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BREAK OUT THE STOVEPIPES
30/8/02: The Kirkby Lonsdale Victorian Fair takes place next weekend (7-8). After a year's absence caused by the Foot and Mouth outbreak, the locals are looking forward to the event. So if the pace of modern day life is wearing you down then a visit to Kirkby Lonsdale is the answer.
The town centre will be pedestrianised and the shops themed with performances including the local Brass Band, jugglers, harmony singers, Punch and Judy shows, fire eaters, stilt walkers, comedy shows with dancing and music performing at all times. You can see demonstrations by a master thatcher and a coracle maker and craft displays in the Methodist and St. Mary's Churches. The fire station will be open both days to train young & old would-be firefighters! Visitors are positively encouraged to visit in Victorian dress and join in the parade and competition.

TREE-MENDOUS!
30/8/02: While politicians talk hot air and corporations engage in green wash in Johannesburg, a new local community group, Treesponsibility, is up and running in Lancaster to take positive action against climate change destruction of green spaces.
Treesponsibility is looking sites for tree planting for this autumn, with the aim of creating new woodlands for present and future generations to enjoy. "Planting trees soaks up harmful carbon dioxide emissions," explained a spokesperson. "Planting native trees on unused or degraded land will also increase bio-diversity and provide habitats for endangered wildlife."
If you would like to get involved in the fun, or post to: Treesponsibility, The Basement, c/o Single Step, 78a Penny St, Lancaster Tel: 01524 840028

CURRYING FAVOUR!
30/8/02: Congratulations to Hamida Patel of Moghuls, Lancaster, who has just won the title of Northwest Regional Curry Chef. Hamida was also the Lancaster and Morecambe District winner of the Curry Chef of the Year Competition, organised by the Council. He came top in the regional heats held at Salford University on Wednesday.
This is the third year running that a local finalist from the Lancaster area has made it to the national final. In the previous two year's Naim Munshi, from the Sultan of Lancaster has been the Northwest regional winner.

+ We're compiling details of the opening times of every fast food shop in the Lancaster and Morecambe area and we need your help! Please send opening time details of your favourite chippy or tofu joint to and we can add this info to our Eating Out Guide. You can print it out the page once it's completed and need never try and guess which fast food place is open again. Send us comments on them too, if you want! Thanks.
Our Eating out Guide: Go
How to make a Posh Curry: Go
Moghuls: 91 King Street, Lancaster Tel: 01524 36253

CAR SHARING
30/8/02: Enjoyed the peace and quiet of local roads over the summer? (Well OK, evening traffic is still as bad as ever). Can we just encourage all car drivers out there to think about car sharing, especially if you're ferrying kids to school? We'd welcome ideas on how we could support this idea on our site. E-mail .

KEEPING THE CO-OP
30/8/02: Local musician Bridget Halldearn has contributed a great item to our web site about the value of the Musicians' Co-op. Read it here.
There's a link to our Save the Musicians' Co-op poster on the same page, featuring The Really Heavy Greatcoat you can print out and put in a window or on a noticeboard. Or post it to you local councillor!

RING CYCLEÉ
30/8/02: As part of the Dukes' ongoing audience development and access initiative there will be a screening of The Lord of the Rings with English subtitles for audience members with hearing difficulties on Sunday 8 September.
The Lord of the Rings was voted third most popular film in the first Dukes Film Poll 2002, with Some Like it Hot in the number two position and AmZlie at number one!
When customers with hearing difficulties book for The Lord of the Rings, they can also buy a ticket for AmZlie for just £2! (screening on Friday 13 September at 8.30pm). AmZlie is a French film and therefore also has sub-titles Ð and it's a great film with plenty of fans in the Lancaster area!
The Two Towers, the second LOTR film, is released in December. Shame there's nowhere in Lancaster that will be showing it then.
Meanwhile, after our dispirited comment about how much it takes to let people know about events around the area last issue The Dukes wrote to let us know that "We're toying around with about 400 plus screenings a year just to see if it's a good idea. Those in the know seem to love it!" Wicked!

-- RECYCLE!
30/8/02: The City Council is running a series of public talks and road shows to explain more about the introduction of the new, wheeled bin and recycling scheme. They begin with an event at Gaskell Memorial Hall, Silverdale, 10.00 - 12.30, on Tuesday 10 September.
Residents in areas including Hest Bank, Bolton-le-Sands, Carnforth, Silverdale and Warton have just received important information packs through their doors detailing the new pilot refuse and recycling collection scheme, due to be launched in these areas at the end of September.
The changes, part of the Council's commitment towards improving the district's recycling rate, aim to make it easier for households to recycle their waste - with over 60 per cent of the average domestic bin being recyclable. Details of all the talks are on our web site events pages.

DEPRESSING QUOTE TIME "Through the provision of subsidies on fossil fuels, governments are effectively subsidising pollution and global warming as more than 60 per cent of all subsidies flow to oil, coal and gas." - Leaked OECD report. So much for the Earth Summit then. (Thanks to SchNews for this)

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!
23/8/02: Lancaster City Council begins its annual canvass to bring the electoral register up to date next week. In order to vote in an election an individual's name needs to be on the electoral register.
Each autumn Lancaster City Council is required to undertake an annual canvass of all properties in the area. Over the next two week period, commencing on 30 August, a form will be delivered to every household by a team of 100 canvassers. Under the rules of registration the form should be completed based on a person's residence on 15 October.
Members of the public are encouraged to complete and return the form using the pre paid facility on the form. The register will be published on 1 December.
There is still a suspicion amongst some people that the Electoral Register is used for Council Tax purposes. This is not correct. Council Tax and Electoral Registration are two totally separate registers.
The public should also be advised that two versions of the register will be introduced this year, and that each person must indicate on the form which register they wish to appear on. The two versions are:

The full register
This lists everyone who is entitled to vote. This register will only be made available to certain people and organisations and can only be used for specified purposes. These include electoral purposes, the prevention and detection of crime and checking your identity when you have applied for credit. The new law indicates who can have a full copy of the full register and what they can use it for. It will be a criminal offence for them to pass it on to anyone else or to use it for any other purpose.

The edited register
This leaves out the names and addresses of people who have asked for them to be excluded from that version of the register. The edited register can be bought by anyone who asks for a copy and used for any purpose.

Members of the public must therefore decide which register they wish to appear on by ticking the appropriate box on the form.
Following publication of the register the system of Rolling Registration will be reintroduced. Anyone who has moved since 15 October or since completing the form would then be able to register using the rolling registration application form. The register is then updated on the first day of each month.

• If you have moved house or don't know whether you are registered to vote call your local Electoral Registration helpline on Lancaster 582905.

RECYCLING REVOLUTION
23/8/02: Rubbish collection is about to see major changes in thein the north coastal strip of the District.
This week the residents in areas including Hest Bank, Bolton-Le-Sands, Carnforth, Silverdale and Warton will receive important information packs through their doors detailing the new trial refuse and recycling collection scheme which is due to be launched at the end of September.
The changes, which are part of Lancaster City Council's commitment towards improving the district's recycling rate, aim to make it easier for households to recycle their waste - with over 60 per cent of the average domestic bin being recyclable. The new collection system will also provide a cleaner, safer and more efficient service.
Under the new scheme the traditional black sacks, and transfer of waste direct to Salt Ayre landfill, will be history. Households in the trial area will receive two wheeled bins and a recycling box:

• a GREEN wheeled bin for compostable garden waste
• a GREY wheeled bin for food and other residual waste
• a KERBSIDE BOX for newspapers, magazines, steel and aluminium cans, glass, brown cardboard and textiles.

Similar schemes have been implemented across the country to the satisfaction of residents and refuse operatives, and the approval of environmental pressure groups. The trial scheme has the potential to double the Authority's recycling rate in the next 12 months and achieve nationally set targets.
The information pack explains the scheme in more detail and the changes that will take place over the coming weeks. It includes some of the 'Frequently< asked Questions' and information to households on what to do if they have any further queries, or feel they may not be able to manage wheeled bins. It also contains a calendar detailing the collection schedule for the next year and a 'wheeled bin' shaped fridge magnet so households can keep information handy.
Cabinet member with responsibility for Community Services, Coun David Barker said: "This new streamed collection of waste will make it easier for all households to recycle their waste. Many households currently choose not to recycle their waste because they do not have easy access to their local bringsite. However with this scheme, households will be able to recycle on their own doorstep."

PIAZZA AT THE PRIORY?
23/8/02: Lancaster Priory has applied for planning permission to build more car parking space on its land, to the dismay of local residents. The proposal is part of a package of improvements including new toilets and refurbishment of two memorials. But locals have already expressed reservations, concerned at the potential for increased traffic.
The plan to create a "piazza" on the west side of the Priory is in order to comply with new Disability legislation that will apply to all "Service Providers" (the irony of the term is not lost on us) by 2004. This means the Priory, has to provide better access for disabled visitors and users of the church.
There are 8.5 million disabled people in Britain - one in seven of the population. A private vehicle is, for many disabled people, the only viable transport option.
However, while the Act is a welcome call for organisations to make 'reasonable adjustments' to the physical features of premises to overcome barriers to access, a quick call to the Disability Rights Commission reveals more car parking isn't an intentional part of the new Act. Even English Heritage have expressed reservations to the plan, calling more car parking so close to the church "not especially desirable." And we have to wonder how many local companies might seek to call a new car park a "reasonable adjustment" in response to the Act if this application is approved… "I'm very much against this," Councillor Jon Barry told Virtual-Lancaster.
"First they put a mobile phone mast on their church and now this.
"We have a newly renovated Mitre House car park nearby and they can use this. The application is not just disabled spaces as I understand - it's 24 normal spaces as well."

• Disability Rights Commission: Go

GO GEORGIAN
23/8/02: Lancaster's popular Georgian Legacy festival takes place on Bank Holiday Monday and again includes the Sedan Chair racing. See our listing pages for information.

MAD ABOUT THE BOY
An evening of affectionate comedy cabaret honouring Barbara Streisand comes to the Platform on Friday 13 September, as Steven Brinberg performs his show Simply Barbra. This award winning show has received ecstatic reviews from New York to London's West End and has been a huge hit across the Atlantic, playing to sell out audiences in New York and LA. In the UK Steven has enjoyed two sell out runs at the Edinburgh Festival and broken box office records at the Jermyn Street Theatre.
Tickets for this performance are priced at £8 and £6 concessions and are available from the Box Office on 01524 582803 also Lancaster and Morecambe Tourist Information Centres and Robinsons Newsagents at Lancaster University.

• Barbara Streisand's official site: Go
Go on, you know you want to.

GOODBYE TO THE ABC
23/8/02: Lancaster's ABC Cinema closes its doors for good next Sunday (1 September), leaving the town without a commercial cinema that can screen new films on their release. Owners Odeon have sold the leasehold to the cinema to Sharewave Limited, owned by engineering giant Metnor, but Gala Bingo remain owners of the building. There's been no indication what the cinema will
become but Sharewave will probably announce their plans in September.
There are, sadly, no plans to mark the final day with any special screenings. Because of the way films are screened the ABC would be penalised
of it did not screen the films it is contracted to show that week (you have to pay more if you don't screen a booked film than if you do!)
We wish the workers at the ABC all the very best and raise our glass to the sad passing of another great community asset.
• Goodbye to the ABC

SAVE THE MUSICIANS' CO-OP
23/8/02: We've published a special "Save the Musicians' Co-op – Communities not Cash' poster on our web site. The Co-op is under threat from re-development, to the dismay of local bands such as the Cherry Pickers and others.
"I've used the co-op in a former life as the bass player for Strawberry Girl (God, we were good!!) and I also volunteered for a time there," says Bridget Halldearn. "It was the Music Coop that got us a great gig at the Sugerhouse many many years ago and then we started rehearsing there all the time (and recording too). The Bottle Shop also used it for Young Women's Music Workshops too for a couple of years as the it was affordable and the stff were so supportive.
"Now, the Dukes hires equipment from them and has also used the studio a number of times, including for the audio-tape guide of what's on at the Dukes, for the visually-impaired community. It's a fabulous place run by three hard-working, talented members and used by countless musicians.
"This area of Lancaster could be such a dynamic and exciting cultural area (the Dukes, the Grand, the Dance place!). I think we should be very proud of Lancaster and the initiatives of local people and not let the city become not just another faceless chainstore town."

Down load a copy and display it somewhere prominent!
• Grey print version (uses less ink): Go
• Black Print version: Go
• Musicians' Co-op Web site: Go

GO FISH
23/8/02: We're compiling details of the opening times of every fast food shop in the Lancaster and Morecambe area and we need your help! Please send opening time details of your favourite chippy or tofu joint to and we can add this info to our web site. You can print it out and need never try and guess which fast food place is open again!
Send us comments on them too, if you want! Thanks!

RECYCLING THE RIGHT NUMBER!
23/8/02: Local householders have come up trumps in a Yellow Pages recycling campaign run by Lancaster City Council and supported by The Directory Recycling Scheme, sponsored by Yellow Pages.
The campaign proved successful with householders taking their old yellow pages to specially designated banks throughout the district and saved tonnes of Yellow Pages from going to landfill. All the directories collected were recycled into animal bedding by Kingfisher Paper Products of Ulverston and wrapping paper by Capsticks of Morecambe.
Animal Care Sanctuary of Lancaster is the grateful recipient of the animal bedding.
Yellow Pages directories are an ideal raw ingredient for shredding into animal bedding as they are soft and absorbent. And, particularly important for animals with allergies to dust found on straw, animal bedding made from Yellow Pages is dust free.
In related news, a new recycling and waste collection scheme is due to began in the Lancaster area this week. The local Labour Party has expressed concerns at aspects of what it calls a "two-tier" plan and a decline in the local recycling rate in recent years.
Further information on local recycling and environmental issues can be obtained by calling Geraldine Cocker, Assistant Recycling Officer on (01524) 582468.

WE DON'T BELIEVE IT!
23/8/02: We know many local people have never set foot in the Grand or the Dukes and some queue to stay away from any form of organised entertainment. But you do have to wonder just how much you have to do when you overhear someone say "You know, now the ABC is closing I hear the Dukes is going to put films on…"
(Thanks to Billy Speight for this one)

WOOF JUSTICE
16/8/02: Read our exclusive interview with Dillon the dog, Lancaster City's 2001 employee of the year.
VIRTUAL-LANCASTER: What's it like working for the Council?
DILLON: Rowf!
(That's enough canine tomfoolery – Ed)

TAXI SHELTER DELAYED
16/8/02: Suggestions for a decent shelter for rain-soaked taxi users at Lancaster's bus station seem to be stalled, with no money in the City Council's Property Services budgets for improvements to add one. We have to wonder whether this means a damaged barrier between the bus bays and the rank stop -- knocked down when a bus backed into it after its brakes failed -- will remain unrepaired until 2003...

BE RESOURCEFULÉ
16/8/02: There's a new Lancaster Re-Source centre for activists in the Warehouse basement at 78a Penny Street, which also features the terrific Whale Tail fair trade cafZ. The centre will provide a local campaigns base, open every Wednesday 12-7pm. Tel: 01524 383012.

ON THE BEACH
16/8/02: The Environment Agency is looking for young people to take part in a survey of Britain's beaches to see how badly littered they are. For more click here

NO MORE NUKES?
16/8/02: The UK Government consultation on energy policy will close on 13 September 2002, and there's an online questionnaire here to take part.
The questionnaire seems a little biased in places toward participants opting for more nuclear power stations so if that's something you're not keen on, do your bit and opt for more renewable energy!

MAKING MUSIC UNDER THREAT
12/8/02: Green Party activists and councillors are calling on the Council to save the musician's co-op in St Leonardsgate. The co-op is under threat as part of a proposed re-development of the Canal corridor and Brewery site at the North end of Lancaster. The Council's cabinet recently agreed the development brief for the area.
"Places like the musician's co-op are part of the fabric of what makes Lancaster special," said Councillor Jon Barry. "We've seen the Navigation reduced to rubble in recent months, and I'd hate to see the co-op go the same way.
"The co-op is the only venue that provides rehearsal and recording equipment for bands in the district. It will cost people a fortune if they have to go elsewhere." It should be noted that there are other private businesses offering recording facilities locally, but probably none at a cost affordable by new bands or musicians on low income.
The Council has deferred selling the building until a developer makes a planning application for the whole site.
Bulk ward Green activist Whitelegg added: "There is very little prospect that developers will want to keep the co-op.
"The Council should be taking a firm line and say that the co-op is not for sale.
"As with the Navigation, we are faced with the absurd prospect of, on the one hand, the Council spending millions of pounds on regeneration and job creation and on the other hand getting rid of a business that has provided a valuable service for many years."

• Have YOU used the co-op? What do you think about this story? Let us know at
• Kingsway development plans feature: Go
• Read a comment on the threat to the Co-op on its won web site: Go

SPOT THE CHEQUE!
12/8/02: Lancaster’s live-writing Spotlight Club will be celebrating this month after receiving a grant of £1000 from NorthWest Arts. This is the third year running that Spotlight has received NW Arts funding which constitutes a significant contribution to the costs of hosting the monthly performance writing event.
Helping the celebrations at The Yorkshire House on Friday 16 August will be performance artist Alan Alvarez who returns to Spotlight for the first time since beginning a degree course in Art at The university of Central Lancashire last year. Alan’s performances at Spotlight, which are often improvised, always provoke debate amongst the eclectic audience.
Helen Stephens makes another welcome reurn to the Spotlight stage with her own brand of humour on life in Morecambe and other parts of the known universe.
Poetry this month comes from two young poets who are both currently finishing their MA’s in Creative Writing at Lancaster University. Before coming to England from California Amy Wevodau taught both highschool and adult education classes in English Language and Literature. Caroline Adams is from England and has a distinctively modern approach to her poetry.
With great pleasure, and a guitar, Paddy Garrigan returns to The Spotlight Club, performing songs about such themes as frustration, under achievement, the dubious existence of God, and the somewhat less universal theme of being in a rock band in Lancaster. “Not that God was ever in a rock band in Lancaster,” adds Paddy. Final music spot this month goes to The Shady Jazz Trio. Fronted by the supremely talented Melvyn Dodd the threesome will be dishing out some of the best jazz in the area.
Compered by John Freeman the literary parade kicks off at 8.30pm. Open Mic 8.45 - 9.15pm.

• Latest events in the Lancaster and Morecambe area: Go

WORLD CLASS WORLDBEAT
9/8/02: There's a fantastic weekend on its way to Morecambe next week, packed with international culture and global dance grooves.
Worldbeat kicks off on Friday 23 August and runs until Sunday, and begins with a celebration of Jamaica's 40 years independence with one of the countries best known performers Lee Scratch Perry, who will be joined by The Mad Professor.
Other guests over the weekend include Martha and Eve, high octane music from the Isle Of Skye's very own Peatbog Faeries and the outstanding Siberian throat singing yAt kHa; plus Gregory Isaacs supported by the Dub Factory.
Sunday sees appearances from Tablatronicx and Dhamak and the event ends with sets from fantastic Asian bands Joi and Shiva Nova. Joi, whose music is used in the TV programme Sex and the City headline the evening supported by Shiva Nova who play a mixture of dance grooves and swirling ghazal singing.
The weekend is a mixture of free and paid events: call the Festival hotline on 01524 582803 for details.

Tickets are available for the whole weekend, for each day or for individual sessions. Plus, there's a local residents discount on weekend tickets £5 for all sessions that works out on average at £.50 per band not including the free stages.

SAVE THE MIDLAND!
9/8/02: Labour councillors have demanded the Council serve a repair notice on Morecambe's derelict Midland Hotel. The call for action came after the Leisure Group abandoned its £10 million refurbishment of the art deco hotel, regarded as a world class example of the style -- but now in a state of terrible decay.
The Labour Group has called on the authority to use its powers to make Leisure Group maintain the building until a new owner is found.
"The Midland is one of Morecambe's most important buildings," said Coun Jean Yates. "It is listed as grade II*. The owners have a legal obligation to maintain it. For far too long the Council has listened to empty promises of refurbishment. Now some Cabinet members are openly talking of demolition. Instead we should be getting tough and forcing the owners to repair it."
The Twentieth Century Society told Virtual-Lancaster suggestions to bulldoze the hotel were idle speculation.
All the local papers this week ran stories on how the hotel was suffering from vandalism and could be a death trap for children exploring it. There could be no less vandalism than that proposed by Council leader Tricia Heath who has suggested the hotel be pulled down, to the dismay of many locals.

Listed Buildings -- The Facts: Grade II* buildings such as the Midland are of particular importance. Around four per cent of Listed Buildings are in this category.
• Grants can be available for the repair of Listed Buildings. Conservation Officers should be able to give advice on Historic Building Grants
• If Listed Building Consent has been granted, alteration and demolition works to residential Listed Buildings or those owned by Charities can be zero-rated for VAT purposes. Contact HM Customs and Excise or see Section 8 of their VAT Notice 708 'Buildings and Construction' for more information.Ê
• Neglect If you deliberately neglect a Listed Building, the Council can make you carry out repairs or even compulsorily purchase the building in some cases.

CAUSING A STINK
9/8/02: Work on new flats on St. George's Quay appears to be getting bogged down -- literally. Heavy rain is creating what could easily be a new swimming pool for Lancaster, which must be upsetting WaterView residents, because it stinks!
Perhaps the levels of water on the building site have something to do with the fact that the old Pye Factory was built over an old river bed leading into the Lune?

ARE YOU LISTED?
9/8/02: Local Agenda 21, a new local recycling group () is currently working to produce a local hands-on recycling directory to help and encourage everyone in Lancaster District to reduce, re-use and recycle more of their unwanted goods and resources that would otherwise go to landfill.
LA21 would like to hear from you if you'd like to be included in the Directory. They're particularly interested to hear from small scale recyclers - from corks to computers, milk bottle tops to jam jars, anything goes.
If you'd like to be included in the directory, please ask or (Environmental Co-ordinator/Agenda 21 - ) for a proforma for your details!

STICK TO YOUR GUNS!
Lancaster City Council should stick to its Local Plan and reject proposals from property developer C R Chelverton for a new relief road and a massive retail development on Kingsway and between Moor Lane, Alfred Street ant St. Leonardgate.
That's the view of Councillor Ian Barker, who represents Bulk ward, the area most affected by the plans. "I think [C R Chelverton's] proposals would be bad for residents, bad for the environment and bad for the established
traders in the City Centre," says Coun Barker.
Full story: Go

GNATS GNAT!
9/8/02: Remember government minister Kim Howell's suggestions that Morecambe should take a leaf from the success of Tiger Bay in Wales? Well, it's not all good news from dragon country. SchNews reports that the Bay, once an expanse of tidal mud flats, was recently redeveloped at a cost of billions because nature wasn't considered good for business. Instead of being home to wading birds, the Bay's new residents are thousands of rich people who flocked to the area hoping to spend their time sipping cocktails on their balconies whilst the sun set over the tidal barrage.
It now seems however that nature is getting its revenge in the form of thousands of midges that are plaguing the area. Residents, who now have to lock themselves in their luxurious flats at dusk to avoid the swarms of midges, are now threatening to take legal action against the harbour
authorities for their failure to understand mother nature. Gnats that then. (Thanks to Pascal Desmond for this).

TAKE ACTION: COUNTY PLANS ONLINE
8/8/02:The latest round of Regional Planning Guidance consultation will draw to a close on Friday 16 August. If you've got a few minutes to spare there are a few policies that you might want to object to. A special form is available online here.
Green Party County Councillor Jonathan Sear feels there are particular issues which should need to be addressed. "The most important objections to make from a local point of view
are:
- Policy UR7: The housing numbers for Lancashire appear to have gone up, despite the Government announcing a 15 per cent reduction. The 15 per cent reduction should be applied throughout.
- Paragraph 3.28: Lancaster should be referred to as a historic city alongside Chester
- Table 10.2: Regionally significant improved road links from Heysham to M6 are not required."

• Why the Bypass isn't needed: Go

BODIES AT THE BOBBIN
8/8/02: Bodies - four 22 year olds from Lancaster - will be pumping out their brand of indie-rock upstairs from at The Bobbin on Thursday August 22 .
The lads have developed a top reputation among local fans for wide-ranging songs about confusion, loss, dreams and escape.
Singer Gary's got a voice big enough to project soft-spoken axeman and songwriter Tony Sweeney's steady stream of musically-complex numbers. Drummer Jonny is a front man by nature but is generally kept chained to his work station for the health and safety of onlookers, while bassist Russ is a legend in his own trousers.
Asked nicely, the band also play numbers from their miscellaneous musical influences which include include Rage Against The Machine, Smashing Pumpkins, Metallica, Pearl Jam, Gun'n'Roses and a whole menagerie of 1970s rock dinosaurs - but their sound is all their own.PULL IT DOWN
5/8/02: Here are our top three local eyesores that we reckon should be pulled down before the listed Midland Hotel (some councillors' latest daft idea to 'improve' Morecambe).

1) Lancaster Town Hall. This is clearly a dangerous source of hot air and should be demolished in favour of eight-storey luxury apartments for people who work in Manchester.

2) Heysham Power Station. This is obviously surviving on public handouts and cannot be sustained as a private business (£4.3 billion in British Nuclear Fuel liabilities were wiped off the balance sheet so it appeared to have a nice £.5 billion surplus). The nuclear waste left over could be moulded into handy glow in the dark souvenirs of the Clock Tower.

3) The Ashton Memorial. After all, Lord Ashton pulled enough buildings down himself in Skerton while alive, just because they overlooked his property.
Morecambe Bay Independents could build bungalows in the park to replace it.

LIGHT UP THE SKY...
5/8/02: The Festival of Light and Water takes place this weekend in Morecambe Arena and on the Central Promenade. It's simply the best summer festival of the season with a wild fireworks display on Saturday and Sunday nights. The weekend-long event includes both local and national bands.

IT'S STOPPED MAKING SENSE
5/8/02: As the UK cinema industry celebrates the fact that June saw film box office
receipts total £12.2m - an increase of 30 per cent on the same period last
year -- you just have to wonder what kind of brain it took to close Lancaster's ABC cinema.
Good news for young cinema fans though: throughout August, the Gregson is providing free summer screenings for families with younger children (applies to Gregson members and guests only). Every Friday at 5pm we are showing a range of films starting with Shrek today (Friday 2 August). Showing will be very informal, cabaret style and you can eat and drink and watch the film if you want.
Elsewhere in Lancaster, news that the demolished Bar Navigation pub is to be replaced by -- a pub! just makes you want to choke on your beer. Sadly,
finding a decent non-homogenised pint in the district is getting trickier.
The local Campaign for Real Ale can help though. ( They don't recommend the Litten Tree).

WALK THIS WAY
5/8/02: A short series of Sunday morning guided walks will focus on Lancaster's rich architectural heritage and the City's history as a centre for justice, administration and trade. The 'Historic City Walk' is lead by local guides Catwalks, on behalf of Lancaster City Council. It starts at 11.00 am from Lancaster Castle's John O' Gaunt Gateway on 4, 11 and 18 August, and is free of charge.

IN THE MONEY
5/8/02: 15 local charitable groups have jointly just benefited to the tune of nearly £11,000 in the latest distribution of grants from the Galbraith Trust, the local charity set up last year from the estate of Ian Galbraith, the former city hardware store owner. Successful applicants included Gingerbread,
Morecambe Music Centre, the Night Shelter and Kingsway Playgroup.
The Trustees particularly commented on the quality of the applications they received and continue to be impressed by the range of work going on throughout the District that benefits children and young people; homeless people; those of us who are getting a bit older ... and those of us at risk.
The next time the Trustees sit down to make decisions on grants is in October. The closing date for applications is Tuesday 1 October, and application forms can be obtained from CVS at Trinity Community Centre, Middle Street, Lancaster, tel: 01524 63760 or

YOUR PART IN ART
5/8/02: Tech_2 is a touring art project, coming to the Folly gallery on Castle Hill between 16 August and 13 September. Unusually for an arts project; Tech_2 uses the gallery as a living and working space. Far from being an exhibition, it aims to create an environment for artists and technical experts to work collaboratively and for visitors to do their own research.
During the month long residency, Tech_2 will turn the gallery and office space at Folly into a workshop in which different artist and community groups will work on recycled computers to build access resources - "media
labs" - that will later be used by the public. The residency is called "Grow Your Own Media Lab", and will also include some teaching and learning sessions. While the artist groups are in residence, anybody is welcome to come to the gallery, make use of the research materials there, see the "linux" free operating system in action and even bring an old computer themselves to work on with the benefit of the resources and collective knowledge that will be in the gallery.
Full programme information: Go
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