On the floor of the House of Commons this week, South Lakes MP Tim Farron urged the President of COP26 Alok Sharma to finally axe plans for a controversial new coal mine in Cumbria.

A report released by the think tank Green Alliance estimated that the mine would produce 8.4 million tonnes of CO2 per year - the equivalent of the emissions of more than one million homes.

In Parliament, Tim Farron was the only Cumbrian MP to vote to scrap VAT on household energy bills.

It comes as the trade association for the energy industry, Energy UK, have said that the average household energy bill is set to increase by at least £600 by the spring.

However the motion was defeated by Conservative MPs by 229 votes to 319.

On the floor of the House of Commons this morning, South Lakes MP Tim Farron warned ministers that plans to sack staff who aren't vaccinated will lead to a crisis in local hospitals.

Speaking during Health Questions, Tim said: "Undoubtedly, additional vaccine sites in rural communities will increase vaccine uptake, which is vital.

Commenting on the news that a legal challenge by Cumbria County Council against the Government's decision to split Cumbria in two has been rejected, local Lib Dem MP Tim Farron said: "While I was against the Conservative government's decision to reorganise our local councils in the middle of a pandemic, I'm glad that the county council's legal challenge has been thrown out and we can now move on.

Tonight, Liberal Democrats on Kendal Town Council voted in favour of investing in a raft of measures to make Kendal a "cleaner, friendlier and safer" place.

Projects that the investment will go towards include:

• Maintenance and improvements to the Alphabet Trail in Serpentine Woods
• Improving the visual aspect of railings on Windermere Road
• Commitment to improving footpaths in and around Kendal
• Biodiversity grants available for groups and individuals carrying out work in these areas
• Ongoing works to support the recommendations of the Citizens Jury including supporting food shares and repair cafes
• Supporting the Environment Agency where possible and ensuring the delivery of the flood defences is on time and up to scratch
• Lobbying to introduce 20mph speed limits across the town to make it safer and friendlier for people to walk and cycle, especially school children
• Dark Skies project to reduce light pollution and to help fund more appropriate lighting in certain areas