COPELAND residents are set to be asked for their views on five of the borough’s conservation areas.

Copeland Council will run five public consultations before the end of 2020 - starting on Monday, October 12 - to invite feedback on its draft appraisal documents for Millom, Cleator Moor, Egremont, St Bees and Hensingham. The documents outline the special interest of the conservation areas, referring to their development, character and appearance.

The council will incorporate feedback received during the consultations into its final documents that will be used to aid decision-making in the areas.

The documents for Cleator Moor, Egremont, St Bees and Hensingham will be subject to a four-week public consultation followed by a virtual public meeting. The four-week consultation for Millom was completed prior to the outbreak of Covid-19, leaving only the public meeting part to take place.

The key date for Millom is the public meeting on October 16 at 1pm.

Councillor Andy Pratt, Portfolio Holder for Development Management, said: “Conservation area appraisals provide the opportunity to draw attention to Copeland’s important history, articulate the conservation challenges the borough faces, and support local residents, developers and planners to make informed decisions.

“During the consultations and public meetings, we will welcome feedback from interested parties to help us make sure these documents fully reflect the wealth of local knowledge available.”