Duddon Estuary Directory                         back to reference

The aims of this directory are

• To provide basic information on all the organisations relevant to the Duddon, their roles, responsibilities and activities;

• To provide a simple, informative guide to managers, planners and users of the Estuary and thus encourage networking;

• To provide information on the Duddon Estuary Partnership and Strategy to encourage wider participation.

The Directory is being produced on sheets that will bind into a standard A4 file. As amendments to the information are made, it is intended to mail these out to members of the Partnership and others on the mailing list on a regular basis.

The Duddon Estuary Partnership was established in 1992 at a time when central and local government, as well as conservation bodies, were coming to recognise the need for a new approach to the management of the Coastal Zone.

A Steering Group of officers was formed from Cumbria County Council, Barrow Borough Council, Copeland Borough Council, South Lakeland District Council, the Lake District National Park Authority and English Nature together with a working group of the same authorities.

Two main tasks were identified. The first was to consider the condition of the Duddon Estuary, its use, the aspirations of local people and the issues that affect the present and future environment and economic activity. In the light of this work, the second task was to suggest possible future mechanisms for the co-ordination of decisions affecting the Estuary, which would enable all relevant interests to be involved.

This work resulted in the publication of the Duddon Estuary Technical and Issues reports in April 1994.

While local authority officers as the relevant planning authorities and English Nature had carried forward the Partnership in its early days, this was seen as only a temporary arrangement. At a Forum held in May 1994, it was decided to take the next step in evolving the Partnership. This was to form the Duddon Estuary Consultative Committee (DECC) with a greatly expanded representation of statutory and voluntary bodies and local groups. The first meeting of the Committee took place on 14 July 1994 at Askam in Furness under the chairmanship of Peter Phizacklea, the County Council representative for Dalton North. A Chairman’s Working Group was also formed to organise the work of the Partnership. This Group consists of officers of the local authorities, English Nature and the Environment Agency as well as the Chair, Vice Chair and one other representative from the DECC.

Cumbria County Council is currently providing secretarial services to the Partnership. The main roles of the Partnership were seen as consultative, advisory and educational.

In December 1995 the DECC agreed a draft Strategy and ‘Purpose and Structure’ for the Partnership. The Partnership has decided not to constitute itself as a formal legal entity and thus partner organisations have to assume direct responsibility for different aspects of the work.

In October 1998 a part-time project officer was appointed, however this arrangement was terminated when the officer’s contract ran out in March 1999. In March 1999, following the retirement of the secretary, services provided by the County Council had to be scaled down. As a result members of the Partnership have taken on additional tasks.

The Partnership meets three times a year, normally with the July meeting as an AGM.

A Topic paper on Sea Angling and Bait Digging/Collection in the estuary was produced in 1996, which led to the publication of a ‘Sea Angling Code’. This has recently (2000) been reprinted.

In 1996 a Rights of Way Working Group was set up. This group has subsequently produced the Duddon Estuary Rights of Way Map - a large scale version of the OS map of the estuary which also provides information on rights of way and what to do if you find one obstructed. Another group has produced a paper on Water Sports and Conservation.

In 1997 a Water Quality Action group was set up to address the issue of pollution of bathing waters in the Estuary. A year later this group produced a useful set of recommendations for improving water quality. These have subsequently been accepted by Ofwat and NWW Ltd and now form part of the 2000-2005 Asset Management Plan (AMP3).

In 1998 the Partnership published its Strategy for the first time.

In 1999 a review of the Issues identified in the 1994 report was carried out to assess progress and to identify those still of concern to Partners and the general public. Duddon Estuary Issues Review 1999 sets out the current position on all the issues of concern and also outlines the achievements of the Partnership in its first five years.

A Review of the Strategy is carried out on an annual basis.

As the partnership no longer has a project officer, it was decided that a network of contacts was needed to report on any issues that arose and to act as a conduit with the public. In September 1999 a dedicated Helpline was set up. Members of the public who wish to report any damaging incidents in the Estuary are invited to call the Helpline. Any messages are then passed on to appropriate members of the Partnership or the Police. The Neighbourhood Services office in Ulverston mans the line. The Helpline number is 01229 894124.

The Directory is intended to provide a useful first contact list of organisations that have an interest in the Estuary either through the provision of services, the enforcement of regulatory powers, land ownership or representation of particular interests. Private companies are generally not included unless they have a close interest in the estuary and its management. We have endeavoured to make the Directory as comprehensive as possible, however not all organisations contacted with a questionnaire have replied. This edition is therefore for the moment, provisional. If your organisation isn’t included and you think it should be, please let us know. If you are listed in the Directory but would like to update any of the information, we will be happy to amend your sheet and send out copies in the next mailing.

Libraries and Council Centres.

Individual libraries are not listed in the Guide, as they are generally well known in the local area. Library notice boards are a good source of information on local groups and events. Council Centres are places local people can go to find out about local authority services. The Centres, which are based in existing offices and libraries, are being established throughout the county in partnership with the three tiers of local government (County, District & Parish Councils). The aim of the council centres is to provide a fast friendly and efficient enquiry service for all the local governments services and activities.

Museums

There are many museums in Cumbria - from the three modern heritage centres at Carlisle, Whitehaven and Barrow, to smaller and sometimes rather unusual museums. There is a pencil museum, a Laurel and Hardy Museum, and a museum of Roman altars. Maritime interest is covered at museums in Whitehaven, Barrow, and Maryport. The only truly local museum in the Duddon area is the Millom Folk Museum. This museum covers the development and decline of the local iron industry and a section is devoted to the writer and poet, Norman Nicholson (1914-1987) who came from Millom. The Lakeland Museum Guide by Bruce Bennison, the County Museums Officer, lists more than fifty of the region's museums.

The Internet

Askam and Ireleth Parish Council

Askam and Ireleth Regeneration Partnership

Associated British Ports

BAE Systems Marine Ltd

Bardon (England) Ltd

Barrow Borough Council

Boughton Estates Ltd

British Association for Shooting & Conservation

British Trust for Conservation Volunteers

Broughton in Furness & District C of Trade

Burlington Slate Ltd

Copeland Borough Council

Country Landowners’ Association

Countryside Agency

Crown Estates (Marine Estates)

Cumbria County Council

Cumbria Sea Fisheries Committee

Cumbria Tourist Board

Cumbria Wildlife Trust

Dalton With Newton Town Council

Department of Trade & Industry

Doodles

Duddon Estuary Consultative Committee

Duddon Inshore Rescue

Duddon Parish Council

English Heritage

English Nature

Environment Agency

European Liaison Unit

Friends of the Lake District/CPRE

Furness Brick & Tile Co Ltd

Furness Fishing Association

Furness Tourism Partnership

Government Office for the North West

Haverigg Inshore Rescue Team

HM Coastguard

Irish Sea Forum

KELP

Kimberly Clark Ltd

Kirkby Ireleth Parish Council

Lake District National Park Authority

Lindal and Marton Parish Council

Lonsdale Settled Estates (Clark Scott-Harden)

MAFF

Marine Conservation Society

Millom & District Sea Angling Club

Millom Regeneration

Millom Town Council

Millom Without Parish Council

Morecambe Bay Partnership

National Farmers’ Union

National Trust

North West Water Ltd

North Western Coastal Group

NW Federation of Sport. Recreation & Conservation

PISCES

Railtrack NW

Ramblers’ Association Furness Group

Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

South Cumberland Wildfowlers

South Cumbria Sea Sports Association

South Lakeland District Council

Ulpha Parish Meeting

Voluntary Action Cumbria

VSEL Consortium plc

Walney Trawlers’ Association

West Cumbria Tourism Initiative

Full Address (Incl. Postcode) Tel:

Contact Name (In full)

Address (If different from above) Tel:

Function of Organisation (i.e. what it does, particularly in relation to the Duddon)

Area of Operations (i.e. the geographical area in words please)

Guiding Legislation (List any relevant Acts, planning policies, bye-laws etc. which you operate to)

Publications (Any registers, directories, leaflets, books, codes of practice etc)

Size of Organisation (Approximate numbers of employees or local members etc)