The Westmorland Gazette kindly published a letter I wrote to the editor about the lack of financial support from South Lakeland District Council for this year’s Torchlight Carnival .

 Your report and comment on the cancellation of this year’s Torchlight Carnival fails to mention the lack of financial support from South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) who had “set aside” £1000 for the Carnival but had failed to notify the Committee.

 Contrast this with the £24,000 given to Mintfest twelve months prior to the festival to provide, in SLDC’s own words, “better certainty for the planning” for this type of event.

 Visitor numbers alone (Torchlight 40,000 Mintfest 25,000) would suggest a more balanced approach would have been appropriate.

The Gazette took my letter a step further by asking SLDC to respond to my comments.

Councillor Vincent’s ‘reply’ is evasive and based on questionable evidence (as reported previously by Private Eye) to say the least.