Minutes
Annual Parish Meeting
15th May 2025

Bootle Parish Annual Parish Meeting

Date: 15 May 2025
Time: 7.30pm
Venue: Captain Shaw’s School, Bootle

P1 Present: 21 members of the public were present.

P2: Mrs Lesley Cooper was elected as Clerk for the meeting.

P3 Chairman’s Report

• The Chair of the Parish Council, Cllr Kenworthy, gave a report on the Council’s activities.
• Road closures on the A595 – no alternative route as Corney Bridge is closed. Work is committed to commence on replacing Corney Bridge, to be completed in September.
• Speeding through villages reported to Police/Cumberland. Speed monitoring at the bridge showed it is not a major issue, but it is important for all to report incidents to the Police.
• Protection of the beach road at Stubbs Place – Cumberland are investigating and developing a scheme in conjunction with QinetiQ.
• Continued support for Bootle in Bloom and litter picks; they won another Gold and Silver Gilt award – thanks and congratulations to all involved.
• BDSSA – supporting the project.
• Wellbank project – work is starting on a safe footpath from Wellbank to the station in conjunction with Wellbank, LDNP and Cumberland Council. Route from Wellbank via Inman’s Farm to the station, with a semi-sealed surface for pushchairs/wheelchairs. Work to commence early June. A quote has been received for a roadside path, some funding has been secured and the remainder applied for. Cumberland will install, adopt and maintain the roadside path.
• Wellbank complex will include a swimming pool allowing Parish access for 2 hours per day, plus school swimming.
• Defib now installed at Monk Moors.
• New benches installed around the parish and provided for the school field.
• Dog waste bins reinstated at Hycemoor; still good practice to take it home and place in dustbin.
• Woodland – replanting/maintenance has taken place over winter. Bracken around trees requires trampling down.
• Cllr Faulkner is pursuing faster broadband for remote areas, which should be installed by 2026.

P4 Muncaster Microbus – David Marsden and Liz Clegg

Requires more volunteers to drive the bus. Tuesday/Thursday trips with door-to-door pickup. One a month to Egremont farmers market. Based in Ravenglass. Alternate Saturdays there are trips into the Lakes. They would appreciate people’s thoughts/views on how it can improve for Bootle. Suggested a monthly timetable on Bootle Crack. Can be hired out to community groups and has disabled access. Received funding from GDF for a replacement bus.

P5 BDSSA Project

Cllr Kenworthy gave an update. All surveys are now completed and fed back to the design. Plans are to be drawn up for submission; when plans are done they will be placed on Facebook with images of how the buildings will look.

P6 Launch Community Plan Questionnaire

Being developed and will launch following the June meeting. It is important that everyone completes it and gives feedback.

P7 WI

Recruitment drive has resulted in 9 new members. Celebrating 100 years of the WI, with a party planned for Sunday 18 May. Free coffee morning on Saturday 17th with a display of memorabilia. Supporting Bootle in Bloom with litter picks and sweep prior to judging. Little garden designed celebration. Planning trips to the theatre. Meet on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at Captain Shaw’s.

P8 Street Map

A draft of the proposed street map was shown to help delivery drivers. Suggested that the council put up road signs.

P9 Councillor Vacancies

Still require 3 more councillors.

P10 Comments from the Floor

• No events for VE Day organised.
• Community litter pick.
• Village magazine?
• Duddon/Esk cycle way making progress.
• Bootle in Bloom – could the road sweeper come and sweep Main Street in June prior to judging?
• Could there be a raised flower bed “Welcome to Bootle” on the grass by the car park?
• Bus shelter – roof leaking, falling to bits – Cllr Pratt to chase/review.
• Defibs – WI organising a training day, open to all.
• River Annas – looking for EA to undertake gravel management.
• Abbeyfield/Alexander House – community care hub. Steering group formed; feasibility study undertaken and a business plan is being put together, working with local authorities and Health. Survey of the house to be undertaken to bring it back up to standard.
• No consultation regarding Mill Street closure.
• Homegroup – left state of gardens/rubbish. Name/number of houses to be passed to Cllr Pratt to raise with Homegroup.
• Road signs – left after works completed; Cllr Pratt to chase.

Meeting closed: 9.43pm.

Bootle Parish Council Accounts Summary

Balance as of 31 March 2025

Current Account: £19,851 (of which £16,606 allocated to BDSSA project)

Deposit Account: £26,392 (of which £15,860 allocated reserves)