Background

Shap Community Building Group are proposing that, by working initially through a partnership with Cumbria County Council, we start to take more control of the administrative and day to day running of the services currently provided through The Old Courthouse building. Currently this includes library provision that is accessible for only 13 hours per week and a playgroup that meets regularly for 6 hours each week. Others users are school children, students and people using IT facilities.

The Group has recognised that this building is greatly underused at present and we propose to establish this location as a delivery centre that is situated in an excellent central position in the village and has nearby public transport links and good car parking.

We are fully aware that this change in provider will need the initial and continuing support of Cumbria County Council and we have been advised that core library services will still be provided by CCC whilst any proposed extension to this facility will be covered by ourselves.

With these key provisions being protected and enhanced, we would then like to extend the offers available through this building to enable members of the local community access to vital services that currently are only available by travelling large distances.

The community of Shap has a higher number of residents over the age of 65 compared to England as an average (22% against 16%). With growing fuel and travelling costs accompanied by the proposed cutbacks in rural transport provision, it is becoming progressively more important that access to key services is available at a local level.

Key trends that we feel are important to recognise in our community are:

  • An ageing population with a lower income often living in traditional buildings with increasing fuel and transport costs.

  • More self-employed people (14%) against the 9% average for England.

  • Almost twice as many people work from home in Shap than the English average.

  • Increasing fuel poverty (27.3% compared to 16.4% as an average in England)

Many members of our society feel a sense of isolation within this rural location. To be able to seek and ask for District and County Council services that they are not able to utilise at present is one of the core Council priorities.

There are numerous facilities that we would like to see accessible from a building that is set in the heart of the village and holds a place of affection within the local population having served as a school, courthouse and youth centre in the past.

Our aim, therefore, is to work with Cumbria County Council to refurbish and develop the building to provide an energy efficient facility that will enable service provision in the community for many years to come.