Last updated at 16:40, Monday, 07 January 2013

CALLS have been made to bring important services back to Millom, to prevent families from facing a 20-mile journey just to report the death of a loved one.

As part of her legacy, mayor of Millom, Councillor Janice Brown, is hoping to lobby Cumbria County Council to restore several services for the area.

She said: “We need a registrar in Millom. Even if it’s only for one or two days a week. It says by appointment on the door of the council offices.

“People thought they would ring for an appointment and someone would come out to see them.

“But you still have to go to Barrow. And if there’s something that you’ve forgotten you could spend all day going back and forth from Millom. We’re not saying the office should be open 24 hours a day, but surely somebody in the local area could be available as and when required.

“It’s a traumatic time when you lose somebody and not everyone has a car or family to be able to run them round.

“Even with a baby you’ve got to travel. They’re only in hospital for a short while now, but in my day you registered the baby in hospital because you were in for a while.’’

As well as a registrar, Cllr Brown is calling for initial bus pass registration to be brought back to Millom.

Eligible residents have to travel to Barrow or Whitehaven at present to complete the paper work required.

She said: “I know you can renew your bus pass over the phone but when you initially turn 60 you have to go to Barrow to get your bus pass, which means you’ve got to go on the bus or train to get a bus pass.’’

The county council says all services it delivers are kept under review, but there are no plans to bring additional services to Millom.

A Cumbria County Council spokesman said: “The county council continues to provide a wide range of services in Millom and the surrounding area at a time of severe reductions to the council’s funding.

“All services are kept under review but there are no plans at the current time for additional or new services in Millom.”

First published at 16:38, Monday, 07 January 2013
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk