The Role of Parish Councils
There are three tiers of Local Government in Whittington - County Council, District (or Borough) Council, and Parish Council. Each tier has distinct responsibilities and works together to serve the needs of residents.
Parish Councils represent the first tier of local government - the level closest to the community.
Local Authorities - Who Does What? Parish Councils - Tier 1They provide valuable local insight and are increasingly taking on more community-focused responsibilities. These can include:
- Supporting local events and community groups
- Managing assets such as community centres, play areas, and noticeboards
- Reporting local issues like potholes, littering, and dog fouling
- Advocating for the needs and interests of residents to higher-tier authorities
They play an essential role in making their communities better places to live, work, and visit.
District Councils - Tier 2Whittington Parish Council comes under Lancaster Council who has responsibility for:
- Collection of council tax and business rates
- Refuse, recycling, and litter collection
- Housing services and homelessness support
- Planning applications and local development
- Environmental health, including noise and animal nuisances
- Maintenance of parks, play areas, and open spaces
- Management of allotments
For information on District Council services:
Website: www.lancaster.gov.uk
Phone: 01524 582000
Email: customerservices@lancaster.gov.uk
Whittington Parish Council comes under Lancashire County Council who has responsibility for:
- Children, education, and families
- Health and social care
- Transport and travel
- Roads, potholes, repairs, and gritting
- Recycling centres
- Fire and public safety
- Flooding
- Libraries and archives
- Trading standards
- Births, marriages, and deaths
For more information on County Council services:
Website: www.lancashire.gov.uk
Phone: 0300 123 6701
Email: enquiries@lancashire.gov.uk
Whittington Parish Council
Whittington is a rural village of about 350 residents in the lower Lune valley, two miles south of Kirkby Lonsdale. The large parish boundary includes the hamlets of Newton and Docker.
The village existed in the 11th century and the present church stands within the bailey of an ancient earthwork castle. There are 39 listed buildings in the village of which Pevsner & Hartwell (2009) refer to the 17th century Sellet Hall, Docker Hall and the Manor House. Pevsner also admires work by the distinguished Lancaster architects Paley & Austin at the old village school and at the church, rebuilt in in 1875 except for its 16th century tower. The imposing Whittington Hall was designed by Webster in 1831. The Old Rectory was owned in 1825 by William Carus Wilson, the original for Brontë’s odious Mr Brocklehurst in Jane Eyre, and a blue plaque on the main street marks the birthplace of William Sturgeon (1783-1850), the pioneer of electromagnetism.
Modern Whittington has a very varied population. Farming remains important but modern technology and easy connections to the rail and motorway networks have provided business and professional development. There is an excellent broadband service offered by B4RN and the village is on a bus route. The Village Hall Committee, working with the Parish Council, offers frequent and various social opportunities. New housing developments are on two sites with wide views across the Lune Valley.