Cockermouth
Lying just outside the
boundary of the Lake District National Park, Cockermouth is an
attractive market town not overwhelmed by the tourist atmosphere of
the central Lakes.
Cockermouth grew up at the junction of the two most important
rivers in the area. Here, the River Cocker meets the River Derwent
on its journey from Derwentwater and Bassenthwaite Lake to the
sea at Workington.
Today's visitors to
Cockermouth are attracted by the town's calm, its nearness to some
of the more peaceful lakes and mountains, and the fact that Dorothy
and William Wordsworth were born here. Another famous son of
Cockermouth was Fletcher Christian, the man who led the 'mutiny on
The Bounty'.
The town received its Market Charter in 1221, and has retained
its importance as a market town ever since. Quarrying and mining
for lead and iron were later developments outside the town, and a
brewery has been built at the foot of the castle mound, where the
two rivers meet.
The Cockermouth Partnership
The Cockermouth
Partnership was formed during 2000 in an attempt to bring together
a number of agencies and groups to act on behalf of the whole
community, incorporating both town and countryside. The original
representation on the Partnership was from the three tiers of local
government - Cockermouth Town Council, Allerdale Borough Council,
Cumbria County Council, the Cockermouth Chamber of Trade, the
Cockermouth Civic Trust, Cockermouth and District Action Group
(CADAG) and two co-optees.
The Partnership undertook a SWOT analysis and carried out a
series of surveys in the town. They also took on board the survey
work undertaken by CADAG. As a result of this they produced a
number of priorities for action.
When the Partnership became aware of the Countryside Agency's
Market Towns Initiative, they decided that it met its own
objectives and that it would be advantageous to make a
submission.
They were successful
in their bid and appointed a co-ordinator to assist them in
undertaking a Health Check and preparing an Action Plan.
This core group became the Partnership Steering Group, as
membership of the wider Partnership expanded. It was also agreed
that further representation was needed on the Steering Group,
particularly from the rural areas, large employers and representing
youth interests.
The Partnership agreed to adopt, as the Market Towns Initiative
area, the same geographical area that was already used by the
County Council as the Cockermouth Neighbourhood Forum.
The Partnership is now a non-profit making company limited
by guarantee and all of the proposed projects within the town's
action plan will be undertaken by the limited company.