Local MP Tim Farron spent the night sleeping rough last Saturday for the Manna House charity which provides those in need of housing with educational and social support, as well as assisting them with finding a place to live. Mr Farron joined representatives from the charity including some who in the past had been rough sleepers for real, at Kendal Castle which overlooks the town.
Liberal Democrat spokesman for the Countryside and MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale Tim Farron has expressed his concern at a possible bluetongue outbreak in the North West. Tests are being carried out on animals in the Manchester and North Shropshire areas, if they return positive it could mean animal movement restrictions are put in place in the region.
From 10pm on Saturday night local MP Tim Farron will be sleeping rough at Kendal castle, in order to raise awareness for Kendal-based charity Manna House, who help those who either sleep rough on the streets or live in insecure accommodation. In 1997 a 'Housing Need' survey in South Lakeland showed that there was a need for 1360 extra units of affordable homes, and yet by 2002 only 215 units had been supplied. Despite Government promises of more housing, housing in the Kendal and South Lakeland area is still struggling to catch up with this deficit, with many vulnerable people having to wait weeks to be housed.
Having seen many of south lakelands roads - especially the A6 at Heversham - under water, and experienced at first hand the impact of flooding on our rail network, local MP Tim Farron is today seeking reassurance from the Department for Communities and Local Government that there are effective strategies in place to cope with the increasing threat of flooding to our communities. The Environment Agency has responsibility for protecting homes from flooding, but it is up to the highways authorities, education authorities, Network Rail and the utility companies to ensure that they protect people from flood risk in each of their areas.
Local MP Tim Farron has expressed his concern that although ambulance drivers and paramedics perform a magnificent service, they should not be considered as an alternative to the Coronary Care Unit at Westmorland General Hospital. Cumbria Primary Care Trust and the University Hospitals Trust of Morecambe Bay have stated that increased ambulance journey times would not present a problem because of paramedics on ambulances being able to administer life-saving 'clot busting' drugs to someone suffering a heart attack.
Local MP Tim Farron has expressed concern at the news that Baycall, an NHS-provided service providing out-of-hours GP medical care may be scrapped in favour of a private sector provider. Mr Farron fears that if Baycall is indeed scrapped, with some sources suggesting it may happen by April, it will be replaced by an inferior service provider, compromising quality.
