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SUSPICIOUS FUN
13/12/02: Snake Davis & The Suspicions play the The Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal on Saturday 21 December -- expect a blistering Christmas party of Stax, Motown and Atlantic classics from Snakes original all star soul line-up!
Formed almost 20 years ago, The Suspicions were the backing band for many visiting American legends including Chuck Jackson, Mary Wells and Gene Chandler to name but a few. After many years working individually across the four corners of the world the band have reformed around the nucleus of Snake (Sax), Dangerous Dave Bowie (Bass) and Mark Creswell (Guitar) to take the band on the road again for the first time in thirteen years.
With the outstanding vocals of Doreen Edwards and Jackie Reed and featuring the awesome Ash Soan (Drums), Paul Birchall (Hammond) and Bob Taylor (Trumpet) this 8 piece soul extraviganza is bound to blow your Christmas socks off! Box Office: 01539 725133. Box Office E-mail: .

BUS FARE RISE TOO FAR?
13/12/02: Stagecoach have raised bus fares around the area by an average of five per cent on single journeys. It now costs nearly a staggering £2.50 return from Lancaster to Morecambe. Time was when it was stagecoaches that were held to ransom, not the other way around.

LOONS IN A BALLOON!
13/12/02: Lancaster's Spotlight Club celebrates Christmas in comic style with The 8th Great Annual Balloon Debate on Friday 20th December at The Yorkshire House. Featuring improvised comedy from six local 'talents', who will be appearing in the guise of six 'famed' writers, the 8th Spotlight Balloon Debate promises to be a night of truly comic capers.
This year's foolhardy candidates to be hurled from a balloon for a downward trip are: Gene Rodenberry, creator of the legendary Star Trek and beaming himself down to be portrayed by Irish wit and spinner of incomprehensible tales, Pascal Desmond; David Attenborough, author and television wild life presenter will be looking at life (but not as we know it) and portrayed by the very tall editor of 'Lune fiction', Jomar de Vrind; Louisa M Alcott, prolific story-spinner and champion of little women everywhere, as portrayed by writer, actress and all round good sort Sarah Fiske; William Blake, misunderstood mystical genius, poet and arguably Britain's greatest artist portrayed by Spotlight organiser and deluded fool Ron Baker; Samuel Pepys, diarist, wearer of huge wigs and eater of much cold mutton, portrayed by Virtual-Lancaster contributor John Freeman. And finally, Rudyard Kipling (or so we are told), iffy poet and bone-head Imperialist portrayed by Whitley Bay's own tall bearded person, Colin Tweddle.
The gloves are off for a decidedly unfair fight. The fun-filled contest will be judged by the audience and compered by a mysterious mystery guest. Music for the evening comes from local songstress Mollie Baxter.
Doors open at 8.30pm and the fun starts at 9pm sharp. Admission: £3 / £2.

SCARY SITUATION
Science fiction television writer J. Michael Straczynski (the creator of TV show Babylon 5) was asked online this week if he thought martial law could happen right now in the United States. "Well, let's see," he replied. "American citizens (low-lifes, yes, but citizens nonetheless) detained without questioning or formal charges, military tribunals reviewing cases in secret without the right of appeal, a proposed system of gathering everyone's private information for use by the government, tracking checkouts at public libraries, going through purchases to determine who's taken various kinds of lessons (including, most recently, scuba diving lessons), asking high schools to turn over addresses for students eligible for military service, signing an overall action for overseas "hits" on possible targets that does not specifically exclude American citizens as targets and thus generically includes them, all but reversing the Freedom of Information Act, a declaration of wartime emergency that has no clearly defined end-point, moves to weaken or eliminate the Posse Comitatas act which prohibits the use of military in domestic situations, the detainment at airports -- under the new terrorist provisions -- of people whose only offence was to take part in protest marches in Seattle and San Francisco, the loosening of search and seizure laws..."
"No, not at all, why do you ask?"
Of course, it couldn't possibly happen here.

COUNTY COUNCIL IS GOOD FOR YOU!
12/12/02: Lancashire County Council has just been judged as "good" in the way it provides services for local people by the Audit Commission. The report on the Council is part of an assessment of the 150 largest councils in England. All metropolitan, county, unitary and London councils have a score of either excellent, good, fair, weak or poor, with a score in key service areas.
Lancashire County Council scored highly in terms of overall performance. The commission says LCC provides effective services for local people, "although social care provision is less strong, despite the improvements that have been made over recent years."
The Council scored top marks from the Commission for its use of resources but its scores for its Local Transport Plan and Adult social care were average ("2.5" and "2" respectively, out of "4").
Commenting on the report, County Councillor Hazel Harding, council leader, said "It has been a period of tremendously hard work for everyone, but I have always been determined that Lancashire should be up among the best.
"Even so, we cannot just rest upon our laurels. Improvement plans, based upon the inspectors' observations, have been devised for every directorate.
"These inspectors know local government thoroughly as one is the leader of another major authority and one was a former Chief Executive of a London Borough. This was anything but a paper exercise.
"Our overall result is based upon current performance and capacity to improve for the future, so our hard work never ends. Customer focus must be the key."

• Read the Audit Commission's Report: Go
• Read the County Council press release on the report: Go

Musician's Co-op - safe at last?

COUNCIL SAYS NO TO BIG BOX RETAIL, YES TO MUSIC CO-OP
12/12/02: In a dramatic vote yesterday the City Council rejected the possibility of selling off council land by the canal for Big Box or Supermarket development.
Councillors also rejected the proposals for a new road parallel to the canal, and supported the negotiation of a long term lease for the musician's co-op.
The move -- which was opposed by Conservatives and some MBIs -- will make it very difficult for Carillion-Chelverton to realise their aims of building Big Box Retail Units and a canal road in the proposed canalside location. Early indications are that Carillion-Chelverton will concentrate instead on their plans for a large superstore on Back Caton Rd.
"This is excellent news for those people who are fighting for a vibrant and attractive development on the canal corridor - one that Lancaster can be proud of," Coun John Barry, who proposed the motion, told Virtual-Lancaster. "It strongly reinforces the point that this is what the Council wants to happen on its land. It is even better news for the Musician's co-op. They can now negotiate terms with the Council to obtain a long-term lease. This will allow their ambitous plans for a re-furbished and greatly improved co-op to attract funding and become reality."
A spokesperson for Grassroots Lancaster, part of the "Stop Chelverton" campaign said: "The council vote represents another obstacle to Carillion-Chelverton's plans to turn Lancaster into yet another soulless identi-kit town. We're very pleased that the council have shown their commitment to protecting Lancaster's heritage. This move clears the way for suitable development on the canal site -- like that backed by Real Planning for Lancaster."
Simon Morgan of Chelverton, who has been instrumental in discussing the company's plans with Lancaster Chamber of Commerce, council staff, Hilton Dawson MP and other local representatives, refused to comment on the motion this morning: "I did not know there was a motion - we won't be commenting."
The success of this motion puts the Musician's Co-op a strong position, since the council now have a strong moral obligation to begin negotiations to provide a long term lease. Once a secure lease is agreed, the co-op will be in a position to apply for funding to improve facilities.
"I am very pleased that the Council has shown its firm support for the principles of the local plan by supporting the resolution and amendment yesterday," commented Coun Ian Barker, who represents Bulk Ward. "We need sensitive and human scale development not "big box" retailing or an inner relief road that has been decisively rejected by the people of Lancaster.
"However, we cannot be complacent. The fact that the MBI leadership of the Council voted against the resolution shows that they are interested in the Chelverton proposals.This is despite their reported comments that they would never sell Council land for such a scheme. Clearly one cannot trust the MBI with the future of Lancaster."

YOU HAVE TO WONDER...
12/12/02: Does the fact that the lights are going on and off in this virtual Christmas card from British Energy -- currently in dire financial straits -- have any deeper significance?
• Click here to see the card (opens new window)

FALLING SHORT
11/12/02: The annual government funds for the area fall short of the money needed to meet its demands for modernisation, a city councillor claimed today.
Lancaster City Council has this week received the detail of the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement for 2003/04 which indicates the increased emphasis nationally on targeting services by way of specific grants has not benefited Lancaster.
The figures show that Lancaster City Council will receive an increase in the revenue support it receives from central government of 8.8 per cent to meet the additional modernisation responsibilities and targets that they have set for local authorities.
The settlement reflects Central Government's clear priorities as being Education and Social Services - County Council services - which have received significant increases above the rate of inflation (7.5 per cent and 8.7 per cent respectively). The Government's assumed spending for Lancaster is estimated at £21 million, a 27 per cent increase above this year's figure. The provisional settlement grant support is 8.8 per cent higher than this year's.
Councillor G Wilson, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Finance, said whilst the provisional figures show an increase in Government support for Lancaster, it fails to meet the increasing costs incurred by the Council in meeting the Government's challenging modernisation targets.

BIO-WARFARE WARNING
11/12/02: International terrorist groups could obtain lethal germ warfare agents by infiltrating Britain's
university laboratories and other research bodies, MPs warned today. Crumbs, with the number of colds going around Lancaster right now they could just come here and take a quick swab if they're looking for something virulent!
• Natural alternatives to the 'flu jab: Go

LABOUR BACKS MUSEUM PARTNERSHIP
11/12/02: Labour will back proposals at today's council meeting for a partnership between the Lancaster City and the Lancashire County Councils to run the City's museums.
"This is a golden opportunity to secure the long term future of the Lancaster City Museum and the Maritime Museum," commented Councillor Jean Yates, LabourÕs Regeneration spokeswoman. "The City will still own the museums and the collections but by working together with the County, we can provide an enhanced service to local residents. We can mount joint exhibitions, set up joint packages to attract visitors and do more for local schoolchildren through collaboration with the education service."
"The County and the City will have to promise to maintain funding levels, but I see that as an advantage. Short term cuts in conservation work or to the acquisitions fund cause long-term damage. I cannot see why some councillors seem prepared to put the future of the museums at risk just so they can leave themselves room to make such damaging cuts in future."

COUNCIL MEETING MOVES!
11/12/02: The City Council meeting which will discuss the Green Party motion against Chelverton's controversial development proposals for the Lancaster Canal corridor takes place at Lancaster Town Hall today (Wednesday 11 December) not Morecambe. Councillors themselves were only informed of the change of venue yesterday.


LABOUR OPPOSES CHELVERTON PLANS
10/12/02: Labour will back the Green Party resolution opposing ChelvertonÕs plans for "big box" retailing at Wednesday's Council meeting -- but will also seek to strengthen the motion to oppose Chelverton's road plans.
"I have opposed Chelverton's plans from the very start," commented Councillor Ian Barker, referring to Chelverton's current scheme for a massive supermarket on Bulk Road and a new link road effectively cutting Lancaster in two parallel to Lancaster canal. "In the summer I drew attention to eight ways in which [the proposals] contravened adopted development briefs. I certainly want to support the Green resolution to oppose "big box" retailing and to support the Musician's Co-op.
"However, the Green resolution does not go nearly far enough," feels Coun Barker. "Chelverton plan an access road through the area that is in gross violation of the principles of the Local Plan for the area. The resolution is silent on this. Chelverton do not make provision for open space, small businesses and housing -- the sort of human scale development that would brings life to town centres. These are development principles that local councillors fought to get included in the Local Plan. Chelverton plan an expansion of retailing that would adversely affect the viability of the Town Centre. They have no concrete plans for a cultural quarter.
"Labour will be tabling an amendment to oppose ChelvertonÕs road development, to support human scale developments and a cultural quarter and to protect the viability of the Town Centre."
"We will of course oppose Chelverton's plans for an Eastern Relief Road (or whatever it is called now)," Coun John Barry told Virtual-Lancaster in reponse to Labour's ammendment proposal. "We have always opposed this road. We did not table a motion about the road as to oppose the road is existing City Council policy in its local plan."
Labour's change of heart, having previously supported Chelverton's bid to develop the Kingsway Baths location -- now being developed by Liberty -- is likely to be welcomed by the local residents campaigning for a more community-based development in the area. The Real Planning for Lancaster group has developed their own scheme for the Bulk Road and Edward Street area which features all the elements for community development Coun Barker is supporting.
"It is entirely correct that Cllr Ian Barker supports the green motion, he has been firm in his opposition of Chelverton and in support of the City Council's guidance for development of a cultural quarter on the canal corridor site., from the outset," says RPFL organiser Sue Paylor. "I trust he will also support Real Planning for Lancaster when the time comes. "It would however be even more beneficial if Bulk ward residents (the ward the canal corridor is in) were represented by their Councillors in Cabinet. To date, the Labour Party have refused to join the other parties in the democratic cabinet system we have in Lancaster. It's good that Cllr Barker supports this important motion for the canal corridor at this time, but where will he be when crucial decisions about Council owned land in the area comes before the cabinet - helplessly shouting at the sidelines I fear." The Musician's Co-op has also put forward its own development plan for its building which includes a new 300-seater venue for music events (see earlier story).

TOILETS SOLD
10/12/02: Lancaster's Brock Street toilets were sold at auction for just £69,000 last week, after the property was put on the market by Lancaster City Council. This was however over the top guide price for the property.
27 Castle Hill, aother lot in the same auction (see earlier story), sold for £59,000. Alexandra Hall in King Street, advertised at a guide price of £225,000, was not sold. The property is described as a"city centre property only part let and currently producing a gross rental of £300 per week with potential for leisure, office or residential development."
Coun Gina Dowding criticised the sale of the property and other councillors have expressed concern at the lack of public toilet facillities in the town centre.

THUMBS UP FOR STREET WARDENS SCHEME
9/12/02: A survey by Lancaster City Council reveals its new Street Wardens are making a positive impact on the areas in which they work.
In August this year the city council introduced the 10 street wardens into Poulton and West End. The wardens, who are part of a scheme to help make both areas of Morecambe safer and better place in which to live, were appointed following Lancaster City Council's successful bid for European Regional Development Funding (ERDF) as well as funding from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the city council itself.
Working in conjunction with other city council services, Lancashire Constabulary Community Beat Managers and the Street Wardens Manager, they are addressing such problems as refuse, dog fouling, anti-social behaviour and juvenile nuisance.
Fear of crime, which the wardens have partly been appointed to address, is higher than the reality. To measure their impact, the wardens are making they have undertaken a detailed crime survey with local residents. Some 317 residents took part in a one-to-one survey - 122 in Poulton and 195 in the West End. T
he results reveal the majority of residents feel the scheme is having a very positive impact on the area through initiatives such as encouraging residents to take positive action by forming a residents' association and Neighbourhood Watch Schemes, both of which have a proven track record in reducing crime.

GETTING INTO THE FESTIVE SPIRIT
9/12/02: From providing free car parking for late night and Sunday shoppers as well as Santa's Grottos in two of its parks, to offering an unusual array of gifts at many of its outlets, Lancaster City Council is helping locals all get into the festive spirit.
Many of Lancaster's shops are now open until 9.00pm on Thursdays and 5.00pm on Sundays. The City Council will be providing free parking in car parks on all Sundays and Thursday late nights.
In addition to events in the district's parks, the local museums -- the Maritime Museum on St George's Quay and City Museum in Market Square -- have a selection of interesting and unusual Christmas gift ideas. The Museum shops have toys and games from the days when childhood was just fun. The museums' range of local and regimental books is second to none and our ornaments, prints and jewellery are great buys too.
Both Tourist Information Centres in Lancaster and Morecambe stock a wide range of ideal Christmas gifts.

• For more info on local Christmas events visit our Whats On section

9/12/02: An accident on China Street held up commuter traffic in Lancaster this morning.