New Headquarters Appeal
Why did we need a new headquarters?
The Team had operated from its headquarters on Fairfield, Cockermouth, for thirty-eight years. During this time there had been many changes with the development of the area into a car-park, the building of a junior school nearby and the general growth in private transport. All of which caused some inconvenience to the Team.
However there were two factors which caused the Team to decide that the only option was to relocate. These factors being:
- The Team had outgrown the accommodation in the old base. There was a lack of storage and indoor training facilities in the headquarters, and no opportunity to further develop the site.
- Sainsbury's had been granted planning permission to turn the nearby auction mart into a supermarket which meant that the car-park became a short-stay shoppers' car-park with much increased usage and restricted access. This affected Team members parking and the rescue vehicles ability to make a quick departure; not to mention the safety implications of pedestrians, shopping trolleys etc. mingling with a 999 Emergency Service.
Thanks to Allerdale Borough Council the Team obtained a new site and, having had plans drawn up and planning permission granted, was finally in a position to launch an appeal for the estimated cost of £369,000. The Team opened the Fund with £50,000 and the Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue Association, (the umbrella body for mountain rescue in the Lake District), contributed a further £20,000. In the following months a variety of fund raising events were planned and various individuals, firms, trusts etc. were approached for support.
The Team was fortunate that the mountaineer, Sir Christian Bonington, the T.V. presenter Mr. Eric Robson, Mr. Jos Naylor MBE the well-known fell- runner and local farmer and Mr. Mark Fryer, the then Leader of Allerdale Borough Council all gave their support to the appeal.
After almost fifty years of operation, and at the beginning of the twenty- first century, it seemed appropriate that the Team should move to a new headquarters with the improved storage and training facilities required by the increased complexity of today's mountain rescue techniques and equipment. This allows the Team to continue the first class service the public expects.