Mike Starkie

It was extremely disappointing to hear South Lakeland MP Tim Farron has asked the government to scrutinise the decision to grant permission for a mine in West Cumbria.

Like many of you, I have watched the growing tensions between politicians on all sides of the political divide argue and debate their respective positions on the subject of Brexit.

Last Sunday, I was delighted to attend the historic match between Millom and Red Star Belgrade, which was a fantastic occasion for the town and for the game of rugby league.

I’D like to wish all readers of The Mail a very happy new year.

THERE is no doubt that local government reform is going to be on the Government’s agenda in the very near future.

I AM delighted to announce the provisional financial outturn shows that Copeland Council will have come within one per cent of budget for 2017/18.

Copeland is at the Centre of Nuclear Excellence and there are huge advantages to developing in an area that already has unparalleled capability in nuclear, and the ability to extract the value of existing investment makes this an attractive opportunity and a national asset.

When we get to the end of the current term for the council, I sincerely believe the greatest achievement of this administration is that the council has actually financially survived that long.

AS I anticipated, Ray Gill, the leader of the Copeland Labour Party, has reacted with indignation at recent press coverage where factual information that has been in the public domain for some time was published.