A recent incident involving a volunteer group, Friends of Penrith Cemetery, and Westmorland and Furness Council has raised questions regarding the procedures for litter picking in Penrith Cemetery.
The controversy arose when the council informed the group that they needed to seek permission for future litter picking activities in the cemetery, leading to the cancellation of a planned event.
The Friends of Penrith Cemetery, a newly established volunteer group, came into existence following the installation of concrete rafting in the cemetery grounds earlier this year by Westmorland and Furess Council. The group had successfully campaigned for the removal of the rafting. The group planned to conduct a small, informal litter pick in the cemetery this Saturday.
However, the group's event took an unexpected turn after they extended an invitation to others in the community to join them in their litter picking efforts.
Westmorland and Furness Council, the owner of Penrith Cemetery, contacted the volunteer group. A representative of Westmorland and Funress council advised the group that in needed to seek official permission for litter picking activities within the cemetery grounds from the council.
The requirement to seek permission caught the group off guard and led to the cancellation of their planned litter pick. This action prompted inquiries and concerns from the community about the council's stance on volunteer-driven cleanup initiatives in the community. An activity that has grown in popularity and numbers during the pandemic and continued since with a group called the Eden Wombles established championing the movment.
In response to the mounting questions and concerns, Westmorland and Furness Council issued a statement addressing the situation. The council stated, "As a council, we are very grateful to the many volunteers who carry out litter picks across Westmorland and Furness, and we are happy to support them with loans of equipment and guidance on health and safety. The council does not require groups to ask for permission to carry out litter picks. In this particular instance, all we asked of the group was to let us know beforehand so that we can check the diary and make sure there aren't funeral services taking place in the cemetery at the same time."
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