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WAREHOUSE POLICE RAID ­ HAVE YOUR SAY
9/5/03: Minutes have finally been released for the last Police Authority Meeting on 9 October 2002, which included discussion of the Warehouse Club raid that met with a storm of controversy about police conduct on the night. (You can read our report by Paul Wilkinson on that raid here).
During the meeting Superintendent Gerry Graham was asked about what had happened in the aftermath of the raid. Graham, who masterminded the operation, at a cost of over £1m to taxpayers, responded that the 12 people arrested on the night were all serving custodial sentences and that the owner of the Club had admitted to allowing the club to be used for the supply of controlled substances. This is duly recorded in the minutes.
In fact, of the people arrested at the Warehouse that night - none are serving custodial sentences - the maximum sentence imposed was 180 hours of Community Service at Furniture Matters. The owner of the club never admitted to allowing the club to be used for the supply of controlled substances. After months of plea-bargaining, he was finally advised by his lawyers to admit to allowing cannabis to be smoked in the club - to placate the police who appeared to be so desperate for a conviction.
The next police authority meeting takes place at 7.00pm on Tuesday 13 May in the Lonsdale College Conference Centre at Lancaster University (near Lonsdale car park, across from Chaplaincy Centre). Those disgusted with the behaviour of the Police on the night of Operation Bubblewrap, and subsequently, will be attending to demand an explanation of the Superintendent's decision to commit himself to a falsehood. Presumably this was to justify the massive waste of public money and the gross terrorisation of the harmless innocent customers present on the night, who were separated, forced to run a gauntlet of policemen flashing lights into their faces. In one case, one person was denied necessary asthma medication. Club goers were then made to disperse and return home singly, at a time when a serial sex attacker was on the loose.

COUNCIL TAKES SHAPE
9/5/03: Lancaster and Morecambe's newly elected council will meet on 15 May to choose both a new leader and cabinet. Morecambe Bay Independent and former leader Tricia Heath was not re-elected last week in the local elections that saw just a 32.65 per cent turnout of voters.
A coalition will run council affairs comprising Labour, who have the largest number of seats but no overall majority, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens. Labour will now take their seats in Cabinet, which they would not do while the MBIs ran the council, claiming they could not work with them.

MORECAMBE ACTION PLAN ADOPTED
7/5/03: The Council has voted to adopt the Morecambe Action Plan at its meeting on 23 April following an extensive period of consultation.
They say the high level of public support demonstrated throughout the consultation period was a factor in influencing the Council. It was agreed that continued high levels of public engagement will be a feature of the plans implementation.
The decision gives the green light to progress with the detail of the plan. Meetings have already been held with senior representatives of two of the potential funding agencies English Partnerships and the North West Development Agency both of whom have indicated their support for the plan following visits to the resort. The next step will be to formally ask both agencies to sign up to the plan while Council officers draw up plans for an initial funding bid.
An implementation plan will be brought to a future meeting of the council following the elections held last Thursday. This plan will propose how a partnership can be established to steer the action plan and how the public can continue to be involved and consulted as the plan progresses.
The consultation process has generated a significant amount of developer interest in key sites and buildings and early progress has been made with the acquisition of the Midland by Urban Splash who are also working on some initial ideas for the adjacent site. The Council expects to receive some outline proposals from Urban Splash within the next two months. It is also envisaged that some technical studies will be started on the housing stock in the West End to determine the condition, use and potential of the current housing stock. This work will be an essential precursor to preparing options for further public consultation.

MORECAMBE MISS OUT
Report by Michael Gibson
7/5/03: 5,404 people witnessed the most exciting game of football ever seen at Christie Park on Monday - and yet after nearly three hours of sumptuous entertainment most of them were left to contemplate what might have been.
Before the game, with the sun shining and Lancaster Road packed, the signs were already there that is was going to be an incredible afternoon. Unfortunately one of the signs was the one that greeted hundreds of ticket-less hopefuls as those saying 'sold out' had been up since Saturday afternoon. Inside the ground the magnificent North Stand was almost at capacity with fully 40 minutes to kick-off and the sense of anticipation was enormous. The team didn't let us down.
Morecambe have been beaten at home just the once all season and the attacking flair that has had the crowds flocking to Christie Park was soon evident. Morecambe came close in the first minute through Lee Elam. And after 17 minutes a brilliant move by Stewart Drummond and Gary Thompson led to a thundering strike by Wayne Curtis come crashing off the crossbar. The Shrimps kept pouring on the pressure yet they couldn't convert their dominance into goals ­ Drummond and Bentley both seeing goal-bound headers cleared off the line by Dagenham defender Mark Janney.
In the second-half, Morecambe's dominance finally told as a Thompson corner was flicked on by Stringfellow and sliced into his own net by Dagenham's Steve West leaving former Wales keeper Roberts stranded. With the scores now level on aggregate both sides pushed on for the decisive goal and with four minutes of time left Morecambe delivered the goods. From a melee on the edge of the box the ball came loose for Rigoglioso who coolly chipped over the on-coming Roberts. Cue bedlam. The noise from the North Stand could be heard all over the town as red and white hats, mobile phones, wallets and programmes rained onto the terraces from the bodies of delirious Morecambe fans.
It couldn't last. Morecambe's season has been dotted with last minute goals and this was no exception. With a minute of normal time left some poor defending saw Paul Terry (brother of Chelsea's John) free on the edge of the box and his curling shot beat the despairing arm of Craig Mawson to level the aggregate scores.
Dagenham were rampant and just a minute later Morecambe were grateful to Mawson for an incredible save at his top left hand corner that kept Morecambe in the game and set us on course for Golden Goal.
Golden Goal ­ or next-goal-winner to those schooled in jumpers for goalposts ­ is up there with thumbscrews and the rack when it comes to torture. The sight of grown men and women chewing their fingers (the nails had long since gone), peering through their fingers like the Daleks were on Doctor Who and generally gasping and groaning was too much to bear. A ball loose in the Morecambe box and the heart beat count flies to over 150 bpm. Tim Cole's shot is deflected onto the Morecambe bar ­ 170bpm. Morecambe substitute Robbie Talbot with an open goal at his mercy blasts wide with seconds remaining ­ oh my aching heart and now its penalties.
In front of the North Stand the penalties were almost too much and this correspondent witnessed them through a narrow gap between the two hands firmly clasped to his face. Drummond's penalty is saved by Roberts and McKearney's comes off the post and flies along the goal-line without going in yet Stein and Shipp convert theirs with ease. 2-0 surely it's all over. Yet the drama turns around once more as Dagenham's next two penalties are saved. 2-2 and the fifth and final regulation penalty, Tarkan Mustafa converts for Dagenham so up steps Morecambe's Jamie Murphy. His penalty goes right of Roberts who leaps and... saves it. And in one kick of the ball and a keeper's fingertips Morecambe's brilliant season comes crashing to an end.
The total silence that greeted the miss was in marked contrast to the noise of Rigoglioso's finish just an hour earlier. All around me people who had stood enraptured from 2.30 to 6pm crashed to the floor in despair. Then a realisation that Morecambe are the friendliest club in the friendliest league as with Dagenham supporters on the pitch in front of the North Stand the two sets of fans applauded one another, shook hands, exchanged scarves and the Morecambe faithful sang 'you're going up with the Yeovil' ­ marvellous gestures, sorely lacking in the Football League.
It was fantastic yet excruciating to watch and the pain of the finish will stay with the players, officials and supporters for a long-time. Yet it may have a beneficial effect. Morecambe chairman Peter McGuigan, his fellow board members and manager Jim Harvey have built a brilliant football club and a team full of young local talent. Next year they will be another year older and, after the pleasure and pain of Morecambe's greatest ever season, another year wiser. Next year we'll go one better. Morecambe 2 - o.g. West 50, Rigoglioso 86
Dagenham & Redbridge 1 ­ Terry 89
Aggregate 3-3 after normal time and golden goal
Dagenham win 3-2 on penalties

Attendance: 5,404
10-YEAR PLAN FOR M6 MOTORWAY IN NORTH WEST
6/5/03: A 10-year-plan for the M6 motorway is to be developed by the Highways Agency -- and motorists ae being asked for their views.
A Route Management Strategy is being drawn up for the motorway from Junction 20 at Warrington to the Scottish Border as part of the Government's Integrated Transport Policy, aimed at making better use of the road network.

HEYSHAM FACILITY PLANS ON VIEW
6/5/03: Members of the public are being invited to have a view for the development proposals for new major community facilities in Heysham on Thursday 22 May from 11 am to 8.00pm at the Youth and Community Centre at Douglas Park.
The feasibility study for new community facilities at Douglas Park / Mossgate has been undertaken on behalf of the Heysham Mossgate (Community Facilities) Company and the preferred proposals will be available for public viewing shortly.
The proposals are the result of comprehensive research and close partnership working between the Company, Lancashire County Council, Primary Care Trust, Lancaster City Council and Lancashire Police Authority. They will be on view on Thursday 22 May from 11.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. at the Youth and Community Centre at Douglas Park and all are welcome to come along.
The Plans show a multi-million pound investment venture for new and improved community and sports facilities in and around Douglas Park. In particular the site would see the existing Youth and Community Centre redeveloped into a much larger building which would house the relocated Heysham Library and community policing offices, a new health centre and pharmacy relocated from across Middleton Road, new improved youth and community facilities, and an indoor sports hall.
Outside would see a revamp of the existing bowling greens and all weather area but also a much larger multi-sport area to the rear of the existing facilities. In addition would be a new children's play area and wheeled/skate facilities.
The site would also include a tree-lined boulevard linking Middleton Road to the new Mossgate housing development. It is further proposed that this walkway would include artwork features.
The plans are still draft at this stage and the Company are keen for the public to comment.

CHIPS AWAY
6/5/03: The Gregson is poised to acquire chippy next door to the community centre. They have several immediate vacancies for assistants in the chippy, lunchtimes and/or early evenings pay £4.50 hr. Suit young person, older person or in-between. If you know anyone who might be interested contact

THE FLOWER TOPS!
6/5/03: Lancaster City Council's gardeners proved that they are simply the best - once again.
Council's White Lund Garden Centre won the Gold Medal and the Best in Show for the outdoor garden category in Southport Garden festival last weekend.
At the show the Council's gardeners recreated Williamson Park's famous landmark - the Ashton Memorial. The garden centre staff used a 6ft model of the memorial and planted it with tulips and pansies.
" This is the first time that the White Lund Plant Centre has entered a flower bed in this show and so it is brilliant to come away with the top award," said Paul Cocker, operations manager with the City Council's Grounds Maintenance Section. "All credit goes to my staff at the nursery. Especially Richard Wood, the manager of the garden centre, who designed and constructed it."
A similar garden has been displayed before at other top events and it has won several awards including a Gold Medal and Best in Show at the Royal Lancashire show. This was a first time that the garden was created using spring flowers.
The fourth annual Southport Spring Garden festival was held in the historic grounds of Meol Hall in Churchtown over the May Bank Holiday Weekend.

TALKING NATURE
Jill Hatcher, CPRE's senior policy officer on natural resources, will be talking at the local Lancaster CPRE District Group at 8.00pm, Tuesday 13 May at the Friends Meeting House in Lancaster. She will be discussing the recent Energy White Paper, its stance on renewable energy and what it might mean for the countryside.
Given the recent interest in the cross-bay bridge proposal for Morecambe-Barrow and the many differences in opinion about the desirability of wind farms, the organisers are hoping this will be a chance to generate a good debate about the way forward for a more sustainable energy future.
There will be a meeting of Lancaster District CPRE from 7.30 to 8pm, prior to Jill's discussion.

• More details on 01524 849055 or e-mail . The organisers would like some indication of numbers attending so if you can let them know you plan to attend, this will help set up for the event.

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