Tuesday 29 November 2011

Don’t drink and drive this Christmas

Cumbria police are warning motorists not to drink and drive this Christmas.

The annual crackdown begins on Thursday 1 December and will run throughout the festive period.

The legal drink drive limit is 35 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath or 80 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, which is difficult to quantify in terms of how many drinks a person can have, so police in Cumbria are urging people to stick to a ‘no drinks’ rule if they are planning to get behind the wheel.

Inspector Andy Wilkinson from Cumbria Constabulary’s Roads Policing Unit said: “People will use all sorts of methods to work out how many drinks they can have while staying under the legal limit, but it’s not worth the risk. It is far safer to avoid drinking all together if you are planning to drive.

“We don’t want to stop people enjoying themselves over the festive season, but the fact is that alcohol, even in small doses, impairs your reaction times and makes you more dangerous behind the wheel.

“Police are doing all they can to make Cumbria’s roads safer, but it is up to all of us to spread the word that drink driving is unacceptable. If you know someone who is taking the risk, confront them if you can, or report them to police.

“With a bit of planning, it’s easy to make sure your Christmas night out ends safely - nominate a driver who agrees not to drink or arrange to travel home in a taxi or on public transport.

“Many drivers forget that if you’ve been drinking the previous night you may still be over the limit the following morning, so think about how you are going to travel to work or get around the morning after the night before.”

Police officers will be enforcing drink drive legislation by conducting targeted road checks and will be educating people about the dangers of drink driving online when they launch their own Twitter account @cumbriaroadspol.

Chief Inspector Kevin Greenhow, who heads up the Constabulary’s Roads Policing Unit, added: “We are committed to making Cumbria’s roads as safe as possible and we will not tolerate anyone who endangers the lives of others by choosing to drive when under the influence of drink or drugs. People need to realise this issue is as much about personal responsibility as it is about police enforcement, so we would encourage people to pass the message on, and remind friends and relatives that drink driving is unacceptable.

“We all need to plan ahead this Christmas, to ensure we have a safe way of getting home after having a drink, whether that is with a nominated driver, on public transport or in a taxi.

“If you decide to drive whilst under the influence you are not only risking your own life, you are also putting other innocent road users at risk.

“The simple message is that if you choose to drink and drive in Cumbria, you will be targeted by police and will face the inevitable consequences that accompany a drink drive conviction.”

Friday 25 November 2011

Thought for the Week

“I am beginning to realise that no matter which side you are on, had we all lived each others’ lives we could all have done what the other did.” Jo Berry (whose father Sir Anthony Berry was killed in the 1984 Brighton IRA bomb).

Tuesday 22 November 2011

Love Barrow Awards 2012 - nominations still open!

The Love Barrow Awards 2012 nominations are closing this week! This is your chance to nominate that special person who goes the extra mile in your community. Get your nomination in today. We are looking for nominations for;

Citizen of the Year - awarded to people who have made an outstanding contribution to Barrow and Furness through their voluntary and/or professional contribution to community life.

Young Citizen of the Year - awarded to a young person aged 18 and under who has made an outstanding contribution to Barrow and Furness through their voluntary and/or professional contribution to community life.

Group/Project of the Year - awarded to a group or project that has made a real difference to the lives of people in the local community through their voluntary and/or professional work.

Teacher of the Year - acknowledges the contribution of those who promote learning in our community in an inspirational way. The nominations can include people from formal and community based settings.

Carer of the Year - to recognise the valuable contribution that carers make to our community, this includes professional or voluntary work and might include nurses, social workers or family carers.

Sports Volunteer of the Year - recognises the outstanding voluntary contribution of individuals who are the lifeblood of our local sporting community.

Environmental Volunteer of the Year - acknowledges the outstanding voluntary contribution of individuals to maintaining our natural environment and working to promote sustainable living.

The Courage Award - this award seeks to recognise the real depths of courage that ordinary people show in difficult circumstances. This might include acts of bravery by people in the emergency services or ordinary members of the public who are ‘first on the scene’ of emergency or critical situations. It also seeks to recognise the daily courage that people show in facing life’s challenges, such as illness and loss, and the courage of individuals to turn these difficult circumstances into positive action for the good of the community.

Monday 21 November 2011

Spanish Tapas Taster Session at CADAS

Friday 25 November 2011. Cumbria Alcohol Drugs and Advisory Service are holding a Spanish tapas taster session on from noon to 1.30pm. The event will take place at CADAS centre on 52 Paradise Street, Barrow, for donations of £3. Places are limited to 25 so please book early on 01229 811111.

Junior Wardens nominated for Love Barrow Award

Neighbourhood Management's Junior Warden scheme has been nominated for the Love Barrow Awards 2012. The group were runners-up in last years awards .

You can read the full Evening mail article at the link below.

Wednesday 16 November 2011

Constabulary reviews will save £millions

As a result of Government budget cuts, Cumbria Constabulary must save £18.7million by 2015, and a further £1.6m by 2016, which is equivalent to a 20 per cent fall in income.

The priority for local communities is funding frontline policing in Cumbria, so a programme of reviews was launched to identify savings in other Constabulary functions. These included a review of the Constabulary’s administrative teams, Communications Centre – the team that answers 999 and non-emergency calls and dispatches the relevant resources, Crime Management Units – the teams that support and audit the crime management and recording processes, and the Constabulary’s fleet and travel costs.

The Constabulary’s Chief Officer Group met this week to discuss the reviews and approve the implementation of a number of changes that will improve efficiency.

The biggest changes come as a result of the administration review, which identified that the Constabulary could make significant savings by drawing together all of the administrative functions across the force into one Central Services Department, providing a smaller, more efficient service to officers and staff. This service centre will be based in Police Headquarters in Penrith and will manage personnel, finance, training and other administrative tasks such as travel bookings, civil litigation and operational support.

The implementation of the new Central Services Department will save in the region of £660,000 per annum from the 2012/13 financial year onwards. It will also provide the structure and capacity for the Constabulary to make the savings identified in the Fleet and in Crime Management Unit Reviews and this, together with implementing new technology to support the department, will save a further £58,000 in 2012/13 and around £258,000 per annum from 2013/14 onwards.

The Communications Centre review has identified that changing the team’s staffing structure will increase resilience and flexibility, meaning they can deliver their service to the community more efficiently, with fewer overtime payments. This will save in the region of £352,000 budget savings and £70,000 efficiencies per annum.

The aim of the fleet and transport services review was to reduce spending by identifying the most cost effective way of replacing and maintaining police vehicles and the cheapest way for officers and staff to travel. Changes to the existing fleet structure and working practices will save in the region of £1.45million over three years plus £230,000 per annum from reducing officer and staff travel costs.

The Crime Management Unit (CMU) review identified that by reducing the bureaucracy and simplifying the processes around crime management, and ensuring that the performance and audit strategies are more effective, the Constabulary could be more efficient by centralising the functions to create one Constabulary-wide team, based at Police Headquarters in Penrith.

The implementation of a new central Crime Management Unit will save in the region of £133,000 per annum and will mean three police officers return to frontline duties in the short term, with another one returning to frontline duties once the changes have been implemented.

In all, 56.3 full time equivalent posts* will go as a result of these reviews. Some of the staff affected by these reviews have opted to take voluntary redundancy and the Constabulary is working hard to minimise compulsory redundancies by finding alternative employment for the affected individuals within the Constabulary.

Everyone affected by the changes will be in their new roles, or will leave the Constabulary, before the end of March 2012 and the programme of reviews will continue to identify efficiencies to ensure the overall target of savings is met.

Chief Constable Craig Mackey said: “The priority for Cumbria Police is to protect the community, investigate crime and prosecute criminals. To do this, we must find ways of saving money that have the least impact on frontline policing. Our challenge is to continue providing an excellent policing service to the people of Cumbria on a reduced budget, so we are making some difficult choices.

“I am very conscious that when we talk about making savings we are often talking about people’s jobs, but we have got to make these savings, and we have got to deliver the best possible police service that we can with the amount of money available.

“To achieve this, we have had to prioritise our frontline services, and streamline our support functions, by being more innovative and creative and by using new technology.

“We have already made savings and our ongoing reviews are transforming the way we deliver a policing service to the people of Cumbria. We are embracing new technology and using this as an opportunity to reduce bureaucracy and streamline services so that police officers and PCSO's can spend more time on the streets, and to ensure we continue delivering support services, such as administration and fleet management, on a smaller budget.

“There is no doubt that we will be a smaller organisation after we implement these changes, but we are firmly committed to providing frontline policing in local neighbourhoods and maintaining a good performance with low levels of crime and anti-social behaviour across Cumbria.

“Our ultimate aim is to provide the best policing service that we can afford so that Cumbria remains a safe place to live, work and visit.”

*A Full Time Equivalent post is a role that requires 37 hours per week to conduct. Most are conducted by one member of staff, but others may be conducted by two or more part-time staff. Consequently, we cannot say exactly how many members of staff will leave the Constabulary as a result of these changes, but we do know how many Full Time Equivalent posts are being removed.

Police and Fire Service to host joint web chat in Barrow

Barrow police are joining forces with the Fire and Rescue Service to host an online meeting this week to provide local residents with the chance to ‘chat’ with some of the area’s top emergency service personnel from the comfort of their own homes.

By logging onto www.cumbria.police.uk/barrowmeeting on Wednesday 16th November between 6.30pm and 8.30pm, residents will be given a chance to speak to members of their emergency services and ask them questions, by taking part in an online meeting.

At the same time as raising questions to local Inspector David Bosson about issues in their local area or sharing any concerns they may have, Roger Exley, Deputy Locality Manager for Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service will also be in the hot seat and able to answer questions about fire safety.

Another guest taking part in the web chat is Sergeant John McIntosh who is a member of the Neighbourhood Police team and has responsibility for Dalton and the rural communities.

Neighbourhood Policing Team Inspector David Bosson said: “Community meetings are great ways for residents to put forward their views on what police should be doing and how, and online meetings have been a great way to get people together to express their views. This is the first time in Barrow we have been joined by a member of Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service and I am looking forward to it.”

Roger Exley from Barrow Fire & Rescue said: “We know that the recent web chats have been successful and the community have taken the opportunity to log on and ask the questions they want to in a convenient, simple way – without having to leave their homes or families.

“I’m looking forward to taking part and hope that lots of people join us.”

Tuesday 15 November 2011

Xmas is coming ...


 Switch on of Barrow Christmas Lights
 Experience the magic of Christmas and feel the excitement come alive in Barrow Town Centre when the Christmas lights are switched on by Councillor John Murphy, Mayor of Barrow-in-Furness and guests. Taylor’s Amusements will have children’s roundabouts and funfair stalls on Dalton Road.
Saturday 19th November 2011.
The switch on itself will be hosted by Tony “Cooky” Cookson and Danny Matthews of Bay Radio. The Bay live stage will be feature The Steps Experience, the UK’s leading tribute act to Steps and also tribute act Jessie Jay. Festivities will commence at 3.30 pm, the lights will be switched on at just after 5pm and music will continue until 5.30pm.
For safety reasons Duke Street from Schneider Squarer to its junction with Market St will be closed from 4-6pm. Lawson St and Market Stwill be open to access to Market St car park only. All bus services coming off Walney and Barrow Island will be diverted at Schneider Square roundabout to Cornwallis Street bus stops.

The Mayor Of Barrows Charity Christmas Concert
With Special Guests VOCE
Friday 2nd December 2011in Barrow Town Hall - Banqueting Hall
Tickets £5 including Tea, Coffee and a Mince Pie.
Join the Mayor of Barrow for a special celebration of Christmas. Performing on the night will be the fantastic local group, Voce.
All funds raised will go towards the Mayor’s defibrillator fundraising campaign to provide businesses, clubs and organisations with defibrillators, which are used to treat people following cardiac arrest, as Barrow has one of the highest rates of heart disease in the Borough.

 Family Christmas party at the Forum, Duke Street     
The Mayor of Barrow, will be hosting a Family Christmas Party to be held on Saturday, 3rd December, commencing at 7 pm at the Forum.
    The evening will include fun and games, a disco and a very special guest. Tickets are now on sale at the Forum, £5 adults, £3 children (including hot dog and party bag), £15 family ticket.

All proceeds will be donated to the Mayor's defibrillator fundraising campaign. For more information ring 01229 820000

Wednesday 9 November 2011

Junior Wardens

At the start of the Carnival 2009Yes!Off and away now.They're off!Going into the waterPaddles up
Receiving instructionsGetting readyJunior Wardens at Furness Abbey 2010Games at the AbbeyLook through any windowHaving a chat
More smiling faces at barrow Carnival 2010Two smiling faces - Junior Wardens collecting at Barrow Carnival 2010Warden Paul and Junior Wardens at the assembly point for Barrow CarnivalJunior and Neighbourhood Wardens at Furness AbbeyPlaying ball games in the sun at Furness AbbeyExploring the site
A well earned breakJunior wardens at Furness AbbeyAnd now for my next trick ...Proud of her workPre-beach clean briefingGroup photo at Roanhead

Junior Wardens, a set on Flickr.

Our Flickr photo gallery of Junior Wardens over the last couple of years.

Family Christmas Party at the Forum, Barrow

The Mayor of Barrow, will be hosting a Family Christmas Party to be held on Saturday, 3rd December, commencing at 7 pm at the Forum.

The evening will include fun and games, a disco and a very special guest.

Tickets are now on sale at the Forum, £5 adults, £3 children (including hot dog and party bag), £15 family ticket.

All proceeds will be donated to the Mayor's defibrillator fundraising campaign.

The magic of christmas and switch on of Barrow christmas lights

Experience the magic of Christmas and feel the excitement come alive in Barrow Town Centre when the Christmas lights are switched on on Saturday 19th November by Councillor John Murphy, Mayor of Barrow-in-Furness and guests.

Taylor’s Amusements will have children’s roundabouts and funfair stalls on Dalton Road.

The switch on itself will be hosted by Tony “Cooky” Cookson and Danny Matthews of Bay Radio. The Bay live stage will be feature The Steps Experience, the UK’s leading tribute act to Steps and also tribute act Jessie Jay. Festivities will commence at 3.30 pm, the lights will be switched on at just after 5 pm and music will continue until 5.30 pm.

For safety reasons Duke St from Schneider Sqr to its junction with Market St will be closed from 4-6pm. Lawson St and Market St will be open to access to Market St car park only. All bus services coming off Walney and Barrow Island will be diverted at Schneiedr Sqr roundabout to Cornwallis St bus stops.

Ann Taylforth, Barrow Town Centre Manager commented “We are very grateful to BAE Systems Community First Aid Team who are providing first aid cover on the day.  I am also very grateful to Barrow Rotary Club, Furness Rotary Club, Furness Peninsula Rotary Club and Barrow Submariners Association for helping us to steward this event."

Winter safety advice for your home from Cumbria police

Tuesday 8 November 2011

Cumbrian motorists fined for faulty tyres during Tyresafe month

Throughout October, Cumbria Constabulary and other police forces around the country joined forces to raise awareness of tyre safety in the run up to winter.

During October which was dubbed ‘Tyresafe’ month, Cumbria Constabulary carried out a number of mobile and static vehicle checks, 36 people received fixed penalty notices which required them to pay a £60 fine and have 3 points put on their driving licence, and 8 people have been summonsed to court for tyre related offences.

Eleven vehicles were stopped and prohibited from being driven any further due to the condition of the tyres and the dangers they presented to the motorists and other drivers. In many cases this results in a tyre company being called out and a lengthy wait at the roadside.

PC Shaun McKeown from the Collision Investigation Unit led the campaign in Cumbria. He has worked closely with Tyresafe for a number of years and was last year’s national winner of the Annual Tyresafe Award.

He said It’s not just the driver who can be prosecuted for tyre-related offences. The registered keeper of a vehicle has a duty to ensure that their vehicle is road worthy so checking your vehicle really is important.

“There are increasing numbers of parents who buy and insure cars for their children and may not use the car very much but still remain responsible for the maintenance and condition of the vehicle so can find themselves being prosecuted for defects.

Tyre safety and ensuring your car is roadworthy can save lives– it can help avoid collisions and prevent you from suffering serious injuries on our roads. We always strive to improve road safety but pay particular attention to roadworthiness in the lead up to winter when conditions often worsen.”

The picture below shows a vehicle which left a road in Cumbria in wet conditions during October. The importance of checking the tyres across the whole width and not just the nearest groove to the outside can be seen by the uneven wear.

The tyre below was also found on a vehicle in Cumbria. The rubber has been completely worn away exposing the fabric and metal core of the tyre.  Each year tyres like this are the cause of serious and fatal collisions in Cumbria when they either fail to grip or blow out which can result in tragedy.

PC Shaun McKeown continued “What was noticeable during the checks that were carried out throughout October was that there are a lot more people running their vehicles on tyres with legal, but very low tread. Whilst they may be legal, it is important that motorists realise that these tyres will be a lot less effective during winter months. I would urge people to continue performing the 20p test on their tyres and if in any doubt visit a local tyre centre for their advice."

For more information visit http://www.tyresafe.org/ for more advice.

To see a video explaining more about the 20p test, visit http://www.cumbria.police.uk/advice-and-information/road-and-vehicle-safety/tyre-safety

Monday 7 November 2011

Police in Cumbria are urging web users to increase their security and stay safe online.

Officers have pledged their support to national ‘Get Safe Online Week’, which runs from Monday the 7th to Friday the 11th of November, and aims to encourage people to learn more about internet fraud and make sure their computer is properly protected.

Throughout the week, Cumbria Police will be posting online safety advice on their Twitter account, and publishing tips, videos and examples of online fraud on their website and Facebook pages to raise awareness of the issue.

As well as posting advice, officers will also take questions from their Twitter followers and provide safety advice on topics such as shopping online, identity theft, protecting your PC and how to help individuals and smaller businesses make responsible choices when using the Internet.

Cumbria Constabulary’s Deputy Chief Constable, Stuart Hyde, said: “It is important that people in Cumbria understand online risks and the simple steps that can be taken to protect themselves from becoming a victim of crime.

“People can be lulled into a false sense of security when making purchases online because it is so easy, but we need to be vigilant with our bank accounts and with any purchases we make online. Use a variety of passwords that would be difficult to guess, check your bank account regularly to spot unusual activity early, and remember that if a deal seems too good to be true, it usually is.

“It is important to be aware of the risks now, before you starting to make all of your Christmas purchases, as online fraudsters hide behind their computer screens and can steal somebody’s life savings without ever coming into contact with them.

“Thankfully, identity fraud is not a major problem in Cumbria, so help us keep it that way by being security conscious online.”

Financial investigators have joined forces with Action Fraud who provide a dedicated service to detecting and preventing fraud in Cumbria and the UK.

For more information about Get Safe Online Week and how to ask your questions go to http://www.cumbria.police.uk/safeonline or follow Cumbria Police on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cumbriapolice

Thursday 3 November 2011


Thought for the Week

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” C.S. Lewis

Barrow gets in the Festive Mood would you like to join in?

Do you have a School Choir, Drama Group, Band or Church Choir?  Would you like to entertain shoppers on the streets of Barrow or in Barrow Market this Christmas?

Every year Barrow Indoor Market plays host to many local schools and choirs in the run up to Christmas. If you would like to entertain in the market, be it only for half an hour or so please contact Mrs. Joyce Ames, Markets Manager on 01229 876555 to book your slot. Carol singers are allowed a bucket collection during performances. The Indoor Market is normally open Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays but from Friday, 9th December until Friday, 23rd December, the market will be open every day from 9 am to 5 pm. The market will be open on Sundays 11th and 18th December 11am until 4pm and Christmas Eve, Saturday 24th December 9am to 4pm.

Alternatively you may wish to perform on
Dalton Road
or Portland Walk. If you wish to perform on the street, please contact Mrs Ann Taylforth, Town Centre and Festivals Manager on 01229 876389 to book your slot.

Mrs. Ann Taylforth, Town Centre and Festivals Manager commented “Last year we had a lovely programme of entertainment in the run up to Christmas and we are always really grateful that local schools, the Salvation Army and Barrow Churches usually come and entertain shoppers.  If anyone wants to help and entertain in the Christmas period we will be very grateful.  Several groups have already come forward.”

Please contact Mrs. Ann Taylforth, Town Centre and Festivals Manager on 01229 876389 for further details.

Wednesday 2 November 2011

Cold caller warning for older people

Cumbria Trading Standards is advising consumers, particularly vulnerable older people, that they may be targeted by cold callers masquerading as representatives of adult social care.

A number of companies have been reported selling stair lifts and disability aids after cold calling residents in the Kendal area.

The callers often telephone first and have been giving the impression that they are representing either the council or health service. They may also describe themselves as 'therapists'. However, once they are invited in, they begin a hard sell on various occupational therapy goods. These can include mattresses, stair lifts as well as other disability aids.

Angela Jones, Cumbria County Council's Trading Standards Service Manager, said "These firms are purely sales driven and may give a false impression that they are acting on behalf of Cumbria County Council to gain access to consumers' homes. Once there they may try to sell goods which consumers may not want or need. The council does not cold call individuals to sell goods.

"Our advice is to not agree to any visits from these firms - they are not qualified as occupational therapists and they are not acting in your interests. If you have bought goods, you have 7 days to cancel. Please exercise these rights immediately if you don’t want the goods or feel that you have been pressured into buying them."

For more information or if you need further advice please contact Trading Standards via Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.

If the caller claims to be from Adult Social Care or if you need advice on disability aids or mobility goods please contact Cumbria County Council Adult Social Care on 01228 227105. 

Police issue tips to keep motorists safe on Cumbrian roads this winter

Police and the Highways Agency are urging motorists to take care on Cumbria’s roads as wintery weather begins to set in across the county.

As the nights draw in and winter sets in, the worsening weather will inevitably lead to periods of treacherous road conditions over the coming months, so Cumbrian police officers and the Highways Agency today issued road safety advice urging drivers to take extra care, maintain their vehicles and drive to the conditions.

Chief Inspector Kevin Greenhow, head of Cumbria Constabulary’s Roads Policing Unit, said ”As temperatures drop and the winter weather sets in it is even more important to take care on Cumbria’s roads.

“Safe winter motoring always starts with the driver. My officers have attended too many crashes which could have been prevented if drivers had planned ahead, maintained their vehicle properly and adapted their driving style and speed according to the road conditions. We want drivers to plan ahead and take note of some simple steps they can take to help minimise the risks this winter.”

Top tips for safe winter driving
Plan your journey in advance:
· Check local and national weather forecasts and tune into local radio stations to check on road conditions and closures, or visit the Traffic Information page at http://www.cumbria.police.uk/ for live updates on road closures and delays.
· Tell someone at your destination what time you expect to arrive and ensure you have a charged mobile phone with you
· Make sure you are equipped with warm clothes, food, boots and a torch. In snowy conditions, take a spade
· Clear your windows and mirrors fully before you set off and carry a screen scraper and de-icer

If you have an accident, break-down or become stuck in bad weather conditions:
· Do not use a mobile phone while driving. Stop somewhere safe or ask a passenger to make the call
· On a motorway, it is best to use a roadside emergency telephone because the emergency services and breakdown recovery services will be able to locate you easily. If you have to use a mobile phone, make sure you know your location from the numbers on the marker posts on the side of the hard shoulder
· If you have to leave your vehicle to get help, make sure other drivers can see you

Vehicle maintenance:
· Keep lights, windows and mirrors clean and free from ice and snow
· Keep your battery fully charged
· Add anti-freeze to the radiator and winter additive to the windscreen washer
· Make sure wipers and lights are in good working order
· Check that tyres have plenty of tread depth and are maintained at the correct pressure. Consider changing to high performance winter tyres.

Drive according to weather conditions:
· Allow extra time and distance to brake as it can take ten times longer to stop in wet or icy conditions
· Adapt your driving behaviour. Keep in mind the decreased visibility and changing road conditions.
· Slow down and avoid sudden or jerky movements are all vital to safe winter driving
· When driving on ice or snow use the highest gear possible to avoid wheel spin
· To brake on ice or snow without locking your wheels, get into a low gear earlier than normal, allow your speed to fall and use the brake pedal gently
· Be wary of satellite navigation systems as they tend to direct you over high rural roads that are likely to be closed or particularly hazardous in winter
· Do not assume that pedestrians have seen you. They may be elderly, young or not be able to hear you
· Do not attempt to cross flooded roads if the water seems too deep
· Drive slowly through water in first gear but keep the engine speed high by slipping the clutch - this will stop you from stalling
· Test your brakes when you have driven through a flood before you drive again at normal speed

Prepare a winter driving emergency kit to keep in your vehicle, which should include:
· Ice scraper and de-icer
· Torch and spare batteries – or a wind-up torch
· Warm clothes and blankets - for you and all passengers
· Boots
· First aid kit
· Jump leads
· A shovel
· Road atlas
· Sunglasses (the glare off snow can be dazzling)

If you would like to speak to an officer for further advice on how to stay safe on the county’s roads please contact Cumbria Roads Policing Unit on 0845 33 00 247. In an emergency always call 999.

For further information about highways and safe motoring visit www.highways.gov.uk/winter