Against Carlisle BID

14/10/2026

Emails show Eden Arts began discussions with Cumberland Council in July, weeks before announcing the festival would leave Penrith after 14 years

13/09/2026

10/09/2026

WHAT A SURPRISE… FOLLOW THE TRAIL.

We have questioned the set-up of Carlisle BID from the very beginning, and today’s announcement certainly raises some questions.

The Winter Droving is leaving Penrith and moving to Carlisle, where Eden Arts will now be working in partnership with Great Border City BID to deliver the event.

So why does that interest us?

Adrian Lochhead, Director/CEO of Eden Arts, was also involved in the company established to develop the Carlisle BID.

Kevin Beaty was also involved with both organisations during the development of the BID.

And now Eden Arts is partnering with the Carlisle BID on a major Carlisle event.

Remember: Carlisle BID isn’t spending money businesses have voluntarily donated. It is funded by a compulsory levy imposed on eligible Carlisle businesses.

So we think levy payers deserve some very simple answers:

• How much Carlisle BID money is being paid or committed to Eden Arts for this event?

• Was the work put out to tender?

• Who approved Eden Arts’ involvement?

• Were any conflicts of interest declared?

• Did anyone connected with Eden Arts take part in the discussion or vote?

• Where are the board minutes recording the decision?

• How much of the event is being funded by Arts Council England, and how much is coming from Carlisle businesses’ BID levy?

We have searched for this information and, so far, we haven’t been able to find a published figure showing exactly how much BID levy money is going to Eden Arts, or a published procurement trail explaining how Eden Arts was selected.

There may be perfectly reasonable answers.

So publish them.

This is exactly why we have been asking for greater transparency since day one.

If compulsory levy money is being spent with an organisation that had close connections to people involved in establishing the BID, Carlisle businesses have every right to know how much, who authorised it and what process was followed.

We’re not asking for rumours.

We’re asking for receipts.



Cumberland Council Julie Minns MP

01/08/2026

Directors coming and going… but where are the results?

Companies House records show several directors have joined The Cumberland BID Company Ltd this year, with a number already stepping down after only a few months.

People resign for many reasons, and we make no assumptions about any individual’s circumstances. However, it’s fair for levy payers to ask why there’s been so much change at board level, especially when so little appears to have been delivered so far.

Businesses are paying a compulsory levy. They deserve stability, transparency and to see real progress.

What has actually been implemented for levy payers to date?

28/07/2026

Carlisle businesses – don’t stay silent. Demand answers.

If your business is affected by the BID, now is the time to make your voice heard.

Whether you’ve paid your levy or refused to pay because of concerns, contact both the BID Board and Cumberland Council and ask them the questions every business deserves answers to.

Ask them:

* Where has levy money been spent?
* What has actually been been delivered for businesses?
* What is the current plan going forward?
* Who is responsible for delivering the BID?
* How will businesses see value for the money being demanded?

If you’re unhappy, tell them why.

Many businesses may feel that the situation behind the scenes appears disorganised. If that’s your view, ask Cumberland Council whether it has confidence in the current arrangements and whether it believes intervention is now necessary.

The more businesses that contact them directly, the harder it becomes to ignore the concerns being raised.

This isn’t about social media comments—it’s about businesses demanding accountability from those responsible.

Your business. Your levy. Your voice.

Contact the BID Board. Contact Cumberland Council. Demand answers.

11/07/2026

Where’s your money?

07/07/2026

Are Carlisle levy payers helping to fund the running costs of Ipswich BID?

Looking through the Ipswich BID Business Plan raises some interesting questions.

It states:

“Through our consultancy arm, Locus Place, we generate outside income to cover most of our running costs. This means your levy money isn’t spent on our desks…”

The proposal for Carlisle has also been developed and is being managed through Locus.

That raises an important question…

Is some of the money raised from Carlisle businesses ultimately contributing towards the wider running costs of an organisation based hundreds of miles away?

If so, shouldn’t levy payers be asking whether there is a better way?

Rather than relying on an external consultancy, why not employ an experienced local BID Manager to deliver the agreed business plan?

That would mean:
✅ Salaries stay in the local economy.
✅ Local knowledge drives local decisions.
✅ More accountability to Carlisle businesses.
✅ More of the levy benefits Carlisle, rather than supporting the infrastructure of an organisation elsewhere.

Carlisle businesses are paying this levy. They deserve complete transparency about where every pound goes and who ultimately benefits from it.

Should Carlisle’s levy money stay in Carlisle?

29/06/2026

The continued questions surrounding the Carlisle BID only reinforce one thing…

The only way forward is a genuine re-ballot that truly reflects where Carlisle businesses stand today.

The original ballot saw the overwhelming majority of eligible businesses not vote, with many raising concerns about engagement and awareness. Confidence can only be restored by giving every eligible business a fair opportunity to have its say.

If the BID is genuinely supported, a fresh, transparent vote will confirm it.

If it isn’t, businesses deserve to be heard.

Carlisle deserves transparency. Businesses deserve a voice. It’s time for a true re-vote.