MP praises councillors after Waterhead investment is secured

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has praised councillors Heidi Halliday and Vivienne Rees who spearheaded a community campaign to secure investment for the Waterhead area of Ambleside.

At last night's South Lakeland District Council meeting, a £250,000 fund was secured. The money will be used to improve the 'public realm'. The money will be used to improve the promenade, paths, parking and the beach.

The project has been a long running campaign for Heidi who pledged to secure funding when she was first elected to South Lakeland District Council.

The campaign has had cross community support and Heidi paid tribute to the work of Lakes Parish Council and local residents to get the project to this stage. Ambleside Civic Trust are also on board and they are funding a slate panorama of the hills you can see across the lake.

Tim said: "I want to thank local residents and praise Heidi for all her work and campaigning on the issue. She really does show what a local councillor can achieve if they work with their community. The funding secured at last night's meeting was down to her, being a champion for her area."

Lakes County Councillor Heidi Halliday: "Councillor Rees and myself have long recognised the importance of Waterhead and I am really pleased that SLDC not only listened to us but have also agreed to invest a significant amount of money into this exciting project. Working with Lakes Parish Council and Ambleside Civic Trust, these improvements will benefit our local community and businesses."

Giles Archibald, the SLDC portfolio holder for Town centres and Small Businesses said: It has been a delight to work with Heidi, Vivienne, the Civic Trust, the Parish Council, and Go Lakes, to get us to the point where we had a viable project to present to Council. I am now looking forward to working with them on this project to improve Waterhead."