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FOLLY SET TO FUND LOCAL ARTISTS
27/6/03: Lancaster-based arts organisation Folly is offering up to six bursaries for artists based within Lancashire and Cumbria to participate in a research project to develop interventions in non-gallery based locations with documentation and other works to be delivered via its websites -- but you'll have to be quick to apply, the deadline is Monday 30 June.
The bursaries will have a financial value of £500 with additional value attached to training, professional development along with opportunities to deliver workshops and develop an expanded project brief following the research completed as part of the bursary. The bursaries will coincide with a residency based at Folly involving artist Adinda Van't Klooster whose recent interactive installation Symphonic Birth Grounds will also be exhibited within the gallery, during August.
During her residency Adinda will also be developing interventions around the Lancaster area in non-gallery based locations.
Folly is also running two weeks of workshop activity using 'The Kitchen' a new media lab and its Linux, Apple Mac resources.
These will take place during the weeks beginning 11 and 18 August. Activities will run throughout the week, including evenings and weekends with national and international artists contributing sessions including software training, creative exploration and critical discourse.
Bursary artists will be expected to attend at least 50 per cent of the workshop activities. Non Bursary participants will be charged £50 to attend each week of workshops.
For more information on the application process, visit the Folly web site - the organisation says they will attempt to interview everyone who meets the requirements of the Bursary.
• Download an application form here (Word document format)

HOLIDAYS IN THE SUN - PUNKFEST REVIEWED

25/6/03 They came, they pogoed and according to reports they were apparently very, very nice indeed. Our undercover reviewer at last weekend's Morecambe Punk Festival Perksy Jobsworth saw some stuff that will make your eyes water tho! Read her hysterical review, with pics by Suzee Tylee.

WORK RESUMES ON SKERTON BRIDGE UNDERPASS
25/6/03: After a long delay, prompting questions by locals, the County Council has resumed work on the Skerton Bridge North side underpass for cyclists and pedestrians.
Work began months ago, but had to be halted recently so the concrete used for the work could have time to 'cure' for before the deck waterproofing could be applied. County Engineer Roger Cole has also explained that the new parapets on the bridge had to be fabricated to suit the approach bridges to fit with the overall design of the eighteenth century bridge.
Now the decks have been finished installation of the parapets has begun and work is now proceeding on the site again.

PLASTIC RECYCLING BID BY LOCAL GREENS
25/6/03: Green Party councillors Jon Barry and John Whitelegg have called a meeting to start the process of setting up a plant to recycle plastic in the Lancaster District.
"We were both extremely disappointed that the City Council has stopped recycling plastic from its doorstep collection scheme,"explained Coun Barry (see earlier story). "I'm currently looking at a number of short-term solutions to the problem. But the best long-term solution is to set up a business locally to deal with our own plastic. This has been successfully done in a number of other towns and we want it to happen here."
Plastic can cost £1200 per tonne to recycle. One of the major reasons for this is the transport costs.
" It has been estimated that an articulated lorry can carry only a quarter of a tonne of plastic," explains Coun Whitelegg, "whereas the same lorry could carry seventeen tonnes of paper. Effectively, we are simply transporting air around the country. By building a plant locally we will remove most of these transport costs - as well as provide local jobs."
The meeting to discuss setting up a local plant is on Wednesday 2 July at 6.00 pm in Lancaster Town Hall. People with knowledge of plastics recycling or with energy to contribute to this project are very welcome to attend.

CONCERN GROWS OVER MORECAMBE DEVELOPMENT PLANS
25/6/03: Locals are beginning to express concern at some aspects of the Morecambe development plan which calls for the demolition of many buildings in the seaside town. "I read an article in The Visitor about the demolition of Smoky Joes Working Men's Club to bulid car park," reports Morecambe-born Sue Paylor. "Smoky Joes has a long tradition in Morecambe. It may not be a 'wow' building - but it does have character.
"This club has many members - some elderly. To demolish and move will devestate some older people. Women go there alone safely." Sue feels that if thought through, the venue could become Morecambe's equivalent of the Gregson Community Centre, which celebrates 20 years of operation this later this year. "This could be the Gregson to the adjacent older community," she says. "I fear demolition of anything is a quick, not well thought out method of producing a car park or open space.
"The locals are opposed to this, but Morecambe MP Geraldine Smith supports it. I fear the Morecambe plan's bad bits will be difficult to oppose."
• Comment on this story in our community forum: Go

FUN IN THE SUN!
25/6/03: Lancaster City Council's Leisure Services are once again offering a wide and varied range of sporting activities for children of all ages from Monday 21 July to Saturday 30 August 2003.
Some of the activities on offer this summer include: Archery, Fencing, Golf, Basketball, Megazone, Tenpin Bowling, Stunt School, Wet 'n' Dry Day, Trampolining and Snorkelling to name but a few. All the activities are run by experienced coaches with full day and half day activities available. As well as these sessions Leisure Services are offering you the chance to attend specialist coaching camps in various sports including, a Mountain Biking Camp, Athletics Camp, Golf Camp, Swimming Camp and an Outdoor Pursuits Camp.
"I'm delighted that the City Council is offereing such a large sports programme aimed at young people," commented Cabinet member with responsibility for leisure, Coun Ron Sands. "This year's programme is even bigger and better than last year with over 120 activities on offer to help with the ever-increasing demand for places. The activities are designed to enable children both to have fun and develop new skills."
"This is the ideal opportunity for any young people interested in outdoor pursuits to come and experience a number of different activities," says Scott Wilcock, Outdoor Adventure Instructor, "including Climbing, Bellboating, Orienteering and Mountain Biking".
These sessions are run over a number of days giving you a more specialised insight into the sport. The equipment for all the activities is provided as well as transport for many of the activities on offer. Places on all the activities offered are strictly limited to ensure a high quality coaching session.
With all the activities it is advisable to book early as places fill up very quickly.
There is also the opportunity for you and your friends to enter an under 12's and under 14's 7-a-side football competition, which will take place on Saturday 30th August at Salt Ayre Sports Centre. As well as the football competition there will be many other family fun activities on the same day so bring the whole family and have some fun at Salt Ayre Sports Centre.
As well as being able to pay for your place(s) on the programme at Morecambe Town Hall Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 4.00pm, you will also be able to pay in person at one of the following venues on these specific dates:
• Thursday 26 June 2003 4.30pm to 7.30pm Salt Ayre Sports Centre
• Wednesday 2 July 2003 4.30pm to 7.30pm Salt Ayre Sports Centre
• Friday 4 July 2003 10.00am to 12.00pm Carnforth Swimming Pool
• Saturday 5 July 2003 9.30am to 12.00pm Salt Ayre Sports Centre
• Thursday 10 July 2003 4.30pm to 7.30pm Salt Ayre Sports Centre
• Saturday 12 July 2003 9.30am to 12.00pm Salt Ayre Sports Centre
• Wednesday 16 July 2003 4.30pm to 7.30pm Salt Ayre Sports Centre
• Friday 18 July 2003 4.00pm to 7.30pm Heysham Swimming Pool
You can also pay using the following methods:
• By Post - crossed cheque only
• By Phone - credit / debit card
• In Person - credit / debit card, crossed cheque, cash (please note cash can only be take at Morecambe Town Hall Monday to Friday 9.30am to 4.00pm or at the above venues ONLY at the times stated)
If you would like a programme to be sent directly to you please telephone the information line below or you can collect one from one of the following venues: Salt Ayre Sports Centre; Heysham Pool; Carnforth Pool; Hornby Pool; Morecambe Town Hall; Lancaster Town Hall ; Council Housing - Ryelands House : and Tourist Information Centres in Morecambe, Lancaster and Lancaster Bus Station

• If you want to experience some new exciting activities during the summer then contact thye Council's information line at Leisure Services at Morecambe Town Hall on (01524) 582834. For further details contact Jason Mills on 847540 or Richard Hammond on 582638

CND MARKS DAWN OF NUCLEAR WAR
25/6/03: Lancaster District Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament will commemorate the destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by atomic bombs on Saturday 9 August. The dawn of nuclear war in 1945 will be marked by making paper cranes (the Japanese symbol for peace) in Lancaster Market Square from 2.00 - 4.00pm.
At a recent CND meeting, local chairman Dr. Graham Kemp gave a talk describing how war destroys all it touches. Revealing the results of three years research into the effects of war on the survivors, Dr. Kemp told how soldiers, many of them teenagers, return home apparently uninjured but emotionally and psychologically damaged, expected to get on with their lives as if war was merely an interruption.
CND is now seeking to raise awareness of the widespread and long-term suffering caused by so-called "short" war with "few" casualties.

STOP THE CLOSURES!
24/6/03: Local Green Councillors have vowed to fight proposals to close the Post Offices on the Marsh and in Scotforth. This week, the Post Office announced a one month consultation on its proposal to close both branches permanently.
In a letter to customers, the Post Office says that "falling customer numbers, increased running costs and increasing customer choice about how their benefits are paid with the introduction of Direct Payment into accounts" have led to the proposed closures.
"The loss of our Post Office would have a big impact on the community," feels Green Councillor Chris Coates, who represents the Marsh, particularly the elderly who are less able to walk up the hill and endure the long queues in the main Post Office. Only about one in five households on the Marsh Estate have access to a car and the Post Office should take this into account when making its final decision."
Green Group leader Councillor Emily Heath, who represents Scotforth said "I would encourage everyone who would be inconvenienced by these closures to write in and object. Not so long ago the Post Office was going to close huge numbers of rural branches but public opinion forced them to change their mind. People need a Post Office within easy walking distance, whether they live in a town or village."
Green County Councillor Jonathan Sear is also among those opposing the closures. "The Government must take the responsibility for these closures," he says. "Decisions such as the withdrawal of home help stamps, and the direct payment of benefits, have hit Post Office incomes hard. It is high time there was funding available to help move Post Offices into shops and other premises so that running costs can be reduced without removing a vital service."
The Lancaster and Morecambe has already lost several Post Offices as a result of cost-saving measures.

• Residents can object to the proposed closures by writing to: Eddie Herbert, National Consultation Team, PO Box 641, St Albans, AL1 5XN.
• Read the Greatcoat comment on the closures first published in March: Go

WATER CRISIS: UNITED UTILITIES ACCUSED OF BUNGLING
23/6/03: Councillor Ian Barker, leader of Lancaster City Council, has said that United Utilities handling of the water problems last week give rise to serious concerns and has asked for a report to the council's cabinet. He has backed Morecambe MP Geraldine Smith's concerns about how the water company handled the problem.
" On the evidence available to me there were delays and bungling in the way information was given to the public about the need to boil drinking water," commented Councillor Barker. "Fortunately, this advice was purely precautionary following an equipment breakdown, but I shudder to think what would have happened if there really had been something in the water."
"The first the council knew of the problem was in the mid-afternoon of Tuesday when we received a phone call from United Utilities saying that they were about to issue advice to boil water for Lancaster and villages to the south. They said they were going to contact the media and to issue a warning by first class post to all affected households. Based on this the City Council concentrated on contacting high risk food producers."
"The press release was no in fact issued until nearly six o'clock - too late to catch most radio and television regional news programmes. It then turned out that Morecambe, Heysham and Carnforth were affected too, contrary to what the council had been told earlier.
"The promised leaflet was not delivered on Wednesday; in fact the first were delivered on Thursday. Because of this the City Council continued to contact food premises and old peoples homes; the County Council informed schools."
"This really is not good enough. United Utilities decided there was a risk, albeit small, of the water being contaminated. They decided we should boil drinking water. Yet the action they took was so dilatory that some people had not heard 48 hours after that decision was taken.
"I have asked that for a review of how these warnings are given and how co-ordination can be improved if a similar emergency occurs again."
• Greatcoat water crisis comment: Go

SPEED BUMPS -- DO THEY WORK?

Speed bumps on Barley Cop Lane - are they really effective?

23/6/03: The effectiveness of new traffic calming measures in Skerton has been thrown into question this week. New speed bumps on Barley Cop Lane can clearly be driven through by certain cars and vans, which means they do not reduce their speed.
Contractors were busy on Sunday 22 June completing the measures, which include side street 'humps'.
• Please note, the vehicles featured in these pictures were NOT speeding - we are just showing how the bumps can be avoided.

LANCASHIRE YOUTH GAMES 2003
23/6/03: The Lancashire Youth Games to be held at Salt Ayre Sports Centre on Saturday 28 June 2003 will see teams from the Lancaster area competing against the other 13 boroughs from across Lancashire.
Lancaster City Council's Leisure Services has been busy organising teams in many different sports via trials held throughout the district. For example the winning teams from the Leisure Services Girls 6-a-side Football Competition held on 15 May will represent our area at under 12's and under 14's, both teams are from Morecambe High School.
Lancaster has over 100 young people representing our district in seven sports including Hockey, Swimming, Boccia, Athletics, Tag Rugby and Girls Cricket. Many local volunteers, officials and sports coaches have helped out during the trials and will be working at the event. Lancaster City Council's Leisure Services wishes to thank them all for their support.
Anyone wishing to come along on the day to encourage our teams would be most welcome. As well as the various sporting competitions, spectators will be able to take part in the circus skill workshops, face painting, have a go on a climbing wall, cycling course and army paintball range, plus lots more. Bring the whole family along for a fun filled day, events start from 10am (except for swimming which will start at 11am). The presentations will take place between 5pm and 6pm.
Due to the Lancashire Youth Games Salt Ayre Sports Centre's swimming pool, sports hall, dance studio, synthetic pitch, athletics track and football pitches will be closed for public use throughout the whole day. Reflexions Fitness Suite and Heatwaves Sauna and Steam Suite will remain open as usual. Heysham Pool will be open on the day for public swimming from 10.30am to 5pm.
For further details contact Richard Hammond on 01524 582638.

PUNKS WILL BE BACK
23/6/03: Organisers of this past weekend's Punk Festival in Morecambe have decided it won't be the last. They're planning another event under a new banner - Wasted - which will run in July 2004.

CYCLING FOR FUNDS!
23/6/03: Two local businesses are to receive grants from the Department of Transport's cycling projects fund. Cyclepoint Ltd, which has 17 Bike Hire retailing points in the area, ranging from the University and colleges to tourist information centres is to receive £50,000. Morecambe-based Furniture Matters' Pedal Power project, which collects unwanted bicycles, services and repairs them and pass on to the community, as well as providing cycle training and maintenance classes to potential cyclists, is to get £39,821. "This is about 4 per cent of the money available to the whole Country," reveals Coun Jon Barry, "So well done to the organisations concerned!"

Last Week's News Items: Go