POWER PLANT UXB SHELL DRAMA
26/03/02: Bomb disposal experts carried out a controlled explosion of an 18lb unexploded artillery shell found by contractors on Heysham 1's site on Wednesday.
Workmen unearthed the 1920s shell, which had been used as a practice shell in the site's previous life as a firing range.
In a spooky twist to the story, a 6lb shell was found during work on Heysham 2 seven years to the day before.
Staff sergeant Stephen Fallon and Corp Andy Cook, from the Chester-based
Royal Logistics Corps bomb disposal team, examined the shell and found that it did not have a fuse and was safe to move from the site to the beach south of the station, where it was safely detonated.
"This area was used a firing range between the wars," explained Staff sgt Fallon, "and despite an MOD clear up one or two shells might have slipped through net.
"The shell was safe in that it did not have a fusing device which was normal for a practice shell as it allowed the right weight to be calculated in firing without any danger."
Morecambe's Battery is so called, we're told, because that was where the guns that fired the shells were based between the war. ( ).
Earlier in the week two mortar bombs were washed up on Morecambe Beach and were also exploded safely by the army.

YO HO HO AND A BOTTLE OF RUM!
26/03/02: Based around St George's Quay, Lancaster, this weekend's Maritime Festival is regarded as the world's biggest and most prestigious gathering of
sea-song shanty performers.
With 39 different acts the festival has exploded to venues all around Lancaster and even Morecambe's Arndale Centre. There will also be many themed events - salty storytelling, nautical dramas and street theatre, Punch & Judy, a Salty Sealadies Sing-around, guided walks, knot tying demos and putting ships in bottles!
For those who can't take any more, there will also be a Lancashire Landlubbers Singaround devoted to Lancashire and North Country songs - definitely no shanties!
Look out for the traditional Lancaster Pace-Egg Play too, behind the Maritime Museum on Saturday at 12.30 and 3pm. The play is just part of a full afternoon programme of Street Theatre.

NAME CHANGE
26/03/02: We're in the process of changing our main URL from.net to Virtual-Lancaster.net. As yet, there's no need to update your bookmarks as we're retaining LancasterUKOnline.net for now. The change is in order to make our name more distinct from similar-sounding corporate web sites.

MIDLAND GO AHEAD
Plans for a £10 million restoration for Morecambe's Midland Hotel have been approved by the City Council. The go ahead means work can begin on refurbishing the art-deco hotel, with an April 2003 opening planned.
"The approval of planning permission is a major step forward in the process of renovating this historic beautiful art deco building," Mike Baron, of developers Kalber Leisure, told The Lancaster Citizen. "The next step will be to appoint specialist contractors as soon as possible."
Midland web site: Go

SKATES AWAY!
26/03/02: The Council has also approved plans for a new skateboard arena in the old Kenneth Gardener building in Lancaster's Parliament Street. It's a major thumbs up in the support of more community facilities from the Council.
Objectors to proposals for the old Kingsway site - which this development won't impinge on - continue to push for the old swimming baths to have some community element as part of any development. The Kingsway Baths building itself is now reportedly in a terrible state of repair and has been the target of vandals.

ALEX WON'T ROCK YOU
26/03/02: Since the Alex was taken over by megacorps who couldn't find Rock Nights on their tick list, Lancaster's Dark Place Rock Nights are moving from venue to venue. Hamlets café at Hornsea Pottery has taken off as the new alternative music venue, with Rock, Goth and Punk gigs lining up. Lucretia's cyber-goth-industrial-80s nights at the Waterfront Bar in Morecambe are well hot. The next one is on the 13th. Cool dress code - avoid name gear for a start.
Check out our what's on guide for events and for more info on rock dates + places visit www.thedarkplace.org.
Dogonastring event organisers, who run gigs at Hamlets, are reminding music fans that anyone wanting to attend must be 16+ or supervised by a responsible adult if under 16. The restrictions will appear on all future flyers and their web site.
Check out our what's on guide for events and for more info on rock dates + places visit www.thedarkplace.org.

WILL HORSES DRAG YOU?
26/03/02: One of the best Wales based bands, Bluehorses, will be bringing their unique and stunning show to the Platform on Saturday 13 April.
Fronted by the twin electric fiddles of vocalist Liz Prendergast and Debs Peake, the band is led by drummer Nic Walker who, with Liz, writes and arranges the songs. The lineup is completed by the spatial funky bass of Chinese-Dutch Rob Khoo. Multi-instrumentalist Liz also adds Space-mandolin,
Hammond organ, Moog synthesizer and electric Celtic Harp to the experience.
Box Office: 01524 582803

OUT AND ABOUT
26/03/02: If you're looking for something quiet and relaxing to do away from the acclaimed Maritime Festival and other organised holiday activities, how about a cycle ride? LUKO readers William and Mary Allen recommend a gentle excursion along the cycle path the Crook of Lune. "It's all level, as it is on the old railway line," says Mary. "The Crook of Lune picnic area has a superb snack bar which serves lovely home made food.
"We trundle along, into Lancaster and over the Millennium Bridge. The bridge has made a great difference, as we no longer have to use the horrendous main road, which means the ride is now safe for children to use. A nice stopping off point for coffee is the Asda store at Salt Ayre, (beside the track.)
"When we reach Morecambe we cycle along the wide Prom, (the Stone Jetty cafe is another good 'food stop'). Eventually we arrive at Heysham, which is delightful; the crocuses in the Churchyard are superb at this time of year, and the National Trust has now made a footpath along the cliff top."
Do you have a favourite local haunt? Let us know and we'll either add it to our web site or feature it in out newsletter.
Virtual-Lancaster.net Visitor's Guide.

VIC LOOKS FOR VOLUNTEERS IN MORECAMBE
26/03/02: Lancaster District volunteer information centre (vic) will be coming to Morecambe for one week in April, to offer advice and information on local and national volunteering opportunities.
They'll occupy space in the ground floor reception area of the City Council offices, Euston Road, Morecambe from 15 - 19 April between 11am to 4pm.
" Volunteering is a great way to learn new skills, try your hand at something new, make new friends, put something back into the community, have fun or share a skill of your own with others. Whatever the reason, there is something to suit all. Anyone can volunteer and everyone has something to gain from the experience. Organisations across Lancaster District are always looking for volunteers to help maintain important services.
More info from Lancaster's VIC Centre on 01524 63760

THE GREENEST WAY TO GO!
26/03/02: Green burials will be the main topic of discussion at the next Lancaster & District Green Party meeting, on Tuesday 9 April, in the Gregson Centre,
Moorgate, Lancaster. Ginny Hardy, a local expert on green burials, will be giving a talk at the meeting starting at 7.30 pm.
"When someone close to you dies," says Ginny, "It's all too easy to let a funeral director take control of every aspect of the funeral arrangements, from preparing the body to liaising with the crematorium or cemetery. But the services that they offer can involve a lot of unnecessary expense.
"More and more people are choosing a more natural and personal approach to dealing with death. For example, coffins or shrouds can be made from natural materials, perhaps with the creative involvement of friends and relatives.
The body can be buried in a woodland burial area, or trees planted in memory of the person who has died."

MONEY FOR GOOD IDEAS

26/03/02 Are you a small, local, charitable group which has things you'd like to get done over the summer or autumn - but you need a bit of money to oil the wheels? The Galbraith Trust has just given out its third lot of grants to local groups (see below) and is now inviting applications for the next round.

The next closing date is Monday 1 July and the Trust would like to hear from groups who are making a difference in their communities or for particular groups of people and where the Trust's money can match and support groups' energy and enthusiasm.

You may be doing something for children or be a young persons' project; there may be something happening in your neighbourhood or being done by a group of disabled people; it could be something that brings older people together or enables local people to try new things ... If you have an idea, we'd like to hear from you!

Meanwhile, grants have just been made to Bleasdale House School, the Forum for the Older Person, the Friendship Centre, Lancaster and District Homeless Action Service, Lancaster Methodist Church, the Needlecraft Group at the Rainbow Centre in Morecambe and the 35th Lancaster Scout Group.

Further information and application forms are available from Lancaster District CVS, Trinity Community Centre, Middle Street, Lancaster, tel: 01524-63760 or

MARKS ON THE SURFACE
26/03/02 Thursday 4 April marks the opening of

Sultan Gallery, Brock Street, Lancaster

'Spirit Gardens', an exhibition of paintings by Richard Turner. Richard and his wife Alison left London and came to Cheshire in the 70's and over the next 10 years or so he began to rediscover his persona as a painter. Richard will be on hand to talk and answer questions about his work at the opening (5-11pm), when his strong and colourful paintings go on show for the first time in Lancaster.

The Sultan Gallery provides a tranquil and elegant space for creative art to be seen, appreciated and purchased. It holds work by local and internationally acclaimed artists, including the pioneer in contemporary glass, Charles Bray, the sculptress Josefina de Vasconcellos and Lancaster based painter Geoff Woodhead.

David French and fellow artists from AIM (Artists in Morecambe) will be exhibiting at the Storey Gallery in late April. The exhibition will be called 'Pentimento - Layers Of Memory'

EASTER WEEKEND: LANCASTER MARITIME FESTIVAL
24/03/02 Based around St George's Quay, Lancaster,

Inner State Theatre Co every afternoon behind Maritime museum

it's the world's biggest + most prestigious gathering of sea-song shanty performers. With 39 different acts the festival has exploded to venues all around Lancaster and even Morecambe's Arndale Centre. There will also be many themed events - salty storytelling, nautical dramas + streettheatre, Punch & Judy, a Salty Sealadies Sing-around, guided walks, knot tying demos and putting ships in bottles! For those who can't take any more, there will also be a Lancashire Landlubbers Singaround devoted to Lancashire + North Country songs - definitely no shanties!

SEND THE KIDS TO OUTER SPACE WITH THE EASTER HOLIDAYS CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL

24/03/02 From Monday 25 March through to Friday 5 April the City Council has organised a packed programme of outer-space-related arts and crafts. Sessions on pottery, internet and cookery for the reluctant astronaut will be available, plus stuff like 'Moving through a Black Hole'. What to wear in outer space is a crucial question, and costume-making sessions are a must.

Lots of different taster sports sessions are on offer too. Snorkelling, horseriding and archery are just a few of the activities children can try out.

You need to book into all these sessions, so for more info and booking contact The Children's Festival Office at Morecambe Town Hall tel: 01524 582822/3/4.

SPECIAL EASTER HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES AT SALT AYRE

24/03/02 Lots of holiday activities are planned this week and next at Salt Ayre leisure centre, with a children's party planned this Thursday at 10.30am. A bouncy castle and an Easter Egg hunt are some of the fun and games you can expect. Check out Salt Ayre on the City Council's website for details and a full programme of fun sessions and special activities planned for these holidays.

ALEX WON'T ROCK YOU

24/03/02 Since the Alex was taken over by some megacorps who couldn't find Rock Nights on their tick list, Lancaster's Dark Place Rock Nights have quit the Alex (or whatever sad theme name they're planning on now - how about The Snooty Fox - oops, been done already), and are moving from venue to venue. Hamlets is taking off as the new alternative music venue, with Rock, Goth and Punk gigs lining up. For more info on rock dates + places check out www.thedarkplace.org.

DANGEROUS CORNER CALMED?
22/3/02: After a series of accidents, one of them fatal, welcome changes could be on the way for pedestrians trying to cross Lancaster's Meeting House Lane.
The County Council are finally proposing changes to the town centre junction by Waterstones so pedestrians will be able cross at Meeting House Lane /King Street more safely. Last year a local vicar was fatally injured on the corner by a turning lorry. Local residents have been complaining about the junction for years.
For anyone who would like to look at the plans and make comments there will be an informal meeting between 5.00pm and 6.00pm in room A10 at the nearby Storey Institute this afternoon (Friday 22 March).

MEMORY LAYING
22/3/02: Local artist David French will be exhibiting at the Storey Gallery at the end of April, along with other members of Artists In Morecambe (AIM). The dates have yet to be confirmed but the exhibition will be titled Pentimento - Layers Of Memory.

COAL YARD HOUSING PLANS OPPOSED
22/3/02: Carnforth residents are up in arms about plans from builders Merewood to build 46 houses on the Old Coal Yard. This is a green site, surrounded by trees which is considered to be a valuable open space by the community. Some of the trees are the subject of preservation orders.
"There's strong local opposition to this development," says one local councillor. "The immediate residents believe that there are a number of important reasons why this site should be preserved and these include the presence of possibly protected flora and fauna."
It's hoped the space could be preserved rather than turned into housing,providing a useful green community space.

GETTING THE MEASURE
22/3/02: The 2002 Shakespeare Unplugged tour of Measure For Measure visits the Platform, Morecambe for two performances only on 3 and 4 April, as part of its nationwide tour of schools and community venues.
A disturbing tale of suspense, dark comedy and corruption, Measure For Measure explores sexuality, morality and the law, exposing the abuse of authority in high places and the seething underworld of Vienna.
Tickets priced at £7 adults and £6 concessions are available from the Box Office on 01524 582803.

SIX BID FOR TRAIN SERVICE
22/3/02: The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) has announced that six parties have successfully pre-qualified as bidders for the Northern Rail franchise, which will operate urban and rural services through Lancaster from 2003. The companies are: ARRIVA Trains Limited; FirstGroup plc (owners of First NorthWestern) jointly with Keolis SA (Joint owners fo the South Central franchise with Govia. Keolis provides urban passenger transport services in France and is owned by SNCF - the French transport giant). The other bidders are the National Express Group PLC, who run a variety of coach and raile services including ScotRail and The Gatwick and Stansted Express services; Connex Transport UK Limited, which recently sold its South Central franchise to Govia; GB Railways Group Plc, which operates services such as Hull Trains and the Anglia Railways passenger franchise; and Serco Ltd., a Middlesex-based group engaged in facilities management and system engineering services.

BLUES MOVES
22/3/02: The Juke Joint Blues jamming sessions run by Max Haymes is now being held every Sunday (8.15 onwards) at the Water Witch pub, Lancaster. All blues musicians and spectators welcome.
Web site: Go

MIDLAND PLANS - CRUCIAL MEETING THIS WEEK
22/3/02: The Council's planning permission committee meet on Monday 25 March to discuss the new plans for the Midland Hotel. If Kaliber Leisure's new plans for the hotel ae given the go ahead work will begin very quickly and it's hoped it will be finished by April 2003.
The Twentieth Century Society has objected to the plans fearing they are not sophisticated and could mean the art-deco building will become a "1930s pastiche".
The meeting takes place at 10.30am at Morecambe Town Hall and is open to the public.
Midland Hotel Information site: Go

VOLUNTARY VISION
22/3/02: Voluntary organisations have a great opportunity to take time out and look at their future on Monday 29 April. A one day course 'Working Together - Maximising Your Effectiveness' has been designed to help staff and management committee members of voluntary groups work together effectively and with vision. The day will include clarifying roles and developing good relationships in the organisation, promoting good communication, supporting staff, what to do if things go wrong and sharing a vision for the future.The trainer, Neil Irving, is Chief Officer of North Yorkshire Forum for Voluntary Organisations and has extensive training experience.
For further details contact: Juliet Abson, Training Officer, Lancaster
District Council for Voluntary Service Tel 01524 63760
Web site: Go


HAVE YOU GOT THE WRITE STUFF?
18/03/02 LancasterUKOnline.net is starting a new Local Fiction section on its web site in association with Lancaster's Spotlight Club. We're looking for local stories, which reflect our community. They can be contemporary, historical, true, fictional, funny or fantastic as long as they are local. The night Morecambe Pier collapsed, for example, or the day the old Lancaster Market burnt down. They could even be your ghost story...
Because these are stories for web reading they should be between 600 - 800 words. Please send us your stories within the body of an e-mail, NO attached files.
There is currently no payment for the stories we use but copyright remains with the author and the page featuring your story will include full contact details as the author requires. The stories will be selected from submissions by the site's editors and the Spotlight co-ordinators.
We hope that the space will provide an international platform for local authors, be they new or established, and that the most popular stories will be collected at a later date, with the agreement of the writers.
If you'd like to know more, contact me at the address below, or contact Ron Baker or Sarah Fiske from Spotlight ( ).

BLOBBYGATE EXPLODES
15/3/02: The local press have had a field day with the report by the District Auditor on the infamous "Blobbygate" fiasco. The Blobby affair continues to rumble on eight years after Lancaster City Council fell out with tv star Noel Edmonds and the The World of Crinkley Bottom was closed after a mere 12 weeks of operation in Morecambe's Happy Mount Park.
"Unlawful, Imprudent, Irrational, Mistaken" screams the Lancaster Citizen, which was the only local paper to cover the ongoing debacle in any detail when problems arose.
The paper publishes the full auditor's report. Several local bigwigs are at the centre of the affair including former Town Clerk Bill Pearson and Labour Party stalwart Stanley Henig.
Both the Citizen and The Lancaster Guardian carry large features reporting on the events. Jon Barry, who started asking questions about Crinkley Bottom long before he became a councillor, told the Guardian the Auditor's report was "damming".
The Guardian also carries the news that Lancashire County Council have promised a major rethink on its plan to close 35 care homes, including five in the Lancaster-Morecambe area.
The Morecambe Visitor, published prior to the Report announcement, leads instead with news that an RAF pilot is suing Lancaster Royal Infirmary for £6.7 million after botched treatment. The paper continues its campaign for a skate park with local business entrepreneur Fred Edmondson lending his support, suggesting the disused bus dept he owns on Heysham Road could be a venue.
Celebrity news of the week is a report that Eastenders star Tamzin Outhwaite has been filming some of a new BBC drama at Lancaster Farms Young Offenders Institute. Now there's a glamorous location!

THE LONE RANGER PREPARES...
15/3/02: As news broke this week of a new big screen outing for The Lone Ranger, Lancaster's Deadwood Choir revealed it's busy rehearsing their operatic version of the cowboy legend. "Enter The Lone Ranger - the Acapulco musical" should be ready around Autumn. More news as we get it!

CVS TRAINING DAY
15/3/02: Want to know how to organise a fundraising benefit or a fete properly? Lancaster Council for Voluntary Service is offering a free training day on Friday 22 March in Lancaster to members of local voluntary and community
groups on how to organise and manage small projects and events.

GET UGLY!
15/3/02: Applause Productions present The Ugly Duckling at the Platform on Easter Saturday, 30 March.
Based on the well loved tale by Hans Christian Anderson, the Ugly Duckling takes an eventful journey, meeting Mother Duck and her pretty ducklings, the horrible hunters and their dog, the farm cat, Drumstick the turkey, the farmer and lots more.
The show includes lots of fun and excitement with songs, prizes, puppets and colourful costumes. Box Office: 01524 582803

BOOK WOES
15/3/02: Yesterday (14th March) may have been World Book Day, but throughout the United Kingdom libraries are still desperately short of the books needed by children, students and readers. The National Book Committee (NBC) has revealed that spending on books in many public libraries is well below the
level of £2.01 per resident stipulated by new government standards, with some library authorities expending as little as 90p, 60p or even 20p per resident.
"Our national libraries and the libraries of our schools, public authorities, colleges and universities give people access to the books and information that they need. Theirs is a crucial role and one that must be sustained," said Mr Rix, Chair of the NBC.

FIRST FOR LANCASHIRE
15/3/02: Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service have become the UK's first fire brigade to put Airwave into service - an advanced, digital radio system that will significantly improve communications - provided by BT and supplied and maintained by mm02. This follows the recent announcement that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has also adopted the Airwave service as the 'de facto' military standard for secure UK mainland radio communications.
Updated 2/4/02: Lancashire Fire Brigade and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) may have signed up to BT's Airwave network, but fire fighters say they will not use the sparking Tetra digital radio handsets when fighting fires or in explosive situations.
In a report on VNU.net Lancashire fire brigade says that it would not use Tetra handsets when fighting fires, for fear that its unprotected sparks could endanger members of the crew.
There have been numerous concerns raised about the safety of Airwave by a range of user groups after problems elsewhere.

Links:
News Articles on Airwave
• VNU.net: Tetra deal raises same old safety concerns
• VNU.net: Police Federation issues ultimatum over Tetra radios
• VNU.net: Tetra dangerous, warns top UK scientist

Police Concerns
• West Mercia Police Airwave FAQ
• Police Federation Magazine (12/02): The Airwave: The Urgent Unanswered Questions
• The Police Federation's statement on Airwave: Go
• A report prepared for the Police Federation on Airwave: Go




AWARD FOR LUKO SITE DEVELOPERS
12/03/02 Andy Piggott and Zoe Swiderski, who host our site as well as developing us a dreamy new content-driven platform we will shortly be unveiling, have won the prestigious first-place award for North-East Wales Young Entrepreneurs of the Year 2002 with their company Incutio Ltd, which primarily develops interactive and content driven web-sites, but also provides hosting, e-commerce, design, training, customised development and business development services. Contact incutio at:

DOGONASTRING - THE PUNK WAY OF PLEASURE

12/03.02 The last punk night having been a runaway success, Dogonastring will again play host to five bands eager to practise their art in front of an, hopefully, enthusiastic crowd. On Saturday 23 March at the Hamlet's Cafe Bar, Lancaster Leisure Park, treading the boards will be, I Dont Wanna, Face Of Change ,Born Idle, Seraphim and Forenzic. £2.50/£1.75

FAIR TRADE FORTNIGHT
10/03/02 Ever wonder whose kids are working all the hours god sends to produce the cut-price tea, coffee, fashionable threads and other goods we buy from all over the world?
Fair Trade is about promoting those products where you can be sure the producers in other countries aren't exploited to the bone for their labour, but get a fair day's pay for a fair day's work. Lancaster's Global Link is organising a series of events - some serious, some fun, and all very cool, all about it. Check them out in our what's on guide.

Fair Trade Links
• The Fair Trade Foundation
The Fairtrade Foundation exists to ensure a better deal for marginalised and disadvantaged third world producers. Set up by CAFOD, Christian Aid, New Consumer, Oxfam, Traidcraft and the World Development Movement, the Foundation awards a consumer label, the Fairtrade Mark, to products which meet internationally recognised standards of fair trade. The founding organisations were later joined by Britain's largest women's organisation, the Women's Institute.

• Equal Exchange
Equal Exchange Trading is a Fair Trade company distributing Organic & Fair Trade products in the independent natural food sector. They have their own branded Fair Trade products as well as distributing other selected brands such as cafedirect and Divine Chocolate.

• Ghanavegfairtrade.com
Ghana Veg Fairtrade Uk Ltd., is dedicated to improving the conditions in which some Ghana farmers and their familes are living in at present. They aim to help the farmers to get a good and fair price for their fruit and vegetables.

• Traidcraft
Traidcraft operates on the principle that by paying a fair price for the products we buy, and establishing long term relationships of partnership and co-operation, we can help poor communities to work their way out of poverty and create a more equitable world. Most of Traidcraft’s trading partners are community-based enterprises and associations of small holder farmers organised for the benefit of their producers and growers.

FEED ME! LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS!

10/03/02 The Girls Grammar School will be rocking at the Grand Theatre from Tuesday 12 to Friday with their production of 'The Little Shop of Horrors' by Alan Menken & Howard Ashman. This famous comic musical about a brilliant, manipulative and deadly - plant is a great treat for all the family and will be major fun. more info

12/03/02 Andy Piggott and Zoe Swiderski, who host our site (see about us) as well as developing us a dreamy new content-driven platform we will shortly be unveiling, have won the prestigious first-place award for North-East Wales Young Entrepreneurs of the Year 2002 with their company Incutio Ltd, which primarily develops interactive and content driven web-sites, but also provides hosting, e-commerce, design, training, customised development and business development services. more about this
Congratulations and thanks, A-Z, you really deserve it.

BEER FESTIVAL 2002

From this Thursday 7 March through Saturday Lancaster Round Table have organised a fantastic Beer Festival in Lancaaster Town Hall in aid of local charities. Running from 7pm to 11.45pm (11.30pm Thurs) on the payment of a modest £3 entrance fee, beer afficionados will be faced with an array of 30 cask ales, 30 continental bottled lagers, ciders, wines, alcopops and soft drinks.

But that's not all - every evening there will be delicious indian cuisine available, and if that's not enough, live music to entertain and delight any other senses that might still be going spare. Oh you lucky people!

ALTERNATIVE NIGHT CLUB SOLD
8/3/02: The Alex pub has been sold. New owners Inventive Leisure are said to be unhappy about keeping a night club upstairs and have announced plans to refurbish the popular local venue along the lines of the Revolution Bar in Fallowfield, Manchester. The Alex Night Club, famed for its heavy rock nights, was the last 'alternative' club in the area and will be much missed by regular punters.

RECYCLING ON A RUNWAY!
8/3/02: Rethink Waste in Lancashire are beginning to organise a 'Recycling on the Runway' fashion show with a group of youths from Morecambe Youth Cafe. They'll be making this event as big and brilliant as possible, focusing on the textile industry and 3 R's. They're on the hunt for anyone who would like to help with this event; people who are good with a sewing machine, or perhaps have music/Lighting experience, could produce posters or might even know a celebrity who might attend / compere/ be a judge.
If you'd like to help contact Sam Keay on 01772 752930 or e-mail:


SHAGGY DOGS AND LOUD POETS
8/3/02: The Spotlight Club returns to the Yorkshire House, Lancaster on Friday (15th). Headlining the event is Lancaster University Creative Writing Tutor George Green. A very funny writer with a keen eye for all that is ridiculous in human behaviour, George has entertained audiences at Spotlight on several occasions since its inception with his tales of lunch, comedy and shaggy-dogs. He has also encouraged many of his students to take the leap into performance via the Spotlight open mic and was one of the editors of Spotlight's first anthology.
Two first class poets Helên Thomas and Helen Clare will also take the stage. Thomas has been writing poetry for as long as she can remember and has appeared at a variety of venues over the past 12 years including The Edinburgh Fringe Festival. She was winner of The Manchester Poetry Festival Slam 2000 with the lewd and loud rendition of 'Pubic Hair! A Celebration!' Her poems cover such every day preoccupations as flatulent nuns; romances with milkmen; the love life of a chocolate cake and why she'd be a lot happier if she were an egg (that's a hen's egg).
With all this and music from vocal diva Sue Parish, guitarist Jon Moore and keyboard players Ambler & French, can you afford to miss it? Dor opens at 8.30pm.

ABBA LIVES ON
8/3/02: Voulez Vous, one the UK's greatest and best-loved Abba tribute bands return to the Platform on 22 March.
Now in their eleventh year together and still boasting their original line up, Voulez Vous promise an evening of pure Abba nostalgia, with a glittering array of costumes and one of the most stunning light shows and stage sets touring today. Box office: 01524 582803

WHERE THERE'S MUCK
8/3/02: Ever wondered why your compost heap is smelly? How to prevent fruit flies? Whether it's possible to compost citrus fruit? What to do with all your grass cuttings? Or how to compost in a back yard?
To answer these and many more home composting quandaries, free are being held all over Lancashire as part of the 'Do Your Bit, Compost-It' project. These informal workshops are aimed at those new to composting as
well as the more experienced composter. The Lancaster event takes place at the Gregson Community Centre on Tuesday 19 March, 7.30pm to 9.00pm.

LOCAL PRESS ROUND UP
8/3/02: The Lancaster Guardian reports on school children from the Lancaster District face a 60-mile round trip to their lessons following the sale Bentham Grammar School. 25 of the Bentham school's 129 roll come from Lancaster and Morecambe. The paper also suggests an ancient Viking cross at Halton could have been part of JRR Tolkien's inspiration for Lord of the Rings. Tolkien visited the area during his lifetime and there's speculation much of his Middle Earth is based on Lancashire landmarks. Local councillors hope promoting the possible the link will encourage more tourism in the area.
Both the Guardian and the Citizen report on motorway robbers who held up a group of students at gunpoint. Police are appealing for witnesses after the robbery on the M6 on Saturday 16 February. (More info via the Lancashire Police web site: Go)
The Morecambe Visitor leads with complaints about damage residents say is being caused by cable company Omne following the installation of their new network. Residents claim some paving stones are not being replaced properly after work is completed. The company is working closely with the Council to minimise disruption. You can call them direct on 0800 389 3016 or e-mail them at:

BRITAIN BACKS KYOTO
8/3/02: As anger grows over America's increasing 'go it alone' approach to trade and environment matters, some good news here. Britain has taken its first step toward ratifying the Kyoto protocol on global warming this week and urged the United States to drop its opposition to the pact.
Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett presented the treaty to Parliament, where it must remain for 21 working days before Foreign Secretary Jack Straw can sign it. Beckett said Britain expected to exceed the protocol's requirements for cutting emissions.
Full story: Go

ANGIE PLAYS LIFE!
1/3/02: No, not a LUKO typo: local singer songwriter Angie Palmer is playing support at the Life Cafe, Manchester as part of the Girls X Country national tour this week.
Rosie Wilby and Virginia McNaughton, two well known female singer-songwriters, headline the event funded by the Arts Council in order to promote the best of female singer-songwriters.
"It's going to be an important gig as lots of other singer-songwriters are going to be there, (male and female)," Angie told LUKO. "Obviously it would be good to get as much support as possible, so if my home support knows about it they might make the 'short' journey.
"It's a great venue for acoustic music; good sound, nice, friendly environment with people who really listen... and they serve great food!"

Angie Palmer at the Life Cafe, off Deansgate, Manchster
8.00pm, 6 March. Girls X Country Singer-Songwriter -National Tour: Tickets from Venue Contact: Life Cafe Tel. 0161 833 3000

More on Angie (and hear a track of her CD): Go
Life Cafe: Go



NEW NUKE FEARS GROW
1/3/03: Friends of the Earth has branded British Energy and BNFL's joint agreement to develop plans for a large number of new nuclear reactors as 'ludicrous' which flies in the face of both public opinion and the Government's recently published Energy Review.
At recent local Friends of the Earth meetings and via their market stalls, the public were given the opportunity to vote on whether they wanted a new nuclear power station at Heysham. 81 per cent said no, 15 per cent yes, and 4 per cent don't know.
Under new proposed new parliamentary procedures, if the nuclear industry does decide it wants to build a new nuclear power station at Heysham, we will have no right to object at a public inquiry to "the principle of, the need for and location of" the nuclear power station.
North Lancashire Friends of the Earth have pointed out that instead, for major infrastructure projects (the government will decide exactly which ones) these fundamental matters will be decided by parliament. The public will 'have a clear opportunity to make their views known before Parliament debates the issue', but this seems a poor exchange for the right to appear at a public inquiry, held in the area affected by the development. The public inquiry inspector at least has to hear and read all the evidence, whereas MPs can just turn up at the end of a debate and vote as they have been directed by the party whips.
Full story: Go
Planning Changes Information: Go

KATE COMIES BACK!
1/3/03: Barnsley folk singer Kate Rusby makes a welcome return to Morecambe's Platform on Saturday (2 March), this time as a trio with John McCusker and Andy Cutting.
Kate, who was awarded BBC Radio 2 Folk Singer of the Year in 2000, has established an excellent reputation as a solo performer, consistently playing to sell out audiences and getting rave reviews for her live gigs.
The concert starts at 8pm and tickets priced at £12/£10 are available from the box office on 01524 582803.

BETTER BUS SERVICES
1/3/03: Good news for public transport users: new, easy access buses begin running this week in the Carnforth area.
From 4 March Line 1 & Line 2 bus services begin, with new low floor buses complete with bike racks. The services that are designed to connect with trains at Carnforth station. Even if the trains are running a few minutes late the buses will wait.
Line 1 runs from Carnforth Station through Yealand Conyers, Yealand Redmayne and Beetham to Milnthorpe and Ackenthwaite.
Line 2 runs from Carnforth Station through Priest Hutton, Borwick,
Gressingham, Arkholme and Whittington to Kirkby Lonsdale.
Full details about both services are available in two new timetable leaflets
available from Carnforth and many local libraries and information centres
Further information from Carnforth Connect office: 01524 734311.
or Traveline: 0870 608 2608.
The announcement of these news services follows the introduction of other new buses in the Lancaster and Morecambe area.

FLEETWOOD - KNOTT END FERRY RETURNS
1/3/03: In other transport news, the Fleetwood - Knott End ferry will be back, after successful negotiations between Wyre Borough Council and Wyre Waste Management.
Wyre Waste Management has agreed to operate the ferry between Easter and October this year, starting on Good Friday.
"We have been working very hard to get the ferry service up and running," said Councillor Peter Pimbley, Deputy Leader of Wyre Council. "The ferry provides an important and convenient link between Fleetwood and Knott End as well as being a popular tourist attraction."
Negotiations between Wyre Borough Council and Lancashire County Council to provide a year round 'covered' service from next year are also on-going. The ferry service has suffered numerous problems in recent years.
"We are extremely hopeful that we will see a much improved service in operation from the late autumn," added Pimbley, " With a newly
commissioned boat and crossings taking place each and every day."

DOGONASTRING DEBUT
1/3/03: Don't forget the first new punk event at Lancaster Leisure Park Cafe takes place tomorrow (2 March). Organisers Dogonastring have lined up a raw line up of talent including Forenzic; Seraphim; Face of Change and The Filthy Lookers. Doors open at 7.00pm and it should run to 12.30ish. Admission is £2.00,or £1.50 with flyer, which you can download from the web site: Go

LOCAL PRESS ROUND UP
1/3/03: Both the Lancaster Guardian and the Morecambe Visitor continue to report on plans for a local skateboard park, with news that local company Mikeron Leisure are seeking to turn the former Kenneth Gardner store on Parliament Street into one such venue.
The Lancaster Guardian also brings news of the latest council tax rises, set at 8.7%. Band A payers will now have to fork out £709.12 a year for local services while the most highly-rated properties (Band H) could pay as much as £2127.36. Most local properties are in Bands A and C.
Plans by the County Council to close many of Lancashire's care homes continues to provoke outrage. Morecambe MP Geraldine Smith has condemned the distress the proposals have caused elderly care home residents. Hilton Dawson has suggested the Council withdraw their plans and begin discussions with the public about how care in the county should be developed.
The Morecambe Visitor headlines news that the Frontierland re-development has been given the go ahead, but remains guarded in its welcome. Morecambe's Chamber of Trade had previously expressed concerns the Morrisons-based 56-unit development could damage existing businesses' trade.
The Lancaster Citizen also reports on fears for the future of local Morecambe traders. "It's our opinion that this is an out-of-town development that will divert a big percentage of our passing pedestrian trade," John Bates, a spokesperson for Morecambe's Chamber of Trade, told the Citizen. The go ahead for the plan, authorised by Secretary of State Stephen Byers, flies in the face of the government's own guidelines on such developments.
The Citizen also reveals that more than £1 million will be needed to fund essential maintenance at Salt Ayre Sports Centre during the next three to four years. Plans to transfer running of the Centre to a not for profit trust are still in discussion by the Council.

BLOOD AND WATER
1/3/03: Oil, namely the vast reserves in Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia, is the cause of many of the broad geopolitical battles plaguing the Middle East. But it is access to water, a more fundamental resource, that is at the root of much of the bitter conflict between Israel and Palestine. In fact, the Palestinians rejected a recent peace proposal from Israel in part because it didn't give them control of water resources within their territory.
Full story on Grist: Go