Tributes paid to ‘excellent’ councillor Val Tarbitt

Val Tarbitt, former Carlisle City Councillor and Cumbria County Councillor

Tributes have been paid to “excellent” city and county councillor Val Tarbitt.

The Conservative councillor for Longtown died suddenly on Friday. She was 81.

She was elected to represent Longtown on Cumbria County Council in May 2020 and remained in the position until her death. She also represented Longtown and the Border for Carlisle City Council.

Cllr Tarbitt also held the shadow portfolio for children’s services and was chair of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Advisory Board, was a member of the Scrutiny Management Board, LEP Scrutiny Board, Staffing Committee and Carlisle Local Committee.

As well as being heavily involved in education and young people, she was also Carlisle Armed Forces Champion.

Forces Link, a project developed to help coordinate Armed Forces support in Carlisle and Eden, issued the following statement: “We are very sad to hear that Cllr Val Tarbitt has passed away. Val was Cumbria County Council’s Armed Forces Champion for Carlisle and she was always fantastic in supporting Forces Link and our Armed Forces community. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family.”

Paying tribute, Conservative Group Leader Cllr Hilary Carrick said: “I was shocked and deeply saddened to hear of the sudden death of Cllr Val Tarbitt last weekend.

“Val has been an excellent local councillor, campaigning tirelessly for the communities she represented.

“As Chair of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Advisory Board, Val cared passionately that every young person should be given the best possible start in life and the opportunity to live their best lives.

“She was also the county council’s Armed Forces Champion for Carlisle, proactively engaging with local veterans on a regular basis to try and provide whatever support they needed.

“We will miss Val very much and our thoughts are with her family and friends at this difficult time.”