News
Have Your Say on the Future of Westmorland & Furness
Westmorland & Furness Council has launched the first stage of consultation on its new Local Plan, which will help shape how and where development takes place across the area for many years to come.
This is an opportunity for residents, businesses and community organisations to help identify the issues the new Local Plan should address before detailed policies and future development sites are considered.
The consultation runs until 11 August 2026.
Topics include:
Health and Communities
Place
Economy
Climate and Nature
Travel and Infrastructure
Housing
There are two ways to take part:
Public Consultation
A short information document and online survey are available for all residents.
Public consultation:
https://placemaker.westmorlandandfurness.urbanintelligence.co.uk/p/document/49/
Further Information
More information about the Local Plan and the consultation process is available from Westmorland & Furness Council.
The Parish Council will also be considering the consultation at its next meeting before submitting its own response as a statutory consultee.
The consultation closes on 11 August 2026.
Kirkby Ireleth Parish Community Survey
The Kirkby Ireleth Parish Community Survey results have been published here. Paper copies will be made available to view at the Grizebeck, Beckside and Woodland Community facilities in due course. Thank you to those who have participated.
https://kirkbyirelethpc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260312-Parish-Council-Survey-2026-V1.pdf
Parish Emergency Toolkit
Emergencies are rare, but when they do happen they can affect rural communities like Kirkby Ireleth more quickly and for longer than elsewhere. Power cuts, flooding, severe weather, road closures or loss of communications can all disrupt normal services. This Parish Emergency Toolkit has been produced to help residents prepare in advance, know where to find reliable information, and understand how our community can support one another until normal services are restored. It offers practical guidance, key contact details, and local information to help keep people safe, connected, and resilient during periods of disruption.
https://kirkbyirelethpc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/20251220-KIPC-Parish-Emergency-Toolkit.pdf
Temporary Road Closure
A temporary road closure has been put in place to allow Fibrus Networks Limited to carry out utility works which are expected to commence 18th June 2025 and anticipated to take 3 days to complete.
Please see below details of the extents of the restriction(s) and any alternative route(s) which may be in place, the relevant legal notice can be viewed at https://api-gb.one.network/downloads/tm/4587/reactivation-notice-w-f_143653656_3920658_ffa773d8fe.pdf and a location plan clearly showing these extents can be found on one.network via link https://one.network/?tm=143653656
Location: U5095 Soutergate, from a point approx. 300m northeast of its junction with the A595, extending in a predominately easterly direction for a distance of approx. 400m.
Alternative Route: A suitable alternative route will be signed and made available via the unrestricted section of the U5095, C5016 and A595. A way for pedestrians and dismounted cyclists will be maintained at all times.
N.B Passage for Emergency Vehicles will be maintained where required for the duration of this restriction.
Should you have any queries in relation to this temporary Order please contact the Highways Hotline by calling 0300 373 3306 or via the Westmorland & Furness Council website, quoting the reference TTROW/15189
KIRKBY IN FURNESS SPEED DATA MONITORING
Speed data monitoring has been conducted in August and November 2024 (in locations 1, 2, 3 and 4 marked on the map) following concerns raised by Kirkby Ireleth Parish Council regarding speeding vehicles travelling through the village on the A595. Speed data collected in December 2022 has also been included in this report (location 5) as concerns have also been raised regarding vehicle speeds at Beckside. The posted speed limit (PSL) is 40mph in locations 1 and 2, 30mph in locations 3 and 4 and 20mph in location 5.
Westmorland and Furness Highways Officers conducted a site visit to determine the most suitable locations (based on extensive experience gathering high quality traffic data) to situate temporary data collection tubes which are used to collect the data over a seven-day period. Alongside the requirement for speed data tubes to be secured to street furniture, consideration must be made to ensure tubes are not situated in positions may be affected by close proximity of junctions, accesses or parked vehicles.
The ACPO limit refers to the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) enforcement threshold, which was a guideline used by police forces in the UK to determine when to take action against speeding drivers. Although ACPO was replaced by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), the general enforcement thresholds have remained similar. The guideline suggests that enforcement action (such as fines or points on a licence) typically begins at:
- Speed Limit + 10% + 2 mph
- 20 mph zone → Action at 24 mph
- 30 mph zone → Action at 35 mph
- 40 mph zone → Action at 46 mph
- 50 mph zone → Action at 57 mph
LOCATIONS
LOCATION 1
The two-way mean speed was recorded as 44.3mph. In a south westerly direction this was recorded as 42.3mph and in a northwesterly direction it was recorded as 46.2mph. The monitoring indicated that 35.1% of vehicles were travelling at speeds greater the ACPO Limit.
LOCATION 2
The two-way mean speed was recorded as 42.2mph. In a southerly direction this was recorded as 44.1mph and in a northerly direction it was recorded as 40.2mph. The monitoring indicated that 23.5% of vehicles were travelling at speeds greater the ACPO limit.
LOCATION 3
The two-way mean speed was recorded as 30.7mph. In a southerly direction this was recorded as 28.9mph and in a northerly direction it was recorded as 32.6mph. The monitoring indicated that 18.5% of vehicles were travelling at speeds greater the ACPO limit.
LOCATION 4
The two-way mean speed was recorded as 35.3mph. In a southerly direction this was recorded as 35.1mph and in a northerly direction it was recorded as 35.4mph. The monitoring indicated that 47.6% of vehicles were travelling at speeds greater the ACPO limit.
LOCATION 5
The two-way mean speed was recorded as 23.1mph. In a southeasterly direction this was recorded as 24.0mph and in a northwesterly direction it was recorded as 22.3mph. The monitoring indicated that 42.7% of vehicles were travelling at speeds greater the ACPO limit.
CONCLUSION
The data confirms that speeding remains a serious concern, with a significant proportion of vehicles exceeding enforcement thresholds, particularly in 30 mph and 20 mph zones. While many of these offenders are likely non-local drivers passing through, a proportion will be residents. This highlights the need for increased awareness and action to improve road safety in our village.
The Parish Council will use this data when lobbying Highways for further mitigation measures. While improved road markings are already planned, we will be pushing for better traffic calming solutions.
Your support in raising awareness and adhering to speed limits will help make Kirkby-in-Furness a safer place for everyone.
FULL REPORT HERE
