PLEASE DON'T STAY AWAY - COME TO CUMBRIA!

Already, the financial implications are spreading far and wide, for good and obvious reasons, many folk cancelled coming up to stay this past weekend.  However, on some blogs there are comments  urging folk to stay away in the long-term.  With vivid recollections of the hardship and businesses that went broke or barely survived during the clamp down on tourists during and in the aftermath of Foot and Mouth, I think caution and some rational thought is needed.

Already we know that some shops in Keswick are considering laying off staff.  These are the jobs of full-time staff who will see a huge reduction in their main source of income, and will specifically hit anyone involved in the tourist trade - B&B's, Inns, shops, hotels, guest houses, restaurants, cafes and holiday cottages.
To those who were booked to come, please think carefully that maybe your contribution will be of help. Obviously we don't want to over burden the rescue services if you fall on the fells, but there are plenty of other walks.  You
only have to look at Dave Brown's lovely low level walks posted lately to realise that fact.  A.Hiley


If anyone was thinking of cancelling a visit to the Lake District either in the near future or perhaps next year can I say PLEASE COME TO CUMBRIA; we are still here, we want to see our visitors and we depend upon you so very much. It took the local economy years to recover from the Foot & Mouth debacle after the media whipped everyone into a frenzy and told them to stay away - many of us are now worried the same thing is going to happen again. J.Hill

Weather stats

Scale Hill Bridge

With little many of us can do apart from watch images on TV or find out information via links on the OFC several members have already contributed funds via the Cumbria Flood Recovery Fund (the link is given above).  The Cumbria Flood Recovery Fund has already raised £115,515. Cumbria County Council promised £50,000 to the fund and the public have begun to donate money via the website.  If people want to donate cash they can pop along to any branch of the Cumberland Building Society and the Furness Building Society.  Collections are also taking place in Whitehaven and Workington today and the Community Foundation are taking calls from other local people wanting to hold events and collections.
The Cumbria Flood Recovery Fund will provide financial help for people who have been affected. The first phase of grant making will concentrate on the elderly, disabled and families with under 5s. After the Carlisle floods we were able to help people with clothing, bedding, fares, toys, etc.  The Fund will also help community groups that are helping out with advice, information, counselling, and activities for children and young people.

NB:  Message for fellwalkers:  Police today(Tue. 24th November) reissued their appeal for fell-walkers, mountaineers and other people to think twice before going out on the Cumbrian fells.  Mountain Rescue Teams have been dedicated to the multi-agency response to flooding in the county since Thursday. The team members need rest and are on stand-by to assist the emergency services if required in affected towns such as Keswick, Cockermouth and Workington. This will leave people at greater risk if they get into difficulties in the fells.  Police would urge people to postpone activities until the weather improves.