Latest news stories at top of page

SAYING NO TO SOFTWARE PATENTS
29/8/03: Local software designers have joined an international campaign to stop the European Parliament from passing new legislation on software patents, which they say will be damaging to technological innovation and Europe's software industry. The legislation is being driven through by a number of MEPs, including the North West Labour' MEP Arlene McCarthy and is being opposed by economists, prominent scientists and many European software businesses. If passed it could seriously affect small local companies which it's hoped will help make Lancaster a major technology centre in the near future.
"In many cases, the kinds of patents which are now being allowed through, because of a gradual and deliberate erosion of the letter and spirit of existing law, cover quite trivial innovations which any competent programmer would think of naturally as part of their craft," explains local Linux contributor Andy Baxter.
"For example, the European Patent Office has recently granted a patent to Amazon.com covering all computer-based methods of automatically delivering a gift to someone else. So if, for example, a shop in Lancaster wanted a web site which people could use to send a gift to a friend or relative, they would be bound to pay a license fee to Amazon." This runs counter to the existing European Patent Convention of 1973, which explicitly excludes computer software and business practices from patentibility; currently computer software is covered by copyright law only, which has a different effect.
The vote on the legislation has been put off until the end of September because of objections, so if you want to find out more or sign the petition
• What you can do:
See the Foundation for a Free Information Infrastructure and sign their petition.

MORE MONEY FOR LOCAL GROUPS
27/8/03: The Galbraith Trust is once again inviting applications from local voluntary and community groups for grants from the charity. The Trust was set up in 2001 from the estate of Ian Galbraith, the former city hardware store owner. Forms and guidelines are available from CVS (see below) and the closing date is Wednesday 1 October.
In July, 11 local charities shared just under £8,000 from the Galbraith Trust. The grants will contribute ­ amongst other things ­ to theatre equipment, a recording studio, a microphone and a loop system.
The successful applicants were A Breath for Life, the After School Club at Over Kellet, Central High School, Disc for Disability 2003, Ellel Players, the Heysham Project, the Preschool Group at Heysham Youth and Community Centre, the Sleeping Dragon Society, Thumbprint, Trinity United Reformed Church and the Women's Institute at Bolton-le-Sands.
• Further information from CVS at Trinity Community Centre, Middle Street, Lancaster LA1 1JZ, tel: 01524-63760 or

OMNE HELPS LANCASTER TALK FOR LESS
27/8/03: Local cable company Omne Communications is set to launch two brand new telephone packages to rival its closest competitors.
The new packages consist of an Unlimited evening and weekend package and an Unlimited 24/7 package
The Unlimited Evening and Weekend package will allow Omne customers to call local and national numbers in the evenings and weekends and the Unlimited 24/7 package allows Omne customers to call local and national numbers 24/7.
Both packages are available for a fixed monthly fee, include line rental and can be subscribed to alone or as part of a digital TV or broadband package.
"Our new telephone packages really do prove that we can offer exceptional value to our customers," an Omne Spokesperson said. "We absolutely believe that as a local company, we should be providing the kind of services that our communities really want and we have been working very hard to deliver a competitively priced telephone package to the people of Lancaster."
Details on all Omne services are available by calling 0800 070 60 70 or

GAY COMMUNITY LOSES VENUE
28/0803: The Albert Inn, King Street, Lancaster's only gay bar, closes its doors on Saturday 30 August, after serving the lesbian, gay and bisexual community in Lancaster and the surrounding area for some years. Our new correspondent, Oscar O'Lune, has further details. Read More...

SELLAFIELD TO CLOSE?
26/8/03: The Guardian reports that Sellafield's Thorp reprocessing operation, once hailed as the saviour of the British nuclear industry with its promise of producing limitless electricity throughout the 21st century, is to close by 2010.
The £1.8bn works, which opened only nine years ago, is to be wound down by British Nuclear Fuels, which now hopes to convert it into a waste handling facility.
Local environmentalists have long campaigned for the closure.
• Read the full story on The Guardian's web site: Go

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!
26/8/03:In order to vote in an election an individual's name needs to be on the electoral register.
Each autumn Lancaster City Council is required to undertake an annual canvass of all properties in the area. Over the next two week period, commencing on 29 August, a form will be delivered to every household by our team of 100 canvassers. Under the rules of registration the form should be completed based on a person's residence on 15 October.
Members of the public are asked to complete and return the form using the pre paid facility on the form. The register will be published on 1 December.
There is still a suspicion amongst some people that the Electoral Register is used for Council Tax purposes. This is not correct. Council Tax and Electoral Registration are two totally separate registers.
The public should also be advised that there are two versions of the register, and that each person must indicate on the form which register they wish to appear on. The two versions are:
The full register: This lists everyone who is entitled to vote. This register will only be made available to certain people and organisations and can only be used for specified purposes. These include electoral purposes, the prevention and detection of crime and checking your identity when you have applied for credit. The new law indicates who can have a full copy of the full register and what they can use it for. It will be a criminal offence for them to pass it on to anyone else or to use it for any other purpose.
The edited register: This leaves out the names and addresses of people who have asked for them to be excluded from that version of the register. The edited register can be bought by anyone who asks for a copy and used for any purpose.
Members of the public must therefore decide which register they wish to appear on by ticking the appropriate box on the form.
Following publication of the register the system of Rolling Registration will be reintroduced. Anyone who has moved since 15 October or since completing the form would then be able to register using the rolling registration application form. The register is then updated on the first day of each month.
There will be European Parliamentary Elections in June 2004. As well as British and Commonwealth citizens, European Union nationals, including those from countries which may join the EU in 2004, will be able to vote in these elections if they are on the Register.

• If you have moved house or don't know whether you are registered to vote call your local Electoral Registration helpline on 01524 582905

THEY'VE GOT IT TAPED
26/8/03: The City Council has published a taped version of its new community magazine,
YOUR District Council MATTERS is full of facts and information to help people get the most out of Lancaster City Council and the services it provides.
The taped version, which has been produced in association with the Galloway Society, is available from Cath Gillin on 01524 582044. It includes a mini A-Z of council services to help you make contact with the council; a break down of how your money is spent and much more.

CRACKING DOWN ON ARSON

26/8/03: Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service are cracking down on the recent spate of fires in Morecambe's West End - many of them started deliberately.
A campaign has been launched in an effort to reduce fires in the area and in particular deliberate firesetting. But the Service says the campaign will not be a success without help from the local community, and is appealing for help from local residents to stop fires.
Several streets have been targetted for special attention, and all homes in the target areas will receive a visit from a fire crew in the next two weeks. The crews from Red and Blue Watch will be offering advice and help to the residents so that they can reduce the risks to them and their families from fire.
37% of all fires in the Alexandra ward were started deliberately last year. The vast majority of these fires involved rubbish, often in public areas. To help reduce these incidents, local people can take action.
There have also been several bogus Fire Service callers offering advice and selling goods and services in recent weeks. Local residents can be assured that the Fire Service do not charge for home fire safety checks and only attend them in Fire Service Vehicles. The biggest give-away for bogus callers is the lack of a Fire Engine on the street when they call. If you do not see one, you should be very suspicious of the nature and intent of the caller. Report bogus callers to the police if you encounter them. Always ask for ID if someone wants to enter your home.

WIND POWER SUPPORT GROWS
26/8/03: With the Caton Wind Farm Repowering project about to go before Planning next week, , the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) has released new opinion poll figures showing strong support for the Government's renewable energy plans and confirming the popularity of wind power.
The UK-wide opinion poll, carried out amongst over two and a half thousand bill payers, found that a massive 74% were in favour of the Government's ambition to generate 20% of the UK's electricity from renewable power sources by 2020, a central plank of the recently published Energy White Paper.
The survey also revealed the continuing high level of support amongst the public for wind power, with 74% of bill payers polled in favour of increasing the use of wind power throughout the UK. Last week, the Department of Trade and Industry launched what will the largest drive for offshore wind, asking developers to tender for sites in three strategic areas around the coast of the UK. Successful projects built under this second round of offshore wind farms could provide power for as much as one in six of Britain's homes by 2010.
"I'm pleased that the Government has been taking steps in the right direction when it comes to renewable energy," commented Green County Councillor Jonathan Sear. "I just hope ministers will have the support of Labour Councillors locally when it comes to making it happen."
"The Government is serious about delivering on our renewables targets and cutting carbon dioxide emissions," said DTI Secretary of State Patricia Hewitt, during her announcement of the next phase of offshore wind, "and offshore wind energy is key to these goals. This survey shows that people in the UK agree with us on the need for greater use of renewable energy."
Marcus Rand, BWEA Chief Executive welcomed the poll results. "This is fantastic news. We have the best offshore wind resource in Europe and today's announcement signals that we are now on track to seriously develop it. Successful projects from this round could account for over half of the Government's 10% target and could be supplying clean electricity to some 4 million households by 2010."

Last Week's News Items: Go