FEW candles in Kendal have burned quite so brightly but dimmed quite so slowly as the dream of restoring the Lancaster Canal back to the heart of the town.

As far back as the Sixties, the vision of seeing barges once more gliding along its waters, this time laden with tourists, intoxicated anyone with the town’s history and prosperity close to their heart.

But this week it seems there is a growing realisation and acceptance in many quarters of just how costly, difficult and possibly unlikely it will be for this scheme to reach fruition.

Certainly not in any sense of the near future.

However, restoration campaigners are absolutely right not to give up hope. Every town needs a grand plan to strive for and those to fly its flag.

But visions need to be rooted in realism not nostalgia. They also need to sail with the prevailing winds – not against them.

This shared awareness and acknowledgement that little of major significance is likely to happen soon can only help re-concentrate minds for all concerned.

Over the years, the Lancaster Canal restoration has experienced many false dawns but what has not changed in that time is the unflinching support of its willing and dedicated volunteers.

In all conditions, they have given up precious time to carry out project days along the route - rebuilding walls, mending bridges and clearing undergrowth - doing what they can to restore the route and offer a tantalising glimpse of how it could look once again.

If this was a fair world, this type of selfless community dedication would be backed with big money. Few doubt the benefits it could unlock for Kendal and north Lancashire. But grassroots support is one thing and finance in high places completely another.

The world of financing major projects - across both the public sector and private sector - is a very different place to what it was, even as recently as five years ago.

The best outcome is for all those with a stake in the restoration to re-group and set a genuinely navigable course towards the future.