By Tim Farron

Last updated at 12:48, Thursday, 09 August 2012

I HAVE been inundated with messages from people upset by the news the torchlight procession through Kendal is being cancelled this year.

Tim Farron

Even my children have been upset to learn this. Each year I make an effort to get on a float or, more often, carry one of the collection buckets and so get to see first-hand how much people enjoy shouting themselves hoarse at the floats and vehicles as they make their way around our streets. It is an event that brings the entire community together.

What makes it particularly disappointing is Kendal has been having such a great year, what with the Olympic torch coming through, the investment in jobs at Canal Head, even a new skate park for young people on Beezon Fields. I really felt that this could be a historic year and that this year’s torchlight was going to be a fitting way to mark it. However, clearly my views are not shared by all as the organisers tell me they cannot get the funding they need nor the volunteers.

But people are mobilising, there is a Facebook page devoted to bringing back the procession, with over 3,000 members and already a fairly active discussion of what needs to be done, with many people volunteering to help. I am meeting all the people involved in running and financing the procession over the next few days to see what I can do to ensure 2012 is only a temporary cancellation and the procession returns next year better than ever. However, being a bit of an optimist, I still have not given up on being able to resurrect this year’s event. The procession shares my age (42, in case you are interested) and I will be doing my absolute best to ensure we both continue to live and prosper for a good few more years.

Our campaign for a new radiotherapy unit at the Westmorland General Hospital continues. (Wouldn’t it cap a great year for Kendal if we received go ahead for this?) I was alarmed to read the other day that the North West has an 11 per cent higher death rate from cancer than the average for England (30 per cent higher for heart disease). This is yet another argument for improving the cancer care the NHS provides us with in this area by bringing it closer to patients. I have written to the NHS Commissioners who will make the decision over whether to go ahead with the unit or not, telling them that every day they delay risks more people’s lives and asking them to give the go ahead for the unit with the utmost urgency.

First published at 15:09, Thursday, 12 July 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk