Forty nine people attended the Annual Parish Meeting held in the Victory Hall on 28th March 2006. Bryan Craig, Chairman of the Parish Council, began his report by firstly thanking all the members of the Parish Council for their support and enthusiasm during the past 22 months, especially Liz Auld who was an excellent Clerk and an invaluable source of help and inspiration to him. Secondly he thanked Cathy Oakley who was retiring from the Parish Council in May. Having been a member for twenty years, serving as Chairman for eight years, she had been an invaluable member of the Council and would be greatly missed.

Since the last Annual Parish Meeting the Kingswood Activity Centre at Cumdivock remained a very contentious issue amongst some residents but hopefully all the concerns regarding planning matters would be resolved soon. The Parish Council was consulted on 101 planning applications during the year, taking up a considerable time at meetings and restricting the time spent on other important issues. The Parish Plan and Design Statement had been completed and should be of benefit to all the residents, businesses and young people concerned with the future of Dalston. Carlisle City Council was considering the Design Statement for adoption as a supplementary document to the Local Plan. Thanks were expressed to a member of the Dalston Scout Group, Christopher Holliday, who was instrumental in the design of the signpost project leaflet to be distributed to all Parishioners. The rebuilding of the Cemetery access lane wall was currently being addressed and the railings at Gaitsgill beside Penn Beck were to be renovated and repainted. Some tree maintenance and planting was being carried out. Vandalism in the Churchyard and Cemetery continued to be a problem and ongoing repairs needed to be undertaken. Care of memorials and headstones were the responsibility of the family concerned and everyone was urged to regularly check these for safety. Work to tidy up the entrance to the Station was being commenced and continued attempts were being made to find a more central location for a Parish office, meeting room and additional community facilities, such as provision for a library. On the assumption that a suitable site would eventually be found needing financial input, Forge Green had been put on the market. The Dalston website was a well used valuable tool for all types of information and consultation and thanks were expressed to Ronnie Auld for all his hard work in building and maintaining it. Continued efforts were made to address the traffic and parking problems outside the schools and the inconsiderate parking on the surrounding roads on the estate and double yellow lines were due to be installed outside the Doctors Surgery Provision of additional parking outside the Square, with a commensurate Square Regeneration scheme, were to be undertaken as a phased project over a number of years.

The Square re-development required a great deal of planning and consultation, some of which had already been undertaken, as an important project for the future well being and unique character of Dalston village. Problems relating to parking in the Square, the safety of pedestrians, the increased traffic flows through the village and out to the M6 and the increasing development of the Barras Lane Industrial Estate all needed to be addressed. Some grant income was anticipated, but part funding would be raised through the Parish precept. The increase was still considered to be good value for the improvements to facilities being made in the Parish. Grants had been received through the Carlisle Parish Councils Association from both the County and City Councils for the Buckabank Footpath and Primrose Hall amounting to £3250. Further grant income from the same sources was due for the Cemetery access lane wall, the Station entrance improvements and more improvements at the Primrose Hall. This financial support of the Parish was much appreciated. Grants were awarded to local organisations in the year amounting to £5,287 in total.