The final report of the Furness Poverty Commission - 'Shining a Light on Hidden Deprivation in Furness' was today launched at Barrow town hall to an invited audience of 100 representatives from schools, churches, public bodies and other agencies.

The commission was established by John Woodcock last December, tasked with investigating the extent of both urban and rural poverty in Furness, and identifying practical, deliverable objectives to tackle it. The commission has taken evidence from many Furness residents, forty schools and large numbers of other stakeholders.

Speaking at the launch, John Woodcock described the findings of the commission - of real, grinding poverty across Furness - as 'a call to arms'. The full report and recommendations can be accessed here.

DISCREPANCIES remain between statements previously made by Cumbria police and crime commissioner Richard Rhodes and his response to a series of questions put to him by the Cumbria Police and Crime Panel over his use of a chauffeur-driven car, John has said.

The questions were posed in an open letter to Mr Rhodes after it emerged that he spent £700 on two journeys.

Last month two people were arrested on suspicion of misconduct in a public office and another on suspicion of perverting the course of justice over leaks to the media.

John commented: “While I am pleased that the commissioner has now provided greater detail over his involvement in this matter, the Police and Crime Panel is right to point out that there remain discrepancies between Mr Rhodes’ statements at the time and what he is now saying.

“The commissioner needs to take very seriously the Panel’s call for greater transparency and clarity at all times.

“This unhappy affair has also raised the issue of whether whistleblowers who seek to protect public money are adequately protected by law, and this is a matter I intend to pursue.”

JOHN will work with Ulverston traders and the public to make sure Robinson's does more to address their concerns after plans for a supermarket on the brewery site were approved.

South Lakeland District Council's planning committee narrowly accepted the Robinson's application by seven votes to six.

Sainsbury's said it was disappointed with the decision of the planning committee to reject its bid.

A proposal to block the development was approved by a vote of 13 to one, with one councillor abstaining.

John said: "Of the two supermarket options put forward, the brewery site definitely has the better chance of attracting more shoppers to spend money in the town centre so it was right that councillors rejected the bid by Sainsbury's to convert out-of-town land set aside for valuable manufacturing jobs.

"While some Ulverstonians look forward to the idea of a supermarket within walking distance, there is understandably strong feelings from other residents and retailers opposed to the brewery site. I will work with them to ensure Robinson's does more to address their concerns in the period ahead."

JOHN has renewed his call for the government to rethink the speed and scale of cuts being imposed on Morecambe Bay hospitals after it emerged that up to one in ten nursing and support posts could disappear.

John said: "This alarming plan shows that the swingeing cuts being forced on our hospitals means that up to one in ten nursing and support posts could go – it is very hard to see how cuts on this scale could be made without patient care suffering.

"So I am today writing to the health secretary to renew my call to the Conservative-led government to rethink the speed and scale of the cuts being imposed on Morecambe Bay hospitals.

"I will also be pressing management to reverse the impression that Furness General is being targeted disproportionately, and using my forthcoming meeting with health regulators to raise the alarm about risks to the quality of patient care from government cuts on this scale."