Border Business News

The Co-operative travel shop in Kelso could close as part a restructuring plan by holiday firm Thomas Cook.

The branch closure in Kelso would see a loss of four jobs.

The Co-operative travel shop on English Street and the Thomas Cook branch on Fisher Street, both in Carlisle, are also on the proposed list of closures, with a potential combined loss of 16 jobs.

Commenting on the proposed closure in the Borders town, the Secretary of State for Scotland, Michael Moore MP, said:

"This is very sad news for the local community in Kelso, particularly for employees at the branch whose jobs are now at risk.

“I know that Co-operative Travel has been experiencing challenging trading conditions in recent years but I am urging them to ensure that the staff affected are given the support they need.

“A 90 day consultation exercise will be held on the plans and I am calling on Co-operative Travel to reconsider this decision and save the branch in Kelso which provides employment and holiday services for local people.”

• Business
• Co-op travel
• Thomas Cook

Anti nuclear campaigners have marched along a stretch of beach in west Cumbria to highlight that radioactive particles have been found in the sand. They put up signs to warn people using the beach at Seascale. The notices were quickly removed by the local council.

• UK
• Sellafield
• Nuclear

Carlisle's Hoopers department store has closed for good with the loss of 23 jobs. The Castle Street shop had been running since 2006 - and was formerly home to a family run drapers which dated back to 1910.

The premises were mothballed last August only to later re-open as a discount designer outlet. A proposed sale to the Edinburgh Woollen Mill chairman Philip Day fell through. The building has a £2 million pound price-tag.

• Business
• Hoopers
• Carlisle

Anti nuclear campaigners will be marching from Seascale to the gates of Sellafield nuclear plant in west Cumbria to campaign for the safe storage of the country's radioactive waste.

In January County councillors voted against burying the waste somewhere in the west of the county. It is currently stored in above ground containers at Sellafield.

Our focus will now be on ensuring the waste stored at Sellafield is kept in suitably safe conditions - in line with the recommendations of Cumbria County Council Cabinet's decision and the National Audit Office findings.

"In partnership with Radiation Free Lakeland, we are holding a 3-fold event on March 9th which will be:

• A celebratory walk to acknowledge the County Cabinet's NO vote.
• Highlighting of the need to secure existing waste in situ at sellafield and improve storage facilities/minimise radioactive contamination of the surrounding environment

• Meeting in solidarity with the people of Fukushima and marking the anniversary of the disaster

"Radiation from Sellafield affects the local environment and particles from the plant cause contamination of the the surrounding area.

"Testing of the beaches around the plant have identified high radiation levels. The authorities in Cumbria have decided against warning signs on the beach.

"We will be putting some notices up on the beach, followed by a walk to the Sellafield gates with banners to show solidarity with the Fukushima demo in London.'

The demonstration starts at 10.30 at Seascale car park.

• UK
• Sellafield
• Nuclear

It's being described as a 'political first' and a 'transformation' of the planning rules. Yesterday the residents of upper Eden voted overwhelmingly to support the 'local planning referendum'. See John Bevir's report below.

• UK

Voters in Cumbria have said yes in the country's first neighbourhood planning referendum.

The Upper Eden area, around Brough and Kirkby Stephen, went to the polls yesterday to decide if residents wanted to have more of a say over local planning decisions.

Ninety per cent of those who voted supported the plan.

Votes in favour: 1,310

Votes against: 138

Total Turnout: 1,452 (33.67%)

The vote was part of the government's localism agenda to give more power to local communities and cut some of the red tape surrounding planning decisions.

The neighbourhood plan, drawn up locally, will allow the people of Upper Eden to decide where homes should be built and whether redundant farm buildings can be converted.

The plan will now go to Eden District Council and will influence any planning decisions in the area.

“I offer my congratulations to the Upper Eden Planning Group on a successful result. I am delighted that the residents of Upper Eden have decided by a significant majority to endorse the Upper Eden Community Plan. This is the first plan in the country. I do hope that local people will now submit planning applications and we look forward to dealing with them."

• UK

Voting is underway in Cumbria in the country's first neighbourhood planning referendum.

People in Upper Eden are deciding whether they want more of a say in the planning decisions.

It is part of a government initiative to give communities extra powers.

Some voters gave their reactions:

• UK