HERE at Copeland Council, we are urging residents to do their bit and sign up to take part in a countywide clean-up campaign.

The Great Cumbrian Litter Pick will see communities across Copeland gather together on Friday, July 6 for the area’s biggest clean-up. As a council, we’re supporting the event by providing litter-picking equipment and taking away the collected rubbish. And we’re getting behind the event because it epitomises what our Copeland Pride of Place campaign is all about; it was created to help tackle the issues that blight our borough. Littering continues to be a scourge on our communities and we are doing everything possible to discourage people from littering in our areas. We live in an area of exceptional natural beauty and I am perturbed that residents and visitors to the area continue to spoil our stunning scenery in this way. This is why I am passionate about this campaign and supporting events such as this, and I urge everyone who is able to take part in the event to do so. We can only begin to eradicate this issue with the full community’s help and support, and I’d like to thank the Friends of the Lake District for organising the event and each and every resident that signs up to play their part in protecting and taking pride on our beautiful borough. Speaking of our Pride of Place campaign, time is running out for businesses in South Copeland to apply for grants to improve the appearance of their premises. So far, we’ve awarded grants to 34 businesses of up to £5,000 for improvements to shopfronts, windows and frames, doorways, external decoration and signage. It is a 50 per cent contribution from us, which means that businesses are required to invest at least the same amount to receive the grant. The take-up in South Copeland has been extremely encouraging, with grants already going to Cambridge House Hotel, Stag’s Gents Hair Salon, Haverigg Post Office, Citizens Advice, Pet Shop, Woodalls Butchers, Deano’s Place, Bed Shop, Mr Wok’s Thai Orchid, Chiropodist, Richmond Fellowship and Unit 1 and 2 Midland Chambers. And it’s not just town centre businesses that can apply, as the scheme is now open to all commercial premises in the borough (excluding industrial estates and business parks). This is a fantastic project that gives business owners the chance to improve the visual appearance of their premises for a fraction of the total cost. I’m enormously proud at the improvements that have been made to our towns and villages so far through this scheme and am very much looking forward to seeing the end result of all the grants that have been awarded. The deadline for applications is September 1, and for more information contact our Economic Development department by email at shopfront@copeland.gov.uk or by calling 01946 598433.