Josh MacAlister MP and Cllr Denise Rollo, Cumberland Council’s portfolio holder for waste, have welcomed the Government’s new Waste Crime Action Plan, which sets out the toughest-ever crackdown on fly-tipping and illegal waste activity.

The plan comes as waste crime continues to blight communities across the country, with around 1.3 million incidents of fly-tipping recorded last year and costing the economy an estimated £1 billion annually.

Locally, residents have raised concerns about illegal dumping across Workington, with waste causing environmental damage, health risks, and frustration for the community.

The Government’s new plan introduces a zero-tolerance approach built around preventing crime, enforcing the law, and cleaning up affected areas. It includes:

• New “clean-up squads” requiring offenders to complete up to 20 hours of unpaid work clearing waste
• Powers to make fly-tippers pay the full cost of clean-up
• Penalty points on driving licences, with repeat offenders risking disqualification
• £45 million in additional funding for the Environment Agency to boost enforcement
• New police-style powers for enforcement officers to search premises, seize assets, and make arrests 

Josh MacAlister MP said:

“Residents across Workington are fed up with the damage caused by fly-tipping – from unsightly rubbish to real environmental harm.

“This new Waste Crime Action Plan sends a clear message: if you dump waste illegally in our community, there will be serious consequences.

“I welcome the tougher enforcement powers, investment in tackling organised waste crime, and the introduction of clean-up squads so offenders take responsibility for the mess they create. I’ll be working closely with local partners to make sure these powers are used effectively here.”

Cllr Denise Rollo, Cabinet Member for Sustainable, Resilient and Connected Places on Cumberland Council, said:

“Fly-tipping is a huge issue for councils and residents alike. It costs taxpayers money, harms our environment, and undermines pride in our communities.

“These new measures will give Cumberland Council and enforcement agencies the tools we need to crack down on offenders and protect our neighbourhoods. We are committed to working with the Government and partners to ensure our area benefits from this tougher approach.”

The plan will also introduce measures to clamp down on organised waste crime, including tighter regulation of waste operators, improved tracking of waste, and stronger action against criminal networks.

Together, these steps aim to restore local environments, protect green spaces, and ensure communities are no longer left to deal with the consequences of illegal dumping.

Josh MacAlister MP has welcomed the Government’s new Land Use Framework, describing it as a “vital step forward in making smarter decisions about how we use our land – backing farmers, restoring nature, and delivering growth in the right places.”

The Framework sets out a clear national approach to balancing competing demands on land – from food production and nature recovery to housebuilding and major economic projects – using better data, clearer planning, and long-term certainty. 

Josh MacAlister made representations to Ministers on behalf of local farmers and developers during the development of the Framework to ensure the final plan reflects the needs of both food producers and those driving economic growth.

He said:

“I’ve worked closely with Ministers throughout the development of this Framework, bringing forward the views of local farmers and businesses. It’s important that we get this balance right – and I’m pleased that this plan reflects those priorities.”

The Framework includes a strong commitment to protect the country’s most productive agricultural land and maintain domestic food production, giving farmers the certainty they need to invest and plan for the future. It also introduces simpler systems, reduced red tape and clearer long-term direction for the sector. 

Alongside this, the Framework puts nature recovery at the heart of economic development, identifying where action such as tree planting, peatland restoration and habitat creation can deliver the greatest benefits, while ensuring growth can still go ahead. 

It will also support major economic developments, including projects such as Pioneer Park, by reducing planning uncertainty, unlocking investment and accelerating delivery.

Josh added:

“Food security is national security. This Framework makes clear that we will safeguard our best farmland while supporting farmers to grow their businesses and remain resilient in the face of climate change.

“The Framework also makes clear that choosing between growth and nature is a false choice. We can restore our environment while also delivering the homes, infrastructure and jobs our communities need.

“Whether it’s new homes or major projects like Pioneer Park, this Framework gives us the clarity to move forward – cutting delays, unlocking investment and supporting jobs, while protecting our countryside.”

The Government has committed to building 1.5 million new homes, and the Framework will help ensure these are delivered in the right places – using better data to avoid unnecessary pressure on high-quality farmland and environmentally sensitive areas, while speeding up planning decisions. 

The Framework marks a shift towards a more co-ordinated, strategic approach to land use, ensuring England has enough land to grow food, build homes, generate clean energy and restore nature.

Read the Land Use Framework here

Plans to expand the number of dentists working in the NHS were announced last week, as part of wider efforts to improve access to NHS dentistry.

The government has confirmed it will increase the number of dental training places – the first major expansion of dental training places in nearly twenty years – helping to grow the NHS dental workforce in the years ahead.

The announcement also included measures to strengthen the NHS dental workforce by improving routes for overseas-qualified dentists to practise in the UK and introducing requirements to ensure more newly trained dentists spend time working in the NHS.

Whitehaven and Workington MP Josh MacAlister said the announcement builds on action taken since summer 2024 to rebuild NHS dentistry and improve access to care.

Over the past 18 months the government has introduced additional funding and incentives to encourage dentists to provide NHS treatment, including payments for dentists who take on new NHS patients and recruitment incentives aimed at areas facing shortages.

Encouragingly, people in West Cumbria are already beginning to see improvements. Over the last year, new NHS dentists have begun working in Egremont, Whitehaven and Workington and an Urgent Dental Access Centre in Whitehaven is now treating around 140 patients every week

Josh MacAlister MP said:

“Access to NHS dentistry has been a major concern for many people across West Cumbria.

“Over the past 18 months I’ve been working with local dentists, the NHS and ministers to push for improvements, and the government has introduced additional funding and incentives to encourage dentists to provide NHS care.

“This latest announcement to expand dental training places – the first major expansion in nearly twenty years – alongside reforms to bring more dentists into the NHS workforce will help strengthen dentistry for the future.

“Importantly, we’re already starting to see progress locally, with new NHS dentists now working in Egremont, Whitehaven and Workington and an Urgent Dental Access Centre treating around 140 patients every week.

“There is still more to do, but these are important steps in the right direction for patients across West Cumbria.”

Homes and businesses across West Cumbria are set to benefit from strengthened protection against flooding, as Josh MacAlister MP has secured £627,000 for local flood defence projects, part of a wider £34 million investment across Cumbria.

The funding forms part of a major national programme delivering new and improved flood defences, helping protect communities from the growing risks of extreme weather and coastal erosion. 

In West Cumbria, this investment will support vital work to strengthen local flood resilience in Parton and Egremont – helping to safeguard homes, protect businesses, and give communities greater security in the face of increasingly frequent severe weather.

Josh MacAlister MP said:

“Flooding has caused real worry and disruption for families and businesses across West Cumbria, and strengthening our local defences is absolutely essential.

“I’m delighted to have secured £627,000 for flood defence projects in our area, as part of a £34 million investment across Cumbria. This funding will make a real difference – helping to protect homes, support local businesses, and give our communities the resilience they need for the future.

“I will continue working closely with the Environment Agency and Cumberland Council to ensure West Cumbria gets the long-term protection it deserves.”

The funding is part of a wider national commitment to invest heavily in flood protection, including maintaining and upgrading existing defences and delivering new infrastructure to reduce risk. The programme also supports economic growth, protects critical infrastructure, and helps communities adapt to climate change.

With extreme weather events becoming more frequent, this investment represents a significant step forward in protecting West Cumbria and ensuring the region is better prepared for the future.

When fuel prices start rising, communities like ours in West Cumbria feel it straight away.

For many families here, driving isn’t optional. It’s how people get to work, take the kids to school, get to hospital appointments, and keep small businesses running. And unlike many parts of the country, a lot of homes here also rely on heating oil. So when global oil prices climb, it hits us twice – at the pump and at home.

In recent weeks oil prices have been moving upwards again because of instability and conflict in the Middle East. That’s something none of us locally can control, but it does feed through quickly into the cost of petrol, diesel and heating oil here in Cumbria.

What people rightly struggle to understand, though, is when prices vary wildly between petrol stations only a few miles apart.

I recently looked at petrol prices along the corridor between Workington, Whitehaven, Cleator Moor, Egremont and Cockermouth. Prices ranged from around 136p per litre to as high as 152p for petrol and from 148p up to 167p per litre for diesel.

That’s a gap of 16-19p per litre. For a typical family car, that means you could be paying around £10 more just depending on where you fill up.

At a time when families are already watching every penny, that just isn’t right. Where petrol stations are charging significantly more than others nearby, they should be prepared to explain why. And where there’s no good reason for it, they should bring their prices down.

I’ve launched a Fair Fuel campaign locally and submitted evidence to the Competition and Markets Authority so they can look at whether competition in rural fuel markets is working properly. People in West Cumbria should not be treated as a captive market.

The cost of heating oil is also hitting thousands of local households hard. The Government is taking these rising costs seriously. The Chancellor hauled in fuel companies last week and made clear we expect fair pricing, and we’ve warned retailers and suppliers that if there is evidence of price gouging the authorities won’t hesitate to investigate.

We’re also stepping in with financial support for households. In addition to the cut to everyone’s energy bills from April through our removal of levies and the lower price cap and the £150 Warm Home Discount for thousands of the lowest income households, a new £53 million fund is coming for households who rely on off-grid fuel. Contact my office to find out more.

My job as your MP is to stand up for you and make sure you get a fair deal. I’ll keep pushing fuel retailers, energy companies, regulators and government to make sure motorists and households in West Cumbria are not paying over the odds.

Back my Fair Fuel campaign at joshmacalister.uk/fair-fuel

I welcome the announcement from the Government setting out a major overhaul of the UK’s nuclear regulatory system – a crucial step towards delivering new nuclear power faster, at lower cost, and with strong environmental protections.

For too long, overly complex and bureaucratic processes have slowed down the delivery of vital infrastructure. These reforms will introduce a more streamlined, proportionate system – focused on real risk, grounded in evidence, and designed to unlock investment while continuing to protect nature.

This is about delivering energy security for the UK. In an increasingly uncertain world, reducing our reliance on volatile international fossil fuel markets is essential. Nuclear power has a central role to play in providing clean, reliable, homegrown energy for decades to come.

For West Cumbria, this announcement is particularly significant.

Our area has a proud nuclear heritage, world-leading expertise, and a workforce ready to deliver the next generation of projects. With the Government now taking decisive action to speed up delivery and improve the investment environment, we are in a strong position to build on that legacy.

That is why initiatives like Pioneer Park are so important. By creating the space for innovation, skills development and new businesses, we are ensuring West Cumbria is ready to attract and support future nuclear investment.

These reforms strengthen our case locally – helping to bring forward new opportunities, high-quality jobs, and long-term economic growth for our communities.

I will continue to work with Government and local partners to ensure West Cumbria is at the forefront of the UK’s new nuclear programme.

This is how we secure our energy future, back British industry, and deliver for our communities.

Read the Government’s announcement

Families across Cumbria’s rural communities will benefit from a share of more than £50 million in government support to help with rising heating oil costs, under new measures announced by the government.

Over 40,000 households across Cumbria rely on heating oil to keep their homes warm, particularly in rural villages and farming communities where homes are not connected to the gas grid. With global pressures pushing up energy prices, the cost of kerosene – the fuel used in heating oil – has surged sharply in recent months.

Unlike gas and electricity customers, households who rely on heating oil are not protected by the energy price cap, meaning families can face sudden price spikes and large upfront bills to refill their tanks.

The government has confirmed over £50 million in targeted support for low-income households who rely on heating oil, with £27 million allocated to England and distributed through local authorities from 1st April via the Crisis and Resilience Fund. This is in addition to £842 million already allocated to the CRF at the last Spending Review to support struggling families with the cost of living this year.

This additional support will help families in rural areas of Cumbria who have been particularly exposed to the rising cost of heating their homes.

Whitehaven and Workington MP Josh MacAlister said:

“In many parts of Cumbria, heating oil isn’t a luxury – it’s the only option families have to heat their homes and keep the hot water running.

“When prices spike, households here feel it immediately.

“This £50 million package will help ensure that vulnerable families in rural communities across our county can stay warm and supported.”

The government says the price of kerosene has been especially affected by instability in global energy markets linked to the conflict in the Middle East and is currently around double the price of crude oil, pushing up costs for households that depend on oil deliveries.

To tackle this, the government is also moving to strengthen protections for heating oil customers, an area of the energy market that currently sits outside the main regulatory system.

Measures being explored include:

• stronger consumer protections for heating oil customers
• improved price transparency from suppliers
• new repayment options for households facing hardship
• a formal Priority Customers Register to support vulnerable households during supply disruptions
• possible regulation of the sector or appointment of a consumer champion

The government has also asked the Competition and Markets Authority to closely monitor the market and investigate reports of cancelled deliveries and sudden price increases. Over the weekend, the CMA confirmed they would be taking forward a detailed examination of the whole market at pace

Josh added that the government would not tolerate unfair practices in the heating oil market and urged consumers to report any evidence of price manipulation.

Get in touch to be the first to find out what support may be available once Cumberland Council’s Crisis and Resilience Fund opens on 1st April.

Josh MacAlister MP has welcomed new government plans to introduce stronger protections for children with allergies in schools, ensuring parents can feel confident that their child will be safe in the classroom.

Under new proposals, schools across England will for the first time be legally required to follow strengthened allergy safety guidance – including stocking life-saving adrenaline auto-injectors, providing mandatory allergy awareness training for staff, and maintaining clear healthcare plans for affected pupils. 

It is estimated that nearly 700,000 children in England have a food allergy, with one to two children in every classroom affected. Tragically, one in five anaphylaxis deaths among school-aged children in the UK occur in school, highlighting the importance of robust safety procedures. 

The changes follow cases raised by Josh and other MPs with Ministers and campaigning by families and organisations working to improve allergy safety in schools.

Josh MacAlister MP said:

“No parent should have to worry that their child won’t be safe at school because of a serious allergy.

“Hundreds of children across West Cumbria are living with food allergies, and many families know the anxiety that can come with sending their child into the classroom each day.

“These new protections will ensure every school has clear policies, properly trained staff and life-saving equipment available if it is needed. That’s a major step forward for pupil safety and peace of mind for parents.

“Schools across Cumbria already work incredibly hard to support children with medical conditions. This guidance will help ensure best practice is consistent everywhere, so every child can learn safely and confidently.”

As well as improving safety, the new measures are expected to help children stay in school. Around 500,000 school days are lost each year due to allergy-related illness or medical appointments, something ministers hope the reforms will help reduce. 

The guidance is now open for consultation, with the new statutory requirements expected to come into force in September 2026. 

Motorists in West Cumbria are paying up to £10 more for a tank of petrol or diesel depending on where they fill up, according to new analysis published by local MP Josh MacAlister.

A review of petrol stations in West Cumbria found petrol prices ranging from around 136p per litre to as high as 152p, while diesel prices ranged from 148p to 167p per litre.

That represents a 16p difference per litre for petrol and 19p per litre for diesel within just a few miles.

Prices in West Cumbria are already higher than the UK average for petrol and diesel.

The findings come at a time when motorists are already facing the prospect of rising fuel costs globally. Oil markets have been reacting to continued instability and conflict in the Middle East, pushing international energy prices higher and increasing pressure on household budgets.

In rural areas like West Cumbria, where many people rely on their cars to travel to work, attend hospital appointments and access essential services, rising fuel costs can have a particularly significant impact.

Josh MacAlister MP has now written to petrol station operators across the region asking them to explain their pricing and review any significant differences.

He is also submitting a detailed evidence dossier to the Competition and Markets Authority asking it to examine whether competition in rural fuel markets is working properly. This follows the Government’s request for the CMA to consider investigating petrol retailers over potential profiteering.

Josh MacAlister MP said:

“Many people in West Cumbria depend on their cars for everyday life. Whether it’s getting to work, taking children to school or attending hospital appointments, driving is not a luxury here – it’s a necessity.

“That’s why it is so concerning to see such large differences in petrol prices between stations only a few miles apart, with prices in West Cumbria already higher than the UK average.

“At a time when global tensions are already pushing oil prices higher, local motorists are understandably worried about the impact on their household finances.

“I am calling on petrol retailers across West Cumbria to look carefully at their prices and make sure drivers here are being treated fairly.

“I will also be submitting the evidence I have gathered to the Competition and Markets Authority so it can consider whether competition in rural fuel markets like ours is working as it should.”

The evidence dossier highlights significant price differences between forecourts within a short distance of each other and compares local prices with national averages.

Josh MacAlister MP said he hoped fuel retailers would respond constructively and ensure motorists in West Cumbria are not paying more than necessary for essential fuel.

Motorists can join Josh’s Fair Fuel campaign at joshmacalister.uk/fair-fuel

Local MP Josh MacAlister has welcomed the launch of a new Government review into the controversial commission charged when park homes are sold – and is encouraging park home residents across West Cumbria to share their experiences.

The Government has announced a call for evidence into the 10% commission fee paid to site owners when a park home is sold. The charge, set out in the Mobile Homes Act 1983, can cost residents thousands of pounds and has long been debated by park home owners and operators.

The review will gather evidence on why the commission exists, what it pays for, and whether the current system is fair and transparent for residents and site owners.

Josh MacAlister MP has been campaigning on the issue after hearing directly from park home residents across West Cumbria.

Last year, he presented a petition at No. 10 Downing Street on behalf of local park home owners, calling on Ministers to look again at the commission charge.

Josh MacAlister MP said:

“Park home owners across West Cumbria have told me that the 10% commission charged when they sell their homes simply doesn’t feel fair. For many residents – often older people who have downsized or retired – it can mean losing thousands of pounds when they come to move.

“That’s why I worked with park home residents locally to raise this directly with Ministers and present their petition at Downing Street. I’m really pleased the Government has now launched a review to look properly at whether this charge is justified.

“We have more than 500 park homes across West Cumbria, so it’s really important that local residents’ voices are heard as part of this process.

“If you live in a park home locally, I would strongly encourage you to take part in the call for evidence and share your experience so the Government understands the reality for residents.”

The Government says the review aims to better understand the role the commission plays in the park home sector and how it interacts with other income streams such as pitch fees and the sale of new homes.

The call for evidence is open until 29th May, and park home residents, site owners and others involved in the sector are invited to submit their views here