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COUNCIL TO CLAMP DOWN ON NOISE POLLUTION 10/1/03: With the Lancaster City Council area suffering from a high number of noise related complaints - more than 1,100 in 2001 - the Council has decided to update and strengthen its policy on noise control. This will include making use of formal seizure powers in addition to existing legal proceedings.
Loud music, noisy parties, car alarms and barking dogs are the main sources of noise complaints, say the Council, who have now strengthened their noise pollution policy, complementing it with awareness-raising measures, provision of information and guidance and attention to good communications. The Council hope that education and awareness-raising will minimise preventable disturbance and distress commonly linked to noise related issues. "The City Council takes problems of noise seriously and it has a range of duties and legal powers that can help," commented Cabinet member with responsibility for Environmental Health issues, Coun David Barker. "With this decision to revise the Policy on Noise Control we are determined to strengthen our noise control operations."

MORECAMBE ACTION PLAN MEETING SET
10/1/03: The recently-unveiled Morecambe Action Plan will be the focus of a meeting at The Platformin Morecambe.
The Action Plan for Morecambe proposes the development of tourism and residential and business strategies that could bring millions of pounds investment in the resort in the future.
The first meeting regarding the plan will be held on 22 January and it will be for the general public. The second, on 29 January, will be for an invited audience of key agencies and representative bodies in the town.
The partnership that carries the plan forward involves local government, funding agencies and the private sector.

• For further information about the Action Plan visit Lancaster City Council's website: Go

WOMAN RESCUED FROM MORECAMBE BLAZE
10/1/03: Morecambe and Lancaster fire crews rescued a woman from a fire in Beecham Street, Morecambe yesterday, after the crews arrieved to find smoke was issuing from the ground and first floor windows.
Firefighters quickly gained access to Number Nine and quickly removed the woman they found in the hallway of the house and administered first aid resuscitation. No-one else was in the house at the time of the blaze.
Initial investigations indicate the cause of fire to be smoking materials which ignited a settee. Although smoke alarms were fitted in the house they had no batteries.

BNP EYE CITY SEATS
The Lancaster Citizen reports that the British National Party has confirmed that it is eyeing council seats in Lancaster for the local elections in May.
The controversial nationalist party, which has recently won seats in Blackburn and Burnley, is looking to strengthen its presence throughout Lancashire.
This week the BNP's national spokesman, Phil Edwards (real name Stuart Russell), told the Citizen that the party's advisory council was currently discussing which seats to contest.He confirmed that they plan to field as many candidates as possible at elections throughout Lancashire, including the city of Lancaster -- specifically the wards representing Lancaster's Ryelands estate. When asked what he knew of Lancaster, Mr Edwards told the Citizen: "The only time I visited Lancaster was to take my daughter round the university.One of the first things we saw was a poster for a lesbian disco, so I refused to let her go there.
"I'm not having her study among such degeneracy."
Ryelands residents on Ryelands were unimpressed with the possibility of the BNP trying to capture the seat at the local elections. Mr Jason Capstick, who owns a shop on the estate, told the Citizen: "They've never shown any interest in the local community and are only in it for their own political ends."
The British National Party is enjoying a huge surge in support on the back of the recent riots in the north of England. Hundreds of people are joining the fascist party and its leaders are seriously expecting local government gainsin elections this year. However, Searchlight magazine has revealed this is the result not of increased party activity and political campaigning across the country, but of the media attention given to the BNP.

• Searchlight Magazine article on the BNP's recent rise
• Read how the BNP raise awareness of their party by writing to local papers

GOING FISHING
10/1/03: Punk Festival HITS has lined up more bands for its event in Morecambe this summer. They include influential Californian punk band The Sound of Liberty, New York punk trio Molotov Cocktail and the curiously named Greenland Whalefishers from Norway.

CYCLING GETS MASSIVE FUNDING BOOST
10/1/03: A further £1 million has been ear-marked to support North West cycling Projects, the Transport Minister John Spellar announced this week. The funding includes £33,835 for recycling bicycles back into the community at low cost in Lancashire.
Local authorities, charities and cycling organisations have been invited to submit bids for the money, which is the second round of the Department for Transport Cycling Projects Fund and follows the first round which gave grants of £2 million last year, which saw money going toward secure bicycle parking schemes, provision of cycle routes and facilities for cyclists including lockers and showers.

PROTESTING IS GOOD FOR YOU!
10/1/03: A new British study suggests that taking part in campaigns, demonstrations, strikes, or protests helps improve psychological and physical health.
According to researcher Dr. John Drury, "The take-home message from this research therefore might be that people should get more involved in campaigns, struggles and social movements, not only in the wider interest of social change but also for their own personal good."

LANCASTER CINEMA RE-OPENS
9/1/03: Lancaster's former ABC Cinema will re-open on 17 January.
Northern Morris Associated Cinemas, which already runs cinemas in Windermere, Keighley, Elland and Skipton, will rename the cinema The Regal and again show mainstream films including the recently-released 8-mile starring rap star Eminen, Gangs of New York and Chicago.
Based in Grange-over-Sands, Managing director Charles Morris told The Lancaster Citizen he was looking forward to opening a cinema in a university town. "It's absurd that a city of the size and status of Lancaster should be without a commercial cinema," He said, echoing the disbelief of ocal film lovers when Odeon cinemas closed the ABC last year. "As soon as we discovered the premises were closing we made enquiries, but we could not re-open any sooner due to legal requirements."

KEEPING THE PEACE
9/1/03: Lancaster District Coalition Against the War has arranged a special day of of discussion, networking and planning to complement their ongoing campaign against the planned war with Iraq being orchestrated by the United States.
Groups from the South Lakes area have been invited to come and share their experiences, skills and thoughts on the war against terrorism and war on Iraq. The event will take place on Saturday 25 January 20003 at the Friends Meeting House, Lancaster, from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm and is open to both peace groups and concerned individuals. Interested parties are asked to try and let LDCAW know before the 25th of their planned attendance, as they would like an idea of numbers etc. The organisation hopes to provide food, a cr�che and if needed, some accommodation.
Many local people have expressed their concern at the military build up against by the United States and the United Kingdom's apparent support. Morecambe MP Geraldine Smith is among those who has condemned any unilateral military action against Iraq, which she told one constituent "would be a grave mistake and would seriously undermine the role of the United nations."

• For more informaton e-mail or tel: 077900 6370.
• Lancaster District Coalition Against the War

GETTING CREATIVE!
8/1/03: Lancaster's Storey Institute could soon house a state of the art centre open to all manner of creative people from around the district.
Plans for a centre for creative industries were discussed at yesterday's City Council cabinet meeting, which would be centred at the City Council owned Storey Institute. It's envisaged the centre would provide a range of managed workspace for creative industry practitioners.
A report from the council's Director of Regeneration recommended the Storey and Folly Galleries would remain as part of the Institute but that it could also become an attractive destination for tourists. In addition the building could act as a training centre or a resource for the district's art industries and the broader community.
Cabinet members agreed that officers should arrange further studies, including consultation, before bringing an updated report back to Cabinet.

FOLLY CELEBRATES EXPANSION
8/1/03: The Folly Gallery is gearing up to celebrate its expansion later this month. The photography centre has just taken over the whole building on Castle Hill and is moving some of its activity downstairs.
Despite the sad loss of the excellent Folly Cafe the development means the centre will be able to expand its programing capabilities, and allow it to offer more evening events, training and education opportunities, darkroom and Internet access and more.
A launch party will take place on Friday 24 January to coincide with the next exhibition opening from 7.00pm onwards.

VOLUNTEER FOR NEW YEAR!
8/1/03: New Year is a great time to think about making changes in your life, trying something new and getting more involved. If that sounds like you, then now could be the perfect time to discover what volunteering has to offer.
The diverse nature of volunteering means that everyone can get involved. You may be young, old, working, retired, unemployed or wanting to gain new experience for your CV. Perhaps you just want to donate some of your spare time to help others or to put something back into the community? Whatever your situation, volunteering is a fantastic way to learn new skills, use your existing skills in a new environment, develop new interests, meet new people, build self-confidence, become active in bringing about social change and have fun!

¥ To find out how you can get involved, visit the vic shop in GillisonÕs Lane, Marketgate Shopping Centre or visit the vic website. For further information call vic on 01524 63760

TRAFFIC MISERY LOOMS FOR LANCASTER?
Two M6 access bridges between Lancaster and Carnforth are to be closed for essential rebuilding works for six months from mid January -- spelling more traffic woes for road users through Lancaster City Centre.
The Highways Agency has announced the closure of two farm access bridges - Colewood at Lancaster and Lane Ends at Carnforth - which are being replaced because they don't meet modern standards and are starting to deteriorate because of the salt corrosion.
The motorway will be closed overnight when the bridges are demolished and again when the new bridges are installed, with all traffic being diverted via Lancaster City Centre. "The bridges need to be brought up to modern standards," explained Highways Agency Project Manager Paul Turner. "The motorway will be closed completely while the bridges are removed and again when the new bridges are put into place. "This work will take place overnight and at weekends to minimise any disruption, but we have no alternative but to route traffic through the centre of Lancaster. The work is planned to start in Mid January and last for six months."
The £1.4 million contract to replace the two bridges has been awarded to AMEC.

PUBLIC TO BE GIVEN NEW POWERS TO QUESTION COUNCILLORS
8/1/03: The New Year sees Lancaster City Council promoting opportunities for residents to ask questions at Council meetings.
The Council wants to encourage greater public involvement in democracy by encouraging local people to use the constitutional powers available to them to attend council meetings and ask Cabinet members and Review Board chairmen about issues that concern them.

The 30 minute Question Time Sessions will take place at ordinary meetings of the Full Council, (see first dates below) and are publicised on the council website Commenting on the Public Question Time Sessions, Lancaster City Council's Chief Executive Mark Cullinan said: "Lancaster City Council is the public's local authority and members are there to represent you. The Council is keen to encourage greater public participation in local democracy. Similar Question Time sessions already exist at Planning Committee meetings and the city council held three public Question Time events throughout the district last year. We hope the public will use this opportunity to directly question Councillors and therefore play an active part in local democracy. I look forward to receiving your questions."
The first Council meeting dates where Question Time Session will be held are to be 12 February and 23 April 2003.
For future dates please contact the City Council's Administration Services on 01524 582170

RYELANDS PARK LAND CONSIDERED FOR SALE?
7/1/03 (revised 8/1/03): The City Council's cabinet was today considering the sale or long lease of land within Ryelands Park.
As part of the public part of today's agenda at a Cabinet Meeting, the City Council's Cabinet considered the issue of the proposed new Sure Start development at Ryelands Park (see earlier story). This issue was considered together in open session (not as an exempt item), with another proposal in relation to Community Cohesion which would cover the Skerton East, Central and West Wards.
In a press statement released earlier today, Skerton West councillor Roger Sherlock had called for the Council to support Skerton's Sure Start programme (a government backed scheme to help underpriveleged children) with the building of a purpose-built facility on park land, and asked that "the City Council does not try to make a profit from the sale of the land." He is unhappy that Sure Start would face costs that would detract from monies that should be spent on its programme if it had to buy the land for a new building.
The options discussed were the selling of a long lease to Sure Start (effectively a sale, but the Council retaining the freehold) or a long lease at a peppercorn rent (£1 per anumn with no money up front).
Commenting on the eventual cabinet decision, which is not believed to be final, Council leader Tricia Heath told Virtual-Lancaster that local authorities, such as the city council and the county council, are required to obtain best consideration for the sale or lease of land.
"Cabinet therefore decided that negotiations take place with Lancashire County Council -- the body accountable for Sure Start -- on the basis of a long lease for the land required to construct a new building for the Sure Start initiative. "Negotiations with county will therefore proceed on that basis."
Commenting, Green councillor Jon Barry told Virtual-Lancaster: "I understand that the decision is not final and that is why [Green cabinet member] Gina Dowding ultimately supported it. She had argued the same as Roger Sherlock -- that we shouldn't be taking money away from Sure Start. Whatever the Council ultimately does (rent at peppercorn or sell), it will still be on the basis of a long-term lease. So, the land would ultimately revert back to the City Council (albeit with a building on it!). "I have a further concern," he added, "which is the using up of part of a public park for a building, however good its intentions. It seems to me that parks are too easy a target for such developments and I would have preferred, say, to have used a Council property on Ryelands."
Locals have already expressed concern that any part of one of Lancaster's publicly owned parks should even be considered for sale without wider consultation.

BIG BUSINESS THREATENS LOCAL PUBLIC SERVICES
7/1/03: Lancaster and District Green Party has written to the Government expressing serious concerns about the potential effects of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) on democracy and public services.
"Hardly anyone has heard of GATS, but it could have a huge impact on all our lives," explained Coun Emily Heath, the

Leader of the Green Group on Lancaster City Council. "It is being pushed through by multinational corporations, who already control 70 per cent of world trade, to open up the service sector to international privatisation. It is likely to have particularly catastrophic consequences for developing countries, as other free trade agreements have done, but it will also affect us here in Lancashire.
"GATS will remove many of the rights of elected governments to regulate services in the interests of economic, social or environmental wellbeing. For example, if Lancaster City Council wanted to procure services from local suppliers in order to help stimulate the local economy and reduce unnecessary transport, this could be challenged under GATS as an Ôunnecessary barrier to tradeÕ. "GATS potentially covers 160 service areas, including some important functions of local councils, such as waste collection and disposal, housing provision, libraries, licensing, transport, tourism, sports services and some aspects of planning and building control. It also covers higher education, which is a major part of Lancaster and MorecambeÕs economy.
"The Green Party believes that these services should be run in the public interest, not solely to maximise profits for shareholders."

Web Links:
• The World Trade Organisation-- Outline of GATS on WTO Site: Go
• Global Issues Site Comment on GATS: Go

VISIT MORE OFTEN
7/1/03: 2002 saw a massive rise in the number of visitors choosing to stay in district, according to Lancaster City Council's Tourist Service.
The Service, which has been reviewing the business statistics for 2002, found that accommodation bookings were up by 28 per cent on the previous year.
Despite what many classed as a poor year weatherwise, the total bed nights booked into hotels and guesthouses in Lancaster and Morecambe via the Tourist Information Centre in 2002 were up by almost 600. The demand for self catering accommodation saw an increase of 115 per cent.
Bookings made by large groups -- from Henley Rugby Players to cyclists -- also proved popular last year with additional income being made by booking groups from as far afield as Japan.
Commenting, Lancaster City Council's Cabinet member with responsibility for Regeneration, Coun James Airey said: "Lancaster Tourist Information Centre staff had worked really hard throughout 2002 to convert accommodation enquiries into firm bookings. "Morecambe Tourist Information Centre is now helping to distribute more than 100,000 Holiday Guides across the whole country," he added, "and Lancaster TIC will continue to convert as many enquiries as possible into firm bookings through 2003."
Virtual-Lancaster sources indicate that although the overall number of tourists has risen, numbers of American and Japanese tourists appear to have dropped, no doubt in reponse to the international situation.

DON'T SLIP UP AT WORK
7/1/03: Workers in the North West are worried about all the main workplace hazards -- stress, RSI and display screen equipment -- but they are also having to contend with back strains, slips and trips and noise, according to a TUC survey of workplace union safety reps published today.
The main issues of concern in the region were overwork and stress ( a problem in 51 per cent of workplaces in the report) and repetitive strain injuries (RSI). An astonishing 40 per cent of North West workers expressed their concerns about this ailment, the second highest level of concern in Great Britain. Almost as pressing were worries about back strain and slips and trips at work. "The suggestion that new hazards at work replace the old ones certainly isnÕt true in the North West," commented North West TUC Regional Secretary Alan Manning. "We cannot afford to be complacent when problems like noise and dusts are still around, and new diseases like RSI need to be addressed by a partnership of unions and employers. Most worrying of all is that slips and trips -- which cause 9,000 broken bones every year around the country -- are such a feature of a third of the North WestÕs workplaces."
738 safety reps in the region took part in the national survey, which the TUC conducts every two years. The full survey, Health and safety 2002, is published on 7 January as part of the TUCÕs Trade Union Trends series. Copies are available priced £30 from TUC Publications (0207).

THE KOSH AT THE DUKES
7/1/03: International award-winning dance group The Kosh will be presenting Twentieth Century Girls at the Dukes on Saturday 18 January with a show which will appeal to all lovers of dance and movement, as it looks back at women's stories through the twentieth century.
London-based touring company The Kosh have a unique style of dance. In the last 20 years they've performed in 26 different countries and its productions have won international awards in dance, theatre and film.
Their latest production, Twentieth Century Girls, is a narrative dance full of charm -- a story of love from the 1940s to present times, and set against a soundtrack of instrumental jazz, speech, advertising and poetry. From Dukes Ellington to disco, the show moves through the decades with a change of costume and a different dance style; the ballroom, Spain, the circus, the disco and the inevitable onset of old age treated with dignity, focusing on the womenÕs youthful spirit.
To book or for more information please call 01524 598500

GIVE OUR KIDS A SURE START
7/1/03: Lancaster City Council is to be asked to lease land near Ryelands House for a building for the Skerton Sure Start programme for a peppercorn rent. Sure Start is a government sponsored programme designed give to a good start to the education of children from underprivileged backgrounds and to help meet their health needs.
Councillor Roger Sherlock, who represents Skerton West, has written to the Chief Executive asking that the City Council does not try to make a profit from the sale of the land.
"Every penny taken out of the Sure Start programme is at the expense of the young children it is designed to help," Councillor Sherlock said. "The City Council should be acting in a spirit of partnership with the County Council and the Health Authority in trying to give young children a good start in life. That means giving Sure Start the best possible deal over this land."
Councillor Sherlock also attacked the recommendation that the Cabinet debate the issue in private. "This is about how two councils and a health authority can best work together for the benefit of Skerton children. The money is public money and the land is publicly owned. The decision should be taken in public."
Coun Sherlock told Virtual-Lancaster he is proposing that the Sure Start programme would have a new pupose built building offering various facilities for the under fours and their parents including group rooms, offices and a creche.

WE ARE THE (E)CHAMPIONS!
6/1/03: Lancaster City Council has been successful in its bid for Government approval to help increase and improve its 'electronic' service delivery for the second year running.
Government support will help ensure that the internet, websites, call centres and electronic transactions will run alongside existing services and play an increasingly prominent part in the way Lancaster City Council delivers its day-to-day business.
Each authority throughout England was required to submit a second statement outlining its progress in 'Implementing Electronic Government' (IEG) -- part of the Government's challenging targets to local authorities requiring them to provide more and more of their services electronically. Approval of Lancaster City Council's IEG Statement (available on the Council's website) will give the authority access to significant amounts of funding.
The Council is continuing to work in partnership with many other public and private sector organisations to ensure investment in new technology will, wherever possible, be targeted to ensure as many people as possible have access to these new services. Training and developing IT skills across the district will assist this process. Its commitment to this programme is symbolised by the Leader of the Council Tricia Heath and the Chief Executive Mark Cullinan who have both taken on the roles of 'e-champions' -- helping to drive this programme forward.
"Confirmation that our statement has been accepted and that Government has recognised the progress we are making is great news," said Councillor Tricia Heath. "It's not going to be easy and if we are going to transform many of our business processes over the coming years it will require a lot of hard work from a great many people.
"New technologies are transforming the way organisations do business and Lancaster City Council is 100 per cent committed to ensuring that its citizens have access to and are served well by these new electronic systems."

LOOKING BACK ON 2003
3/1/03: 12 months on, who would have thought that just sitting back would have led to the disastrous loss of life for both sides in the Middle East thanks to George W. Bush's desire for oil? Who would have thought local tourism would be affected so much by fear of war, leading to the total drop off in foreign visitors to the UK from the Far East and America?
And of course it seems incredible to think that despite all the political manoeuvring and campaigning by dedicated locals, big business has once again run roughshod over a city without a mainstream cinema and is even now building another unwanted supermarket on Bulk Road.
Oh wait -- 2003 has just begun. There's still a chance to stop all the above. I must remember not to drink so much Amaretto at New Year.

MEN IN COURT ON TERROR CHARGES
3/1/03: Two men have been remanded in custody under the Terrorism Act after a special court sitting in Kendal, after an incident in Barrow. The men, who are both from London but are thought to have been born in Turkey, are accused of taking money to pay for terrorism.
Read more from BBC News: Go

RICH HALL IS OTIS LEE CRENSHAW
3/1/03: Grouchy, dead pan, comic genius Rich Hall will appear at the Platform, Morecambe on Friday 24 January. Many comedy fans will already know him as the guy who made David Letterman funny, both as a writer and performer, but now Rich is back playing the part of Character Otis Lee Crenshaw whom he created.
Otis is a red necked jailbird from Tennessee who has been married seven times, all to women named Brenda. A singer-songwriter, Otis writes bourbon-soaked, Tom Waitsian tunes and blends these with audience banter, producing a perfect fusion of music and comedy.
The character has been charming sell out audiences each year at the Edinburgh Festival (Perrier Award winner 2000), throughout the UK on tour, at several festivals in Australia and at London's famous Comedy Store, where he had a monthly slot for six months.
The show starts at 8.00pm and tickets cost £10 from the Box Office on 01524 582803.

NEW GUIDE TO DRAW IN TOURISTS
3/1/03: The 2003 Holiday Guide to the district is now available from Tourist Information Centres countrywide.
Lancaster City Council Tourism Service's glossy new brochure provides a comprehensive free guide for holidaymakers and day-trippers wanting to discover the true diversity of the area.
The Guide also includes up-to-date details of all the wide variety of accredited places to stay, together with listings of where to eat and drink, as well as the whole range of events taking place throughout the year and of course local attractions.

CHRSITMAS MISERY FOR MORECAMBE WORKERS
3/1/03: As we reported last week, over 150 skilled staff at Morecambe's Moll Industries plant were sacked just before Christmas. And in more bad news for local industry, WRM Logisitics Paperlink in Milnthorpe has also closed with the loss of 100 jobs.
Administrators Price Waterhouse Coopers failed to find buyers for either business despite their skilled workforces.

FANCY RUNNING A CINEMA?
3/1/03: The new leaseholders of Lancaster's former ABC Cinema have just put it up for rent, promoting the art-deco venue as an "ideal leisure opportunity." It's a shame Odeon Cinemas didn't see it like that. Call the agent handling the property on 0113 200 1800. Maybe someone out there is interested in starting a full time community cinema like the Curzon in London or Northend, Rochdale?

STOP THE WAR
3/1/03: Along with hundreds of local people we at Virtual-Lancaster make no apology for our continuing opposition to the war being planned by George W. Bush against Iraq. The estimated number of civilian deaths alone (never mind the soldiers) in such a war is being estimated at 1.5 million. It will cost at least $6 to $9 billion a month to wage the war, crippling already poor social programs in Western nations. And if it was about stopping Iraq from having deadly weapons then why did the US sell them to Saddam in the first place?
Locals have taken a major part in the anti-war campaign with a national demonstration in London planned for 15 February in London.
More on the Virtual-Lancaster site: Go
Stop the War National site: Go

ARE YOU LOCAL?
3/1/03: Hmm -- perhaps we should be concentrating more on what's happening on Lancaster's streets than bombs on Baghdad. A new study by a local US newspaper site leads it to drop national stories. What do you think?

Last Week's News Items: Go