Have your say on a new political map for Penrith and across Westmorland and Furness

The Local Government Boundary Commission wants to hear what residents and local organisations think about the proposals. A ten-week consultation on the proposals will run until 12th May 2025 that will see changes to the wards and numbers of councillors in Penrith and across Westmorland and Furness Council district. 

Launching the consultation Professor Colin Mellors, Chair of the Commission, said: “We want people in Westmorland and Furness to help us. “

“We have drawn up proposals for new wards in Westmorland and Furness. We want to make sure these new electoral arrangements reflect communities. We also want them to be easy to understand and convenient for local people.”

“Residents and local organisations can help us do that. We would like them to let us know whether they agree with our proposals before we take final decisions.”

Following from an initial consultation in 2024 the Commission has now published its proposals for changes to Westmorland and Furness. It is proposing that there should be 65 councillors representing 9 three-councillor wards, 13 two- councillor wards and 12 single-councillor wards. Most of the existing ward boundaries will change including the Penrith Wards that will remain as Penrith North and Penrith South but see a total of 5 councillors representing Penrith with Penrith North remaining with 2 councillors and Penrith South with three councillors.

The commission considered proposals to move voters and properties located between the A66 and Eamont Bridge that currently are located in Penrith South into the Eamont and Shap ward but has discounted this until such tome Westmorland and Furness Council conduct a parish governance review that could move the properties out of Penrith parish into Eamont Parish.

Proposals put forward by Westmorland and Furness Council, local political party Putting Cumbria First and comments by the town council were considered by the commission resulting in the additional councillors for Penrith and adjustments to the current ward boundaries in Penrith and neighbouring communities.

During the initial consultation the commission also received a number of submissions from individuals commenting on the make-up of Westmorland and Furness as a whole, with several submissions suggesting that Penrith be removed from Westmorland and Furness and placed in neighbouring Cumberland authority instead.

The commission said “This review is concerned only with the internal ward boundaries for Westmorland and Furness and cannot alter the external boundaries of the authority.”

In Penrith as part of the review Penrith town council will reduce by one councillor from the current 15 to 14 councillors split across just 5 wards from the current 6.

The Penrith east ward currently undergoing a by election will be scrapped with the following wards and councillors for the town council.

Penrith North with 5 town councillors - currently served by 4 councillors 

Penrith South with 2 town councillors

Penrith West with 3 town councillors

Penrith Pategill with 1 town councillor

Penrith Carleton with 3 town councillors - currently served by 2 councillors

The current Penrith East ward will be split between the expanded Penrith North and Penrith Carleton Wards for the town council.

The changes to both Westmorland and Furness council wards in Penrith and across the district will following the review be presented to parliament for approval and come into force at the 2027 all out elections for Westmorland and Furness Council and Penrith Town Council.

The final proposal consultation is open until the 12th of May and full details can be found on the Local Government Boundary Commission website at https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/westmorland-and-furness

People can also give their views by e-mail at reviews@lgbce.org.uk, and by post:

Review Officer (Westmorland and Furness)

LGBCE

7th Floor 

3 Bunhill Row 

London 

EC1Y 8YZ