving and equipment used in the temporary Ulverston library space in The Coro was either moved from King’s Road or relocated from existing library stock elsewhere in Westmorland and Furness Some new flexible shelving was purchased from existing budgets and has been used in the temporary library and these units can be utilised across any of our libraries Far from looking to reduce services and facilities the options appraisal process has looked carefully at how we can not only maintain but how we can expand and develop our community-based services around the library and The Coro including looking at opportunities to work more closely with partners such as health and emergency services on community drop-ins and advice sessions The conclusion of the appraisal is that co-locating the library in The Coro provides more opportunities for community activities Since we opened the temporary library in The Coro we have been able to host regular groups and activities there Working with The Coro and having the opportunity to use the extended space available in the wider venue the temporary library has also been able to successfully introduce some new groups and expand some existing clubs and activities Some of these library events and activities would not have been possible in the King’s Road building prior to its closure flexible library area and new children’s library more flexible community spaces on the first and second floors new community café/bar and more accessible facilities the options appraisal concludes that the preferred option of the  options being consulted on would enable much more of this joined-up activity ensuring The Coro and library can work in harmony to expand and develop community activities in the future - making the services even more vibrant and sustainable and better for the Ulverston community A: Ulverston Place Plan was drawn up by Ulverston’s Town Team which is made up of representatives from Ulverston businesses schools and community groups alongside the local councils The Place Plan vision was agreed following a community consultation which asked local people and organisations for their views on opportunities to build local pride and confidence in the town and further develop Ulverston’s unique selling points The Place Plan states: “For Ulverston to really assume the mantle of a cultural hub it is important to have a high-quality destination area within the centre which can be a combination of the Coronation Hall the Laurel and Hardy Museum and potentially a public plaza.” You can read more about the Ulverston Place Plan at:  Ulverston Place Plan (cumbria.gov.uk) A: A library in the Supper Room would be designed with shelving and furniture that is fully flexible and can be moved to create a multi-functional space so the room would be available for hires and activities such as art exhibitions and meetings outside library opening hours These events would therefore be at times when the rest of The Coro is likely in use making it easier to staff and manage and ensuring the venue is being fully utilised moving the current kitchen and current upstairs bar to the ground floor allows for the library space to be expanded Moving the current staff offices that are on the ground floor up into the top floor attic space allows the ground floor to be re-modelled to create considerably expanded community/event spaces to include a new community café/bar and new flexible event and activity areas This would therefore replicate the space and facilities in the Supper Room used by the occasional larger events that use multiple rooms at the venue There are only a handful of regular large events during the year that have historically booked all rooms in The Coro and have required access to those rooms all day Analysis of bookings for 2022 and 2023 demonstrates the Supper Room was only booked for an average of 31 days each year Many of those bookings were for activities and evening meetings outside normal library opening times meaning these bookings can still be easily accommodated in the flexible library space if required without disruption to the library service while whole-venue events during the day would now have the option to use the new community spaces and facilities on the ground floor minimising any impact on the library during normal opening hours it also means that more of The Coro will be in use for more of the year making it more accessible for more events and more sustainable the Supper Room has not been in use for more than 300 days each year A: The building is currently not safe to be used due to the discovery of issues with the building’s electrics during routine statutory checks We have now made a thorough check of the building and have taken steps to isolate the power supply to make the main electrics safe but have ensured that security systems continue to have power but it cannot be opened to the public as the main supply powering lights/heating is not operational It also cannot be used as a workplace for our staff for the same health and safety reasons.  Our first priority after having to shut the building on King’s Road was to try to get some form of library service back up and running as soon as we were able That resulted in the opening of the temporary pop-up service in the Ante Room at The Coro which included book borrowing and public access laptops and printers A second phase of the temporary provision was opened at Ulverston Market Hall including more stock for borrowing as well as space for community groups Once the management of The Coro reverted to the council on 1 January 2024 the council was able to look at an expanded temporary library offer on a single site and a much larger facility has now opened in the Supper Room at The Coro We are now consulting on the preferred option for reinstating a permanent library service in Ulverston The temporary library offer currently in the Supper Room is NOT the preferred option The preferred option being consulted on is for a significantly enhanced library space utilising the current Supper Room and expanded into other areas to create a much larger and purpose-designed space with better facilities and access to the improvements on the ground floor of The Coro A: We already know that the heating system requires upgrading and the general fabric of the building will also require attention before long Anyone who is familiar with the building will also know that some areas have not been used (including the upstairs rooms) for some time because they are not currently suitable for public use and are not Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) compliant So it has been known for some time that the building – which was opened in 1961 and so is now more than 60 years old – wasn’t being fully utilised and had various emerging issues Regular maintenance has been carried out to ensure the areas of the building used by the public continued to be safe but it was also clear that at some point King’s Road would require significant investment to bring it up to the standards we’d expect from a modern library service not only in terms of the fabric of the building but also digital connectivity more flexible spaces for community use etc This is part of an ongoing programme of improvements to our libraries and we have been through similar processes with our libraries in Barrow and Kendal where we have also been careful to determine the most effective way to invest in those services to deliver the best outcome for library users and the local community In both Barrow and Kendal this has resulted in the co-location of other services as we look to make important community services more accessible and ensure the most effective and sustainable use of our buildings The electrical issues identified that have forced the closure of King’s Road - and we regret that it has caused disruption to the service - have hastened that discussion about how that investment would be best spent to meet Ulverston’s needs A: Originally we had an agreement to hire the Ante Room in The Coro from the former operator and therefore the opening hours of the pop-up library had to be in line with the opening hours of The Coro These opening times were fairly limited and we know this had caused some concern about access to library services from 1 January 2024 the council took over the management of The Coro and has therefore been able to review the operating hours of the venue and the opening hours of the temporary library service We have now put in place much longer opening hours and weekend opening The temporary library in the Supper Room at the Coro is now open in line with those at King's Road and the Supper Room is open at the following times: The Supper Room in The Coro is served by a DDA compliant lift The shelving in the Supper Room itself has been arranged to allow wheelchair access and our library staff will also be on hand to help customers to access books and the full range of library services The Coro is also on the ‘town’ side of the A590 which we are hoping will make it easier and more convenient for the majority of people to access We know from speaking to our regular customers that having to cross the busy A590 to get to King’s Road was always one of its disadvantages especially for people with mobility issues There's a bus stop opposite the Coro entrance and there are disabled parking bays immediately outside the Coro There's also a public car park with more disabled parking just around the corner in Theatre Street.  We also offer a home delivery service and have added extra resource in this area to support people to access lending services while the library building is closed Anyone unable to visit the temporary library during opening hours and who wants to find out more about  this service can call 01539 713524 to talk to library staff about being added to the home delivery We fully recognise the library’s importance to Ulverston. We have been clear that the council considers the library service in Ulverston to be one of our most important in the new council area but also provides a home to community group meetings and community-based services with more than 2,800 members and an average 4,000 footfall each month It is a model of the sort of vital community-focused service that this council values highly We recognise its importance to the town and we are fully committed to retaining and delivering a library service in Ulverston that maintains that community-centred approach we are looking for opportunities to expand and enhance the library offer in Ulverston so we can build on the great work of the current library building but want to consider if we can do even better offer even more and we want to look at how that could be achieved we know that Ulverston is one of our most active and popular libraries both with users of the service and the many community groups organisations and individuals who use the building for everything from being a place to get out of the cold during the winter months as one of our ‘Warm Spots’ to access to public PCs and printers and a place to meet and socialise The first phase of the temporary pop-up library service in the Ante Room at the Coro had public access laptops and printers available and the second phase of the pop-up service in the market hall included space for regular activities such as community group meetings The Market Hall units will continue to be used as a meeting space for community groups - including the young people’s chess club and an advice and support group for Ukrainian refugees - whose members have indicated they would like to stay in the market for now The council is also discussing with the Repair Café group about using the Market Hall units for their activities including providing repair services for clothing and small electrical items The temporary library in the Supper Room at The Coro is a fully flexible space with shelving that  can be moved to create a multi-functional room that is still available for hires and activities and has already been used for activities connected to events in the main hall we fully intend that the long-term plan for Ulverston library services will continue to include provision for community groups and organisations A modern library is about much more than borrowing books and we see this community-focused offer as the lifeblood of the library It is also precisely why we are considering all our options for the future location so that we can look to maximise that community benefit accessible community space where we can even expand and develop that side of the service Subscribe today and we'll email you the latest newsletter updates about your new council Choose from a range of topics so that you only receive emails about the areas and services which interest you the most Subscribe to news updates New Help improve this site by giving feedback Only use this form to give us feedback about how the website is working - If you want to tell us about an issue or problem with our services, or you need a response to an issue, please contact us