South Lakes MP Tim Farron is urging communities in Cumbria to apply for the new £6m First World War: then and now fund, which the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has launched.

HLF is making at least £1m available per year until 2019 to provide grants of between £3,000 and £10,000. The money will enable groups across the UK to explore, conserve and share their First World War heritage and deepen their understanding of the impact of the conflict.

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has tabled a motion in Parliament congratulating the Cumberland and Westmorland Herald on being named weekly newspaper of the year at The Newspaper Awards 2013.

Tim's motion acknowledges the prize as recognition of the hard work and dedication to high standards of the paper's staff, and praises the broad appeal of its content among local people of all ages.

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has called on local businesses to go to a meeting in Kendal next Thursday about the proposed Business Improvement District (BID).

The meeting will be held at 5:45pm on Thursday 23rd May at the Shakespeare Centre, to give local businesses the chance to find out more about the projects and proposals which could be delivered via a Business Improvement District.

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has today welcomed another fall in unemployment in the South Lakes.

This morning the Office for National Statistics announced a drop in unemployment of 115 in South Lakeland since April 2012, and 54 since March of this year.

The number of unemployed claimants in the Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency in April 2013 was 537.

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has today called on the government to give extra financial support to University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay after a CQC report raised concerns about A&E at Furness General.

The report by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) raised concerns during a recent inspection visit of the Emergency Department at Furness General Hospital on 16 April 2013. Inspectors raised concerns surrounding the cleanliness and hygiene within the Emergency Department.

As Local Newspaper Week takes place (13-19 May),South Lakes MP Tim Farron has today praised local newspapers across Cumbria for being 'the glue that holds our communities together'.

Tim said newspapers like the Westmorland Gazette, North West Evening Mail, Cumberland & Westmorland Herald, News and Star and the Keswick Reminder were integral to local democracy as they kept people across the county informed.

The utility company took a decision in 2011 that, following the death of a BT engineer who was working on a 'joint user pole', they could not guarantee the health and safety of third parties.

ENW has therefore ruled that when its wooden poles carrying live electricity wires come up for replacement or repair, they will "remove all third party apparatus", including street lights.

South Lakes MP Tim Farron is calling on local residents from across South Lakeland to throw their support behind their local markets.

'Love Your Local Market' (LYLM) fortnight, which is backed by the Department for Communities and Local Government, will run from Wednesday 15^th May - Wednesday 29^th May 2013.

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has renewed calls for mobile broadband to be rolled out throughout Cumbria, following the Government's moves to announce the business that will deliver the scheme.

The Government's plans to significantly improve mobile coverage across the UK moved a step closer today, with the announcement that communication infrastructure and media services company Arqiva has been appointed to deliver the £150m Mobile Infrastructure Project.

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has today called on government ministers to give small businesses the same support and relief that charity shops currently receive.

Tim thinks that this support could help small, independent stores thrive and help protect our high streets.

Currently, charity shops receive 80 per cent mandatory non-domestic business rates relief, funded by central government - if the charity shop sells 'wholly or mainly' donated goods, the proceeds are applied for charitable purpose and the occupier of the premises is a charity (not a trading subsidiary).