THE MAYOR of Millom has sent a letter to the town's residents explaining the town council's stance on the area being included in the expansion of the Lake District National Park.

Councillor Bob Kelly wrote:

"Millom Town Council and others were presented with the policy of expansion which was that any areas deemed to be comparable with the existing National Park Area could be considered for inclusion. 

"It was immediately determined that the industrial heritage of Millom excluded it from this possibility.

"Haverigg, on the other hand, remained under consideration.

"I believe it was the Friends of the National Park who undertook surveys and concluded that Haverigg did not meet the criteria.

"There were several public meetings to inform local people of the plans and possibilities but at no point were Millom Town Council opposed to letting the investigations take place.

"Had either Millom or Haverigg proven suitable for possible inclusion it would then have been put to the local communities for their decision on whether to support the expansion to their areas."