Lib Dem climate change chief joins Farron to push case for hydro in lakes

South Lakes MP Tim Farron was joined this weekend by the Liberal Democrats' shadow secretary of state on climate change on a visit to Grasmere Hostel where the proprietor, Bev Dennison, is seeking to build a new hydro electricity scheme working alongside Gilkes of Kendal.

Simon Hughes and Tim Farron heard at first hand the problems that people in Bev's position face when trying to get new hydro schemes up and running.

Tim said: "Bev and the team at the Grasmere hostel are a model of green enterprise. They are doing all they can to reduce their emissions and make the business as eco-friendly as possible. I took Simon Hughes MP, our spokesman on Climate Change, there so he can see for himself the ground breaking work of the Grasmere Hostel.

"With all the government's rhetoric on support for green industry, there are still major barriers in the system for businesses like Bev's to produce hydro power. Despite the fact that Cumbria has Britain's fastest flowing water ways, there are only 6 working hydro schemes in the entire county.

"I want Bev's case to be a central part of Simon's call for the government to act on its promises and make hydro power the easy and green way for Cumbria to produce its power in the 21st century."