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ANTI-VIOLENCE VALENTINE'S BALL,
14 FEBRUARY, LANCASTER TOWN HALL

6/2/03 Friday 14th sees a special multimedia Valentine’s Dance gig at Lancaster Town Hall – The launch of Pulse FM. It’s a group of local DJs, radioheads and music addicts who plan to set up a youth-based youth-operated non-profit community radio station in Lancaster and Morecambe. The idea for the Valentine’s event came about when a volunteer from Lancaster & District Women’s Aid, the local charity that assists women escaping domestic violence got talking to Steve Cook, a co-founder of Pulse FM. “We noticed that while the music scene in the national media can be very sexploitative, occasionally even with abusive or anti-women lyrics, the local music scene has a strong and warm co-operative spirit. Lancaster Police got called out to over 200 incidents of domestic violence in December alone. We asked how to put out a clear message to music lovers and listeners that all violence is, in reality, a squalid, brutal activity,” said Chris Simpson of LDWA.
The response has been incredible. The Pulse collective set up a ‘Hearts On Fire’ team who pulled in all their connections to line up a valentine’s gig that will blow you away. Live licks come from the superb indie band Jaydid who never fail to rock the house. DJs include Cuddy (Question of Bass), Irish founder member of the celebrated Test Department, currently a cyber guru with a mind-blowing brand of computer generated sonic and visual trips. Local DJs include the Buddhakkan Headset crew with their special brew of tribal inspiration and the well-famous One Love crew - it’s a fantastic full-on dance mix that Hearts On Fire cooked up to fill you full with the valentine spirit. “Every act of violence feeds and connects to every other act of violence – from local to global – and every act of love strengthens and connects to every other act of love. This is always the time and the place to make your stand.”
It doesn’t stop there - compere of the evening is Greg Cook, North West Comedian of the Year, returning from London’s West End to do his bit.
Lancaster Indymedia Video Collective Kinematograph will be providing visuals in addition to the Pulse techheads and Vidiotix who will be laying on magical lighting and both video and digitally-generated eye-food and live internet downloads – “we’re going over the top” says Steve – “how else would you want us to do it?”
The gig has a late bar and will hit the ground running at 8pm – entrance is ticket only and these cost a mere £6 from Andy’s Records, Proper Records and Play It Again Records on Lancaster Market, as well as the Whale Tail Cafe and both the Lancaster & Morecambe Tourist Offices. All proceeds go towards keeping the very hard working local domestic violence charity going in its risky and very necessary services and will be very gratefully received.

WEIRD MUSIC WITH A SPANISH TINGE!
6/2/03: On Saturday 15 February you can catch a rare double act by two of Lancaster's more unusual singer songwriters, Bronek Szerszynski and Steve Lewis - last seen performing together a few years ago in local band Naked Mask.
Bronek had a career as a guitarist in the 1970s and 1980s, spanning styles as diverse as art rock, jazz fusion, new wave, free improvisation and systems music. The last group he played in before coming to study in Lancaster in 1986 was the minimalist ensemble Regular Music, whose collaboration with the theatre company Lumi�re and Son in Kew Gardens was reportedly one of the inspirations for the Dukes Theatre's Promenades in Williamson Park.
He now teaches and writes on the philosophy and sociology of the environment and technology at Lancaster University, but during the past year has also been concentrating on song writing.
"The kind of songs I'm aiming for are like short stories", he says. "I try to get each one to conjure up a self-contained world, with characters that behave in ways that seem strange but make sense in the world they're in. But it's all metaphorical, ways of exploring the complexity of the human heart."
After a few well-received short sets with this new material at the Spotlight Club at the Yorkshire House, this will be its first full-length performance. Expect to hear influences from Scott Walker, Jacques Brel, Leonard Cohen and Nick Drake, with well-crafted lyrics underlain by beautiful, intricate acoustic guitar playing with a Spanish tinge.
Bronek will be supported by Steve Lewis, arguably one of Lancaster's weirdest musicians. Steve is best known for his involvement in More Music in Morecambe and for being half of the Living Room improvising duo. His solo shows using voice, bric-a-brac and live sampling have been described as "bizarre", "magical", "startling" and "transcendental". But tonight is something different again - no special effects, just his voice and acoustic guitar (an instrument he plays like it ought to be a piece of percussion). He last did this some seven years ago - and it may be another seven years before he does it again. This time, Steve will be singing his own songs as well as settings of words from T.S. Eliot, Wallace Stevens, Ludwig Wittgenstein, Carl Jung and Rumi.

You can hear Bronek and Steve at the Golden Lion, Moor Lane on Saturday 15th February, from 8.30 p.m.

COMMUNITY SCHEMES AGREED
6/2/03: Lancaster Council's Cabinet have approved two important new community projects. The first is an expansion of doorstep recycling service from one round to four (out of 11), which Coun Jon Barry, who chairs the recycling task group says "is an important step towards a district-wide service which we would hope to achieve over the next few years.
"Given that only a quarter of Councils were successful with their bids, Lancaster has done very well to attract nearly £1 million from central government."
Coun Barry has also welcomed agreement for the Marsh Safe routes scheme, a £280,000 scheme has been funded from the County Council, Europe and the lottery. "This is an excellent scheme that will improve facilities for walking and cycling in the Marsh, Fairfield and Aldcliffe Road areas of Lancaster<" says Jon. "In addition, there will be a direct pedestrian and cycling link into the station from Skerton and the Millennium bridge - maybe this is a first step to our long-awaited integrated transport policy!"

MEET MARIANA AND MOLLIE!
6/2/03: 'Lancaster's Quirkiest Funnywoman' Marian Hughes and singer-songwriter Mollie Baxter are joining forces to present a new show, No Herring No Wedding. No Herring No Wedding which takes place at the Gregson on Friday 7 February, is a fruit compote of sketches, songs and monologues presented by a cast of crazy characters in a relaxed cabaret atmosphere.
The evening will round off with music to dance to from DJ Doug Leece. Doors open at 8.00; show starts at 8.30.

CASH BOOST FOR LANCASHIRE POLICE
6/2/03: The government has just announced what it calls "substantially increased investment" in policing in Lancashire that it hopes will help forces implement police reform and deliver an effective and efficient police service, properly equipped to tackle crime in the 21st century.
The Government will invest a total of £177.1 million in Lancashire this year (2003/4) to deliver more police officers, develop specialist expertise and make the most of modern technology.

COMPUTER SWAP SHOP LAUNCHED
6/2/03: A virtual swapshop for computers has been set up for the Lancaster area. The swapshop, available at www.seedsforchange.org.uk/compswap, has been set up to help people in the Lancaster and Morecambe area to find computers and computer bits they need, and to recycle the things they don't.

The site encourages people with old computers and spare parts to give things away for free or do a direct swap.
The Computer Swapshop was inspired by the Lancaster SwapShop email list, where everyday objects are swapped and given away on a weekly email list. The aim of the site is to site to help minimise waste and landfill, reduce consumerism, and help people to save money.
"Using older hardware not only saves money, space in landfills but also your conscience," says organiser Max Hessler. "Computer parts are mostly produced in eastern Asia where working conditions have more in common with slavery than employment, the environmental impact of the electronics industry is horrifying, including the use of the most highly toxic materials like chlorinated and brominated substances, toxic gases, toxic metals, photo-active and biologically active materials, acids, plastics and plastic additives."
The list of toxic materials in computer components also includes lead and cadmium in computer circuit boards, lead oxide and barium in computer monitors' cathode ray tubes, mercury in switches and flat screens, and brominated flame retardants on printed circuit boards, cables and plastic casing.
Production is linked with cancer clusters and reproductive complications, and components are often 'recycled' in the third world where workers without personal or environmental protection smash open monitors, burn plastics, scoop out used toner and melt down metals on open fires. Precious minerals for the electronics industry are mined in the Congo war-zone, fuelling the conflict there.

DAWSON WARNS AGAINST RACE TO WAR
6/2/03: Deluged by letters and e-mails opposing war with Iraq, Lancaster MP Hilton Dawson has put down a House of Commons Early Day Motion expressing concern at the rush to war being led by the United States and the UK government.
Mr Dawson says he would welcome any comments on the wording of Early Day Motion 648. The full text is as follows:
EDM 648: United Nations, Iraq and Weapons of Mass Destruction: "That this House welcomes the progress that has been made to implement UN Resolution 1441, recognises that the realistic threat of overwhelming military force has been a key element in securing the return of UN weapons inspectors, considers that they still have a great deal of important work to do, urges the Government of Iraq to comply with every requirement of resolution 1441, continues to believe that there can be a peaceful and effective resolution of this crisis and recommends to the United Nations that it will enhance its standing and the solidarity of nations by exercising humanity and firm principle without rushing to war."
An Early Day Motion, or EDM, is the term used to describe notices of motions given by Members of Parliament that are not generally expected to be debated. Effectively, the tabling of an EDM is a device to draw attention to an issue, and to elicit support for it by the means of inviting other Members to add their signatures to the motion. Members may also table amendments to existing motions.
In a letter to Prime Minister Tony Blair, Dawson outlined his concerns about the rush to war after he attended the Interfaith Service for Peace recently held in St. Peter's Cathedral, at the invitation to Bishop Patrick O'Donoghue. "Most significant... was the fact that the vast building was packed with what must have been close to 1500 people from all over the surrounding area," he writes, clearly aware, like many Labour MPs, that many people are opposed to war on Iraq. "I have not seen such a gathering before and I think we should consider what it means."
Dawson says that he has received many letters and e-mails that indicate that "A lot of people who have given their support over Kosovo and Afghanistan are not with us in this.
"They want this matter to be pursued through the United Nations but they also want more proof of the presence of weapons of mass destruction and they need to be conveinced that there really is no alternative to war to disarm, or contain or precvent a threat from Iraq."
You can e-mail Hilton Dawson with your comments at or write to him at the House of Commons, London SW1 0AA.
Morecambe and Lunesdale MP Geraldine Smith has previously expressed her own reservations to a war without UN backing. "To take precipitate unilateral military action against Iraq would I believe be a grave mistake and would seriously undermine the role of the United Nations," she wrote in a letter to a constituent last November.

• Hilton Dawson MP's website:
www.hiltondawson.fsnet.co.uk
• Stop the War Local Action Page
• Comment on this story on our message board!

£50,000 SECURED FOR GREEN AYRE SKATEBOARD PARK

A new skateboard park should soon be built at Green Ayre, off Parliament Street

GREENS JUBILANT AT INCINERATION RETHINK
3/2/03: Green Councillors and campaigners have warmly welcomed a Lancashire County Council report which accepts that incineration ("Energy from Waste") may no longer need to form part of Lancashire's long term Waste Management Strategy. The report, to be considered by the cabinet on Wednesday (5 Feb), recommends agreement "to a revised approach for delivering the Strategy." This revised approach means that waste which cannot yet be recycled would not be put though an incinerator. Instead it would be subjected to a process known as "mechanical and biological treatment".
"The Greens have long supported alternatives to incineration and we are very pleased that County Council professionals have now decided to recommend this approach," commented Green County Councillor Jonathan Sear. "Both incineration and mechanical/biological treatment leave residues which need to be landfilled. But incinerators give off toxic dioxins and heavy metals polluting the environment and putting human health at risk.
"Incinerators also need a constant flow of waste to be economically viable - an incentive to burn materials which could be recycled."
"By lifting the threat of incinerators, we can concentrate all our energies on the important job of continually increasing the amount of material that can be reused and recycled," commented Green City Councillor Jon Barry.

• More information about the problems of incineration is available at:
www.foe.co.uk/resource/briefings/up_in_smoke.html

LEISURE SERVICES SPORTS COACHING ACTIVITIES
3/2/03: Lancaster City Council's Leisure Services are offering a selection of activities for 8-16 year olds during February Half Term (Monday 24 February to Friday 28 February 2003.
The programme includes sessions at the impressive Kendal and Ingleton Indoor Climbing wall, Mountain Biking at Gisburn Forest, Off Road Biking to Glasson Dock, Orienteering at Beacon Fell and Golf at Ashton Driving range. Other favourite activities include Archery at Salt Ayre Sports Centre, Fencing at Skerton High School, Megazone and Ten Pin Bowling at Morecambe Superbowl.
Transport is provided for Climbing, Mountain Biking, and Orienteering. All equipment and instructors are provided by Sports Development. Places are limited to ensure high quality coaching, so book early to secure your place and avoid disappointment. Note places must be booked and paid for in advance, some age restrictions apply.
On Thursday 27 February at Happy Mount Park, an Orienteering course will be set up from 10.30-11.30am for all ages (under 8's must be accompanied by an adult) and a sports fun session for 8-14 year olds will take place on the multi-area from 2- 3.30pm. Both activities cost £1 and pre booking is NOT required for these activities. Just turn up and have some FUN.
Specialist sports camps in both Cricket and Table Tennis will be taking place at Skerton High School during the week. A cricket beginners introductory course for boys and girls aged 7-10 years costing £10 is aimed at players who would like to learn the basics of the game in a fun, safe environment using a softball. No experience is necessary to take part on this course.
There is an intermediate cricket course for 11-13 year olds costing £15 using inter-cricket equipment for junior club members. This course is designed for players who attend training nights at clubs and are interested in further developing their skills within the game. Basic coaching points of the game including batting, bowling, fielding and strategies of the game are all part of the course. Some experience would be an advantage for the course but is not essential.
There will also be a beginners / intermediate table tennis course for 11-16 year olds costing £10. This course is designed for players who wish to take up the sport and for players who have recently joined the local junior development programme. An advanced course for 11-16 year olds costing £10 is available for players who have more than one years playing experience and have attended local coaching courses.
Qualified and experienced coaches from local clubs will be running ALL of the coaching camp courses. Places are strictly limited so book early to ensure your place.
For further information or to receive a programme of activities and a booking form, telephone Leisure Services on 582638 / 582826 or write to Lancaster City Council's Leisure Services, Town Hall, Morecambe, LA4 5AF or visit our website at www.lancaster.gov.uk

COUNCIL COMMENTS ON "BLOBBYGATE" REPORT
3/2/03: The City Council has issued a statement about the "Blobbygate" affair which cost local ratepayers over £2 million pounds after the theme park failed in the early 1990s, prompting a major investigation into its affairs.
The District Auditor's Annual Report for 2001/02, which summarises the key issues arising from his audit of accounts, has recently been received by Lancaster City Council.
The report in particular comments on the Council's financial standing, legality and performance. In presenting his report to the Council's Audit Committee last week the District Auditor highlighted the following points:
• the Council's accounts had been prepared and approved by the statutory deadline and that he had provided an unqualified opinion on the accounts;
• there were no legality issues to bring to Members' attention although he was mindful that the report into Crinkley Bottom was still outstanding;
• the Council had made significant improvements in its overall financial position and acknowledged that Council's revenue balances had now been restored to the prudent level of £1 million;
• the Council had implemented good practice in producing a detailed constitution to guide and inform its new political structures;
• he had provided an unqualified opinion on the Council's Best Value Performance Plan and noted the improved approach of the Council in its data collection and presentation;
• whilst the Council's position had significantly improved the following areas required further attention: risk management strategy; collection performance in some categories of arrears; data protection and information management; attention to the outcomes of all service reviews; the effectiveness of its Review Boards
Commenting Councillor Geoff Wilson, Chairman of the Audit Committee and Cabinet Member for Financial Affairs said: "It's pleasing to note the District Auditor's comments in respect of the very real improvements that the Council has achieved in its financial management arrangements. The restoration of the Council's balances to £1 million has taken longer than expected but this has been acknowledged by the District Auditor as a significant achievement.
"It's always a relief when the District Auditor gives you an unqualified set of accounts and this says much about the improvement financial management arrangements that Members and Officers have developed and introduced over the last four years.
"Most satisfying of all is at the time when the Council's previous District Auditor has issued his report into the Crinkley Bottom affair, the Council's current District Auditor has given us a clean bill of health and acknowledged the significant improvements that we have made.
"However, we must not be complacent and the Council must continue to move on and address the issues that the District Auditor has identified as requiring further attention."

COUN BARKER COMMENTS ON BLOBBY FINDINGS
3/2/03: Following the District Auditor's report on Crinkley Bottom Councillor Ian Barker issued the following statement:
"I welcome the District Auditor's report. It is thorough, objective and impartial. I have always maintained that it was necessary for the District Auditor to investigate Crinkley Bottom and why it went so disastrously wrong. We have not yet had his final word on that. A full report will be issued in the spring. It will no doubt be very critical and question the judgement of some Members and Officers.
"However, up to £530,000 of public money and four and a half years have been wasted on allegations by Brigadier Ford that four Officers and two Members, including myself, were guilty of wilful misconduct. Not one of those charges has been substantiated, even though non-wilful misconduct by two officers has been found in relation to the Supplementary Heads of Terms.
"Brigadier Ford's charges against me have been dismissed as 'fanciful and totally without merit' and 'an abuse of the audit process'."
"Naturally I am pleased by this verdict. However, in the four and a half years that Brigadier Ford has pursued these charges at public expense, I have been subjected to unfounded and baseless public attacks on my conduct, integrity and reputation.
"I am pleased therefore that the District Auditor has recognised that I was 'an honest and reliable witness' about the events of 1994."
"The Auditor recognises that I had 'little involvement in decisions relating to the Crinkley Bottom Theme Park' but that when I did I 'raised the need for a fail safe and expressed [my] doubts about proceeding with the scheme.'
"Councillor Heath and other Members of the MBI have claimed that they insisted on the notorious 'side letter' or on better financial arrangements as a pre-condition of entering into an agreement with Unique. The Auditor has variously dismissed this evidence as 'untrue' and 'false and brought into existence to support the objection' and 'collusive, [and] has been created in order to support the objection and is false'.
"I am glad that the District Auditor has recognised the real position. The truth is that, when I raised my doubts at meetings that I attended as a substitute in early 1994, I received little support from other Members and none at all from Councillor Heath and her MBI colleagues in arguing for a better deal. The District Auditor comments that: 'Councillor Barker had expressed doubts about the financial arrangements but he was a lone voice amongst Members'. "Crinkley Bottom was a expensive failure for the Council and the people of the district. It deserved to be investigated and the failings exposed. That is no excuse for the 'abuse of the audit process' that the District Auditor found Brigadier Ford's allegations against me to be. Nor is it an excuse for the evidence from Councillor Heath and other MBI councillors that he found to be 'collusive, created in order to support the objection and false.'"

LANCASTER SETS RECYCLING EXAMPLE
3/2/03: Representatives from four local authorities visited Lancaster City Council's City Contract Services last Monday after hearing about the Council's successful pilot recycling scheme.
The pilot has been running in the Hest Bank, Bolton-le-Sands, Carnforth, Silverdale and Warton areas of the district and is part of the Council's commitment towards improving the district's recycling rate. It aims to make it easier for households to recycle their waste. Households in the trial area have received two wheeled bins and two recycling boxes. The trial scheme has the potential to double the Authority's recycling rate in the next 12 months and help the District achieve nationally set targets.
Central Government require local authorities to meet increased recycling targets so those who have not taken steps to improve their recycling rates are examining innovative approaches that have been taken by other authorities such as Lancaster.
Officers from Bury, Blackpool, Burnley and Copeland were particularly impressed by Lancaster City Council's support for recycling as shown by the pilot scheme and successful bids worth £1 million to central Government for the expansion of this scheme.
They were also amazed by the public's response to the scheme. This was demonstrated with the fact that there has been a big increase in recycling performance in the pilot areas.
Cabinet member with responsibility for environmental Health Coun David Barker commented: "Although we are aware we still have a lot to learn in terms of recycling it is encouraging that other Authorities see Lancaster's approach to waste management and recycling as an example of innovation and best practice."

YIPPEE! IT'S SNOWING!!

11.45am 3/2/03: In yet another fabulous up-to-the-minute news scoop by Lancaster's No 1 internet resource we can reveal to the world that lucious thick soft lovely snow is gently falling. So drive safe, watch your step, get the plastic trays/ recycle bin lids/ snowboards/ sledges out and have fun! And here's a cute picture of my kitten Mr Puffy having his first snowtime experience! Awwwww!

GREEN LIGHT FOR MIDDLETON PROJECT
2/2/03: A Northwest Development Agency (NWDA) grant of over £600,000 is set to transform a former tip in Middleton, Lancashire into a much-needed Community Woodland and environmental haven.
The project, which will also receive £450,000 from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), will include the planting of over 6,000 trees and shrubs, a cycleway/bridleway network, the upgrading of an industrial estate access road, and the creation of new wildlife habitats, including a bat shed.
Lancaster City Council will help to deliver the project through close involvement with the local community. The scheme is likely to benefit over 5,000 residents in the surrounding areas of Morecambe, Heysham and Lancaster.
"The NWDA is pleased to be playing such an important part in bringing this neglected area back to life," said Martin Reynolds, NWDA Senior Development Manager. "We have every confidence that Middleton Community Woodland will provide an attractive and valuable asset for both visitors to the area and the local community, for many years to come."
"The Council has been trying to achieve effective remediation on this former petro-chemical site for some years," commented Jason Kennedy, Project Planner at Lancaster City Council. "The creation of a community woodland, and proposed industrial estate access improvements, will make a considerable step change to the appearance of the site and also the surrounding area."

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