18/08/03 - County Council brings together Tarn groups

Cumbria County Council is today hosting a meeting of organisations interested in becoming involved in the future management of Talkin Tarn. The meeting involves representatives of the County, Carlisle City and Brampton and Farlam Parish Councils along with Cumbria Wildlife Trust. It is the first of a series of meetings with interested parties and individuals to identify proposals that will preserve public access and secure the investment needed to enhance facilities.   

In recent weeks officers of the County Council have met and talked with local Councils and the Trust individually about their ideas and suggestions. The County Council now wants to bring everyone together to share ideas and see if a common way forward can be found.   

Various ideas have been promoted ranging from the simple transfer of the Tarn estate to other bodies through to the potential for maximising investment by disposing of the estate in separate packages ie the Tarn itself, the hotel and the agricultural land. A further suggestion has been to pass the estate, or parts of it, to an Independent Trust who could then involve local representatives in the long-term management and development of this important community and visitor attraction.   

Any proposals that develop through these consultative meetings will eventually be referred to a meeting of the County Council before any final decision is taken.