South Lakeland county councillors today agreed to support the third Lakes International Comic Art Festival, which is being held in Kendal later this year.

South Lakeland Local Committee approved a grant of £5,000 from its economic initiatives budget to support the festival, which attracts thousands of people to the area, boosting the local economy and helping put Kendal on the map as a visitor destination.

This year’s festival is being held over the weekend of October 16-18. The local committee has previously supported festivals held in 2013 and 2014.

The local committee also approved a grant of £1,652 towards a community project which aims to bring together younger and older people in Grange to look at the area’s history. The Friends of Grange School, library and Age UK are involved in the project and applied for council funding to help buy ten tablets for young and older people to research local history and encourage young people to read. The council’s grant of £1,652 was agreed from the local committee’s Local Member Scheme budget.

The local committee also agreed the following grants:

• £1,000 to Ulverston Town Council towards Ulverston Canal Footpath project providing a circular route for walkers, cyclists and people with disabilities

• £600 towards a youth and community worker for Witherslack Youth Club

• £300 towards repainting and maintenance of Ambleside Guide Hut

For full details of the grants, go to: http://councilportal.cumbria.gov.uk/documents/s39103/SLLC%2060515%20Local%20Revenue%20Schemes.pdf