Farron takes action to save the swim

Following today's news that the Great North Swim has been cancelled, South Lakes MP Tim Farron has been in discussions with the Chief Executive of the National Park Authority and the Area Management Team of the Environment Agency to try and find a way forward - including, hopefully, rescheduling the swim in the next few weeks.

The Great North Swim was due to take place on Saturday and Sunday, but the organisers told competitors in text messages that it had been postponed.

Tim commented, "The planners of this major Lakes event really needed to have a Plan B. I run in fell races many weekends and when the weather is awful or nature gets in the way the organisers change the route or their plans - they adapt. Nature has got in the way of the Great North Swim and now the event is off - but we do have so many other lakes that the event could have been switched to with a bit of prior planning.

"I have spoken today with the National Park Authority and the Environment Agency and it's clear that there could have been a Plan B - including perhaps switching the event to another part of Windermere! I am now working hard to make sure the event does take place and that people know that the South Lakes is open for businesses this weekend - with Mintfest and the lovely weather it will be a brilliant place to spend a day or two.

"In my conversations with the National Park Authority and the Environment Agency I have also pressed the point that, while the appearance of blue-green algae is both natural and normal, they should continue to do all they can to reduce such occurrences - although I recognise that action taken now will take at least two decades to take effect given the science behind the algae's appearance."