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LETTERS
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COCKLE DEATHS: GANGS SOUGHT
7/2/04: The men and women who died in Morecambe Bay on Thursday night were probably being paid £1 a day for nine hours collecting cockles in Morecambe Bay.
BBC News reports that police investigating the deaths of 19 mostly Chinese people who drowned picking cockles in Morecambe Bay expect to make arrests within days. Det Supt Mick Gradwell said he was chasing good leads in the Merseyside area after calls from the public.
Officers have begun interviewing some of the survivors, who are under social services care, through interpreters.
"This is a tragic event," Det Supt Gradwell told the BBC. "The fact that vulnerable people are being used to work in these circumstance for about £1 for a nine-hour shift I think is appalling.
The incident has already sparked calls for more protection of migrant workers and strict licensing of cockle pickers.
Lancaster's Mayor John Gilbert has issued a statement about the tragedy, which will also be read out at the next meeting of Lancaster City Council's Full Council on 11 February. "On behalf of Lancaster City Council and the Citizens of Lancaster, I would like to express sincere condolences to the families and friends of those who so tragically lost their lives in Morecambe Bay during the early hours of Friday 6th February 2004. "The tides and sands of Morecambe Bay are notoriously treacherous and have claimed many lives over the years, but it is especially tragic for there to be so many on one day."
Virtual-Lancaster has received some letters of comment which will be published on our letters page next week.

POETIC TRIBUTE
7/2/03: Local poet Alan Swift sent us this poetic tribute to the men and women who died In Morecambe Bay while picking cockles:

THE COCKLERS FROM CATHAY
On Hyndburn Close I pause to look aloft,
Then stand in silence, my old, black hat doffed,
As whirly bird flies in from Morecambe Bay,
Bears corpses of the cocklers from Cathay.
At 4 am I'd thought it rather queer
At such an hour the rotor blades to hear,
At 7 am on local radio
The sickening news, a gruesome tale of woe:
Two miles from land, trapped by the rising tide,
A cockling gang in trouble,some had died.
And now,as some grieve, others mouthe their scorn,
As darkness falls on Warton Sands forlorn,
The burning question is: just how and why
Some greedy madmen sent them out to die?

More poems by Alan Swift here and here on this site

M6 LANE CLOSURES FOR FOOTBRIDGE MAINTENANCE
7/2/04: Traffic restrictions including a 50mph speed limit will be imposed on the M6 near Garstang from Monday 9 February for maintenance work on two adjacent footbridges.
The inside lane and hard shoulder of the M6 north of Junction 32 will be closed in both directions for eight weeks, but two lanes of traffic will be maintained in each direction at all times. Each scheme will cost £250,000.
Work at Duckett's Farm bridge will strengthen the supports as part of the regular maintenance of the bridge. At Jack Nook bridge concrete retaining walls will be built in front of the supports to improve safety.
"This is a busy section of motorway, carrying more than 34,000 vehicles a day," explained Highways Agency Project Manager Paul Turner. "While we do not expect many delays drivers should allow extra time for their journeys.
"The lane closures and speed limit are for the safety of both road users and our workforce."

A Sea King helicopter similar to the one used in the rescue operation overnight. Image courtesy RAF

19 DIE IN COCKLE PICKING TRAGEDY
6/2/04 (updated 7/2/04): At least 19 Chinese cockle pickers -- 17 men and two women -- have died in Morecambe Bay after getting trapped by rising tides.
A massive search and rescue operation involving three helicopters and the new RNLI hovercraft based in Morecambe began just after 10.00pm last night in an effort to locate the missing cocklers who were caught by rising waters off Hest Bank. It's understood a group of 30 Chinese workers began cockling at about 3.00pm.
There were 14 survivors who were either rescued by emergency or walked ashore themselves. Three were taken to hospital in Lancaster and at least four were taken to Lancaster police station. A number of other survivors were located in the more northern area of the Bay, near Arnside.
BBC News reports that Lancashire Police is trying to find out if the workers were illegal immigrants or working for an organised gang, and appealed for information. A spokeswoman added that criminal charges were a possibility.

"This is a tragic incident and we are all very saddened by what has happened," commented Lancaster City Council's Corporate Director for Community Services Peter Loker. "Lancaster City Council has provided a temporary rest centre for survivors of the disaster in order to provide safety, food and warmth."
Chris Turner, one of the people leading the rescue operation told BBC Breakfast the search and rescue operation had been very difficult. "The winds have been up and it's cold -- not ideal for searching," he said after hours of searching for survivors in pitch darkness.
Over 100 people -- including coastguards, lifeboats and the RAF and police helicopters -- have been searching for the missing cocklers. Mountain rescue teams have been searching the coast with dogs.
One helicopter was despatched from RAF Valley in Anglesey, North Wales and another from RAF Leconfield in North Yorkshire.
Ric Phillips, from RAF Kinloss -- the Scottish centre of operations for all search and rescue operations in the UK -- told Sky News that the trapped people did not speak English, which he said was proving a problem for the rescue teams.
The coastline is notorious for the danger it poses the unwary. "You can be out on the sands with the tide coming in behind you and not know it until it's too late," Chris Turner warned. There are many dangers to avoid, such as quicksand and walking across the sands can only be taken at certain times during low tide. Guides have been employed to lead people across the treacherous sands in safety since 1536.
Queen's Guide Cedric Robinson, who has been leading walkers across the sands for 25 years, told BBC News 24 the area was treacherous for people who did not have local knowledge of the tides. "For strangers to come into the area and go cockling, it is dangerous," he told BBC News 24.
Locals have been warning for weeks of the potential dangers of the sands to the huge numbers of cockle pickers who have been working the cockle beds in the area. Another group of cocklers got into trouble on the sands two months ago but were rescued safely.
Cockle picking is not illegal but locals have complained about the huge numbers of fishermen flocking to Morecambe Bay. Many people feel that although members of the public should be free to pick cockles, those doing it for a business should be regulated and licensed.
Virtual-Lancaster understands that on Tuesday, police were seen questioning some of the pickers, trying to find out who was responsible for sending out the gangs, many of them totally unprepared for the conditions they might face. Last August, police arrested 37 people in Morecambe after concerns were raised about cockle picking on the Bay.
The Bishop of Lancaster, Patrick O'Donoghue, said there was "absolute shock" in the community and called for more protection for migrant workers. It's believed the group may have travelled from Norfolk to pick cockles.
Local MP Geraldine Smith believes the cockle picking business in Morecambe Bay, which had lured people from all over the UK and beyond, is worth at least £6m.

"Should we really be looking at regulating cockle picking and making sure that only proper fisher folk can fish on the bay," she told BBC News, "rather than just anyone going out in these treacherous conditions?
"The cockles are worth a great deal of money, but I would imagine that those poor people who lost their lives were making very little of that and were probably victims of exploitation."
Only a limited number of permits -- 200 in all -- were issued last year to allow cockle picking on the beds.
"I am appalled by the dreadful events in Morecambe Bay," commented Conservative Councillor James Airey, "and saddened by the loss of so many lives. I would like to pay tribute to the rescue services who, not for the first time, have been called upon to rescue cocklers from the Bay.
"The time has now come for a whole Bay conference to discuss issues arising from the sudden boom in cockling in the Bay. Cockling cannot be allowed to continue as it is at the moment."
The Conservatives have this morning requested that an urgent item be added to the agenda for the meeting of Lancaster City Council on Wednesday 11 February to consider the issues arising from the disaster.
"All cocklers should be registered, access to the Bay controlled," feels James, "and safety should be paramount with relevant safety and environmental clean-up measures paid for by the cockle businesses for whom the opportunity for profit has had such unwelcome consequences."
A meeting had already been planned for later this month between various local firms and authorities, to discuss the cockle picking issue.
"Although the city council has no involvement in the permitting of cockling we continue to be involved in seeking a solution," commented Mr. Loker for the council. "Representatives from the authority will be attending a meeting, being held at Morecambe Town Hall later this month. This event had already been organised by the North West and North Wales Fisheries Committee to bring together all statutory bodies with an interest in cockling in Morecambe Bay. However, given today's tragic events it may be that that this meeting is brought forward. We will be calling for more urgent consideration to be given to the safety aspects surrounding cockling activities."

Police contact numbers:
For witnesses or those with information - 01524 63333 (Lancaster Police Station)
For worried relatives - 0870 9020999

News Links:
• Cockle death arrests due in days
BBC News 7/2/04: Police investigating the deaths of 19 mostly Chinese people who drowned picking cockles in Morecambe Bay expect to make arrests within days.
•Tide kills cockle pickers
BBC News 6/2/04
• Cockle deaths spark gang fears
BBC News 6/2/04: Police are investigating whether the people who died picking cockles in Morecambe Bay were illegal immigrants working for a gang.
• Tide kills15 cocklers
Sky News 6/2/04
•Race Against Time to Save Stranded Cockle Pickers
The Scotsman (Registration required) 6/2/04
•Permits to regulate cockling
BBC News 3/12/03

END BUS LANE FARCE, TORIES ASK
4/2/04: Local Conservatives have stepped up their campaign to open up bus lanes to other road users.
Councillor James Airey, prospective Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Morecambe and Lunesdale, and Leader of the Conservative Group on Lancaster City Council, this week supported new Conservative proposals for bus lanes to be opened up to more users other than buses. The new policies, to be debated in the House of Commons as amendments to the Traffic Management Bill, would allow any vehicle to use bus lanes at night or in the late evening if no bus services were operating.
"Rather than hammering the motorist with ever higher taxes, we should be adopting sensible, practical measures to improve the flow of traffic across this district's roads and cut journey times," claimed James Airey.
"It's time to end the farce of half-used bus lanes. We should let vehicles use bus lanes at times when there aren't any bus services operating.
"What is more, a review of the effectiveness of this district's existing bus lanes is long overdue, and that is exactly what we shall be asking for at the meeting of the Community Services Review Board meeting on Thursday evening."
"Government plans to extend the aggressive use of CCTV on bus lanes to make it easier to fine motorists who use bus lanes," Coun Airey claimed, "which will do nothing towards achieving the objectives set out in the recently approved draft contributions from the City Council towards the local transport plan. As ever, the Government appears more interested in using drivers as a cash cow than actually getting traffic moving."
The Traffic Management Bill is currently being considered by the House of Commons. The Government's proposals in the Bill have already attracted controversy for its plans to levy a range of new fines on motorists. Conservative proposals include an amendment to allow bus lanes to be used at times when no bus services are operating locally.

FREE COMPUTER TRAINING AT THE MARSH COMMUNITY CENTRE
4/2/04: The City Council's BEST Centres, based at St Leonard's House in Lancaster, are currently working with the Marsh Community Centre as part of a Lancaster Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) project to provide skills to local people who are not working and would like help getting into work.
Using the Marsh Community Centre's new computer suite, trainers from the BEST Centres will be offering the Internationally recognised computer qualification ECDL (European Computer Driving License) to Lancaster residents at the Marsh Community Centre for Free.
"This is a great opportunity to work in the heart of the community using the BEST Centres SRB funding," explained Caroline Parker, Project Leader of the BEST Centres in Lancaster. "The Marsh Community Centre's excellent facilities to help local people achieve ECDL which is fast becoming an industry standard qualification that is requested by employers."
If you are a Lancaster SRB resident aged 16-64 and unemployed or working less than 15hrs a week, you are eligible to attend this course for FREE! The course starts 11th February and runs for 7 weeks to find out more contact Yak or Claire at the Marsh Community Centre 01524 843300/61629 or Michelle at The BEST Centres on 01524 388861. There are limited places so enrol now.

NAZIS CANVAS HEYSHAM VOTERS
4/2/04: The candidates for the by-election for a City Councillor in the Heysham South Ward on 26 February include a nomination for an openly Nazi party with links to several other racist and fascist organisations.
Paul Antony Bamford, representing the Preston-based England First Party, is among several candidates who have put themselves forward for the election. The EFP, which has close links with the White Nationalist Party, has already begun canvassing the ward, distributing anti asylum seeker leaflets.
On Sunday, church leaders in the Heysham area will warn church goers about the Nazi policies of the EFP. Most of the main political parties plan to issue a joint statement condemning the EFP and its policies this week.
"We believe in a diverse, inclusive and tolerant society," Green Party candidate, Ashley Toms commented, "and we urge people to vote for a candidate who aims to represent people of all backgrounds."
By its own admission, the White Nationalist Party has links with right wing nationalist groups. Bamford's Election Agent, and chairman of the EFP Mark Cotterill is a member of the WNP executive. He is also a former member of both the National Front and the British National Party.
The EFP and WNP also have links with the "Pro-Democracy League" (sic) which Searchlight Magazine has exposed as being one of the organisations behind the Redwatch web site, which is being used to target left wing politicians or oppoenents of racists and fascists, which lists personal details of anti-racists and encourages violence and intimidation.
Searchlight reported this month that members of the House of Lords have added their voices to the growing calls for the government finally to deal with the Redwatch website, and for its organisers to be prosecuted.
"Describing the England First Party as Nazis is using this term in its most accurate sense," a spokesperson for Searchlight told Virtual-Lancaster.

The nominations are:
Paul Antony Bamford - England First Party
Kenneth Brown - Conservative Party Candidate
Darren Keith Clifford - The Labour Party Candidate Christopher Michael Greenall - Morecambe Bay Independent Candidate
Terence William Haldren Taylor (known as Terry) - Liberal Democrats
Ashley Toms - Green Party
The Heysham seat has become vacant because of the resignation of Coun Shirley Reid.
The point of contact within the City Council for election queries will be Claire Wardle - telephone 582058 or email

SCHOOLS FLOOD IN KENDAL
3/2/03: Large areas of Britain are on flood alert after another night of heavy rain, with more on the way. In Cumbria, BBC News reports a flood warning has been issued for the River Kent in Kendal where some schools have been shut because of the flooding. The A591 is closed both ways near the town, and the A590 westwards near Windermere is shut. Some householders in Grange-Over-Sands are pumping out water after being flooded for the third time since Christmas.

DAWSON FEENDS FEES VOTE
3/2/04: Lancaster MP Hilton Dawson has defended his decision to vote for differential fees. He told a meeting at Lancaster University last Friday that he had put practical politics before principle when he supported the Government on differential fees.
At the meeting Mr Dawson stressed the importance of achieving £1billion investment in Higher Education and addressing the historic under representation of students from manual working class backgrounds at University.
"It would have been the easiest thing in the world to have voted with the commitment I gave at the last election but I would have let down able young people from working class communities in Lancaster and Wyre if I had done so." he said.
"The Government have improved the bill to help the poorest students and they now have the opportunity to do a great deal more as the bill progresses through Parliament."
Mr Dawson feels it's vital students are made aware of how the change will ultimately benefit them. "There are three very important HE institutions within Lancaster and Wyre Constituency ­ Lancaster University, St Martins College and Myerscough College. It's vital that we demonstrate to both students and staff that the Bill will provide substantial extra resources for Higher Education as well as providing an attractive offer to all those with the ability to succeed in it."
Mr Dawson will be holding a further meeting open to all at Lancaster University at 7pm on Friday 27 February to discuss progress.

POTATO DAY RETURNS
3/2/04: The third annual Potato Day event takes place this Saturday (7th) from 12.00 to 4.00pm at the Gregson Centre, Moorgate, Lancaster. Organised by Lancaster Seed Savers, Potato Day celebrates the diversity of the humble potato. Find out more about different varieties and buy seed potatoes to plant this year. There will also be a vegetable puppet show, activities for children, games and food. Entrance is free.

NoW CARD OFFERS CHEAP TRAVEL FOR OVER 60S
3/2/04: Men and women aged 60 or over in Lancaster district need to 'trade up' from their senior citizen's bus pass to the NoW Card for discount bus travel.
The NoW Card is a partnership between Lancashire County Council, Cumbria County Council, Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool Borough Councils and all the District Councils, including Lancaster City Council, within the area. It will replace the old 'Senior Citizen's Bus Pass' completely in September 2004.
The card is not only a handier version of the existing bus pass but it will also be quicker to board the bus by simply placing the smart- card on special machines which are currently being fitted on the buses. It will also be easier to replace lost cards with photographs being stored at a central point.
"The NoW Card is a great step forward for our over 60's," feels County Councillor Jean Yates, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation at Lancashire County Council, "and is a great example of what we can achieve for older residents when councils work together. The handy smart card will be a lot easier to use than the current pass. I encourage holders of the existing concessionary bus passes to 'trade up' to the NoW card."
"The new NoW card is easy and very quick to use," says Lancaster City Council's Cabinet member with responsibility for Transport Coun Janice Hanson. "I hope they will make bus travel even more a popular option for this age group. I would encourage people aged 60 and over to 'trade up' soon as the existing passes will only continue to be valid until August 2004 ."
Call in to your local Post Office for an Application Form and Explanatory Leaflet from 9 February 2004 - and then return your completed application and photograph on the dates shown for your surname. If you have missed your allotted dates don't worry, you can still take your form to be processed at the Post Office.

CARNFORTH WARD BY-ELECTION
2/2/04: There will be a by-election for a City Councillor in the Carnforth Ward of Lancaster City Council on 11th March 2004.
The Carnforth seat has become vacant because of the death of Edna Jones.
People living or working within the Lancaster District who wish to stand as a candidate may obtain nomination papers from Lancaster Town Hall. Nomination papers may be returned to the Town Hall between 6th February and noon on 13th February 2004.
Anyone included in the Carnforth Ward Register of Electors can apply for a postal vote, but they must apply by 3 March. Electors may also apply to vote by proxy, if there is a particular reason why they cannot vote in person. Again, the deadline is 3 March. For further information about voting at this election - telephone 01524 582905. The point of contact within the City Council for election queries will be Claire Wardle - telephone 01524 582058 or email

LEISURE SERVICES FEBRUARY HALF TERM ACTIVITIES PROGRAMME
Monday 16th February to Friday 20th February 2004
2/2/04: Lancaster City Council's Leisure Services are once again offering a wide and varied range of sporting activities for children and young people of all ages.
Several new activities are on offer as well as the usual favourites. It is advisable to book early as places fill up very quickly.
Some of the activities on offer include Archery, Fencing, Megazone, Stunt School, Wet 'n' Dry Day, Under 8's Fun Factory, Football Fever, Mountain Biking and Trampolining. Activities are run by experienced coaches with full-day and half-day activities available.
In addition to these sessions Leisure Services are offering the chance to attend new activities including Golf on the Driving Range at Heysham Golf Club, coached by the clubs Professional or the Aerial Assault Course at Grizedale Forest "Go Ape". Maybe you fancy having a go on the Pendle Dry Ski Slope with the club's own qualified instructor followed by Orienteering at Beacon Fell or put yourself to the test with the Junior Fitness Course over 5 days at Reflexions, Salt Ayre Sports Centre.
Why not try the Pool Lifeguard course everyday of the week at Carnforth Swimming Pool or Scuba Diving or have a Party in the Pool at Heysham Swimming Pool. You could try one of the Arts and Crafts courses that include Circus Skills, Music, Stage Stars, and Shadow Puppet Workshop or use your imagination with Creative Lanterns.
Equipment for the activities is provided as well as transport for some of the sessions on offer. Places on all the activities offered are strictly limited to ensure high quality sessions. With a wide range of new and exciting courses there is something for everyone.
You can pay for your place(s) on the programme at Morecambe Town Hall Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 4.00pm, or if you want further information contact the Leisure Services information line at Morecambe Town Hall on (01524) 582834.
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 taken at Morecambe Town Hall Monday to Friday 9.30am to 4.00pm
For further details contact Jason Mills on 01524 847540 or Richard Hammond on 01524 582638

THE CLIMBING CHANCELLOR!
2/4/04: It was recommended that Sir Chris Bonington CBE becomes Lancaster University's new Chancellor at the meeting of Court held on Saturday 31 January. This is subject to the confirmation of a formal postal ballot to held in February.
He will replace H.R.H Princess Alexandra who has been Chancellor of Lancaster for 40 years, and saw the University created in 1964.
Chris Bonington, who was knighted in 1996, is Britain's best known mountaineer, he has led and been on 19 Himalayan expeditions, including 4 to Everest which he climbed in 1985 at the age of fifty, and has made many first ascents in the Alps and greater ranges of the world.
He is also the author of 15 books and has presented and appeared in many television programmes.
Lancaster University awarded him an honorary degree in 1983 ( DSc Hons).
"I'm very happy to accept the honour of Chancellor," said Chris, "and will do all I can to help and support the efforts of the University. I feel deeply honoured to follow in the footsteps of Princess Alexandra, who has done a wonderful job for Lancaster. I have met her on several occasions including when she presented me with my doctorate.
"The lead that the University has taken to progress the International Centre for the Uplands - Cumbria, which I believe has a lot to offer, has impressed and encouraged me. I have also enjoyed working with Lancaster University Management School. I believe the University has an important role as a centre of excellence for the region."
"We're delighted to welcome Chris Bonington as Chancellor in the year of Lancaster's 40th Anniversary," commented Lancaster University's Vice Chancellor Professor Paul Wellings. "The University, like Chris, is committed to enhancing the North West region and to challenging international frontiers.
"I would like to pay tribute to H.R.H Princess Alexandra, who retires this year after a long and happy association with the University."
Chris Bonington will preside over his first degree ceremony at the University in 2005.

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