THE fight is on for the future vision of Cumbria with district councils coming up with a new four-way split for the county, reports Caroline Beamish.

Their radical shake-up includes moving Ulverston into a newly-expanded Furness, and Penrith joining Kendal in a new Lakeland 'super-district', The Westmorland Gazette can reveal today.

The new federal system has been put forward by five districts in Cumbria, including South Lakeland, as an alternative to the county council's bid to the Government for unitary status.

The proposals, jointly released today (Friday) by South Lakeland District Council, Barrow, Allerdale and Copeland borough councils and Carlisle City Council, show how decisions for an area could be given a local flavour and reflect the identity of residents of a particular part of Cumbria.

However the system - unlike any other suggested across the country in response to Ruth Kelly's Strong and Prosperous Communities White Paper - would see the county retain a united voice when dealing with Government and outside regional agencies on the provision of services like education and social care The federal model suggests the county splits into four distinct areas - each governed by a level of local authority currently referred to as a Most Purpose Authority (MPA).

South Lakeland would join with parts of Eden, including Penrith, to form one of the four areas.

Ulverston would become part of a Furness and Barrow area along with South Copeland, while the other two suggested areas would be Greater Carlisle, taking in north Allerdale and north Eden, and West Cumbria with north Copeland and south Allerdale.

Peter Ridgway, head of strategic services at SLDC, said the model had been designed to fit the unique size and geography of Cumbria rather than bludgeon it into a one-size fits all' unitary system.

If approved by elected members within each district at the end of March, the model will be sent to minister Ruth Kelly.

See Match 16 Westmorland Gazette for full story.