30/11/05: The Dukes Christmas Carol, which runs until January, is "like most good stories, there is wit, pathos, humour and suspense," says Michael P. Nunn, "and David Holman’s adaptation retains the key elements of the original tale." Read our review here

MP'S WARNING TO PARK VANDALS
30/11/05: Lancaster's MP says he's fully behind Scotforth residents' efforts to improve a local park.
Last Saturday, Ben Wallace saw for himself the problems facing people who live around the Palatine recreation area in Scotforth, when he was taken on a tour by members of the residents' group People of Scotforth Together (POST) and local police officers.
He was shown the broken glass, which makes it dangerous to use the specially built sports area, the poor lighting and the rundown tennis courts.
People living on surrounding streets told him about problems with vandalism, late night drinking and speeding cars.
Although these problems haven't gone away, they have reduced since the formation of POST and a police decision in March to increase the priority they give to repsonding to reports of anti-social behaviour. More people now enjoy the recreation ground as it was intended.
Mr Wallace said he would do his best, working together with the community, local councils and the police to make it better. He said "I support the community's enthusiasm for a cherished and valuable facility."
The MP also had a message for any trouble-makers: "There are people who care for this place and they won't put up with any anti-social behaviour."
POST chairman Neil Clarke welcomed Mr Wallace' support. "As well our local Labour, Liberal Democrat and Green Party councillors, we now have our Conservative MP fighting our cause.
"In the New Year, along with Groundwork Trust (a charity which helps with such community initiatives), we will be consulting local residents - old and young - about what facilities they want in the recreation ground and how they'd like it to be run. We want to reclaim the Palatine recreation ground with everyone in the area on board."
Below: Ben Wallace hears about Palatine residents problems with anti social behaviour. Photo courtesy POST.

HEYSHAM RAIL LINK UNDER THREAT?
29/11/05: Virtual-Lancaster has learnt that the government is examining ways to save money on Northern Rail -- and one of savings could be the closure of the Morecambe to Heysham rail link.
According to a VL source well connected in the railway industry, the Department of Transport has been conducting a rather secret examination of Northern Rail, looking for ways of saving money.
The closure of Morecambe to Heysham Port is on the list of probable targets, which would threaten the Steam Packet Company's ongoing attempts to develop the existing ferry/rail link.
" Frankly," says VL's source, "the current rail service is so pathetic it seems difficult to defend it. However I think they have to keep the line open for the power station so arguably the benefits of passenger closure would be limited."
One interesting twist to the story is that under the Steam Packet's (monopoly) User Agreement for the linkspans in the Isle of man's Douglas Harbour, they have to agree with the island's Dept of Transport which UK/Irish ports are served nd minimum standards for these ports are stipulated -- one of which is easy access to public transport. From this VL can only assume that if the train service closed they would have to provide a bus service to take the foot passengers into Lancaster (which is what they did before the rail link re-opened).
So -- is a two car diesel train more or less environmentally friendly than a double deck bus? The latter causes more congestion. Failure to provide even a bus would either divert foot passengers to Liverpool (in summer) or mean more taxi journeys from Lancaster station - adding further to the area's pollution and congestion.
VL reported recently that the rail link to the Port is also currently under scrutiny from the City Council, with a view to seeing how it could be improved for local people -- not closed.
Alternatives to closure are legion, including putting on a proper service that will take people to/from Heysham when they want to go (for working shifts at the port, boat arrival and departures, and commuting/leisure trave, for example), or consider opening stations nearer Heysham residential areas, and one at the Westgate bridge in Morecambe. A more costly option would be to re-electrify Hest Bank, Bare Lane - Heysham, although there are some issues with this at the Bare Lane Crossing.

29/11/05: Lancashire Liberal Democrats marked their launch in Lancaster this weekend with a petition signing, gathering signatures opposing the merger of Lancashire Police Force with others. 500 signatures were gathered.

LANCASHIRE LIBERAL DEMOCRATS LAUNCH IN LANCASTER
29/11/05: Liberal Democrats from all over the County converged on Lancaster this weekend to launch a new group: Lancashire Liberal Democrats. The group aims to build on the successes for the Liberal Democrats in this area over the past year.
Elections earlier this year saw the Lib Dems beat the Conservatives into third place in local government in the region, win the neighbouring Parliamentary constituency of Westmorland and Lonsdale was also gained by Tim Farron for the Liberal Democrats, who also visited Lancaster.
"It's particularly appropriate to launch this group on the weekend of Lancashire Day," says Local Lib Dem Stuart Langhor. "We wanted to show the people of Lancashire that we are the real alternative for them - the party who listens and makes a difference."
The day included a petition signing, in opposition to the proposed amalgamation of Lancashire Police Force with those around it in Lancaster market. Nearly 500 signatures were gathered. "We've found that many people were unaware that the Home Secretary is proposing only 12 Forces for the entire country," says Stuart. "When they heard that this could mean a 'North West Police Force' they were very unhappy.
Although Lancashire is proposing to merge with just Cumbria force, people still don't want to lose the County identity which they recognise as providing them with an effective and efficient service. Some people we talked to were already concerned that their calls were answered in Fleetwood -- not Lancaster - and didn't want to see this trend continued by a proposed merger.
"We will be sending our petition to the Home Secretary and to the Chief Constable."
Rounding off the launch, Lib Dems shared a traditional Lancashire Hot Pot supper at St Martin's College and listed to a speech by North west MEP Chris Davies. He'd spent the day talking to the people of Lancaster about their concerns and was particularly interested to hear about their ideas about the environment as he's attending the Climate Change Conference in Montreal this week.
"Climate change is the biggest challenge we have," he told Lib Dems.

HIV CASES ON THE RISE IN THE NORTH WEST
28/11/05: With World AIDS Day this week, new government figures have revealed more than 58,000 people in the UK are living with HIV and rising sharply -- and over 3000 of them in the North West.
The number of people living with HIV in the UK is now around 58,300, according to a report released by the Health Protection Agency. This latest figure includes those who have been diagnosed and an estimated 19,700, who are unaware that they have an infection and therefore remain undiagnosed.
The national figures are reflected in the North West where a total of 3608 people with HIV were in treatment or care at the end of the first six months of 2005 - a 19 per cent increase on the corresponding period of 2004 when 3039 people with HIV were in care or treatment.
In 2004, the year under review in the Agency's report, 617 cases of HIV were newly diagnosed in the North West Region. That compares to 531 in 2003 and 377 in 2002 and all the indications are that this year's figures will be even larger.
The Health Protection Agency Report, Mapping the Issues, published last week, also reveals that Greater Manchester has the highest levels of HIV, syphilis and gonorrhoea outside London.
"Although 2004 saw the largest annual increase in HIV levels across the region since monitoring began, 2005 looks likely to show another even greater rise.," says Professor Mark Bellis, Head of the Centre for Public Health at Liverpool John Moores University, which monitors HIV for the Health Protection Agency North West and the region's Primary Care Trusts. "Based on our figures for the first six months of 2005, we expect to see around 1,000 new cases of HIV in treatment in the North West in 2005 and, for the first time, the total number of people in treatment for HIV in the region is likely to exceed 4000 when all the reports are in."
"Having been concerned about this issue for 20 years, I thought I could no longer be shocked by the statistics," comments Professor John Ashton, North West Regional Director of Public Health "but this has now reached the level of being a Public Health emergency."
"Levels of Sexually Transmitted Infections remain worryingly high in the region as a whole, but particularly so in Greater Manchester, says Dr. Lorraine Lighton, the Agency's Sexual Health Lead for the North West. "People need to be aware of the risks so that they can take action to protect themselves; particularly if having sex with a new partner or having casual sex.
"I believe that this can be addressed through high quality sex education from a young age so that people will grow up with the confidence to make informed choices about their sex lives. We need to have more open discussion about sex with young people."
Mapping the Issues, the Health Protection Agency Report, reveals that:
• Nearly half the new diagnoses of HIV in the North West were acquired through men who have sex with men.
• Although the majority of new cases of HIV in the country were acquired heterosexually, many of these cases were contracted abroad. The majority of HIV cases acquired in this country were as a result of men having sex with men.
• A national rise in the number of syphilis infections from 2003 to 2004, from 1641 to 2254, has occurred against a backdrop of several localised outbreaks amongst gay men and heterosexuals in areas such as London and Manchester.
A silent vigil for World AIDS Day will take place at 6.15pm in Lancaster Priory.
• Mapping the Issues is a report on HIV and STIs in the UK and is published by the Health Protection Agency and collaborators in time for World AIDS Day. To see a full copy of the report, see: www.hpa.org.uk/hpa/publications/hiv_sti_2005
_ To access the STI data for the North West Region please access the following website: www.nwpho.org.uk/kc60

DEVELOPMENT PLANS: WHAT RESIDENTS WANT?
28/11/05, updated 19/12/05: A local Lancaster residents group are to meet with developers Centros Miller to discuss the company's plans for developing Lancaster's "Canal Corridor", which includes the old Mitchells Brewery and the Musicians' Co-op.
At the first meeting of the "It's Our City" group at the Gregson last week, it also emerged that while Centros Miller is making much of "public consultation" (see separate story below), it has apparently begun to try to buy out small businesses in the development area -- and allegedly threatened some with Compulsary Purchase Orders (CPOs).
While welcoming CM's announcement of a "full public consultation", there's some concern at the way the company is progressing that. "So far, they seem to be meeting various bodies separately and that could be seen as divide and rule," said a group spokesperson. "But it's early days!"
There was considerable concern that JJ Wardie (owner of the land at the end of Alfred St) and Paula Kyle (owner of Changes hairdressers on St. Leonardsgate) have told the "It's Our City" group that they have been threatened with CPOs. CPOs can only be issued by the City Council. (Centros Miller have since adamantly denied this in a statement to Virtual-Lancaster, see story).
The "It's Our City" group hope to persuade Centros Miller to give a presentation about plans for the area to a full public meeting in the near future, questioning the need for any further retail development or large stores in Lancaster (the Council is currently researching this issue), and voicing opposition to any plans for multi-storey car parks.
Several concerns for any canal corridor development were discussed at the first meeting of the group at last week's inaugural meeting at the Gregson. Residents again restated their hopes for a real cultural centre for Lancaster ­ something in the City Council's development plans for many years -- ideally centred on a triangle between the Grand, the Dukes and the present Musicians Co-op.
Alternatively, the old Mitchells brewery building could be preserved or converted, as it would be large enough for the musicians co-op, plus a performance venue, with space for small shops. The group also wants small businesses in the area to stay where they are and a canalside walk or park, along with low cost housing (although it was pointed out that North Lancaster has been designated for the regeneration of housing stock). Land should also be made available to Housing Associations.
" We need a concerted effort to widen our network," said an It's Our City spokesperson, " and get more people involved."
• To contact the group, e-mail itsourcity@yahoo.co.uk.

D'OH!
The Mayor's consort badge, believed missing after the Christmas Lights switch-on has now been found. It seems Santas's reindeer hadn't eaten it after all! Mr Edward Taylor (the Mayor'sConsort) had taken the badge off and put it away in its box in his car -- and forgotten that he had taken it off. Oops!

25/11/05: The French Market is back in Lancaster this weekend, offering its usual blend of continental fayre just in time for Christmas. The weather's looking good so far -- high winds play havoc with the stalls -- but no snow here just yet!

CO-OP SAFE, CLAIM DEVELOPERS
24/11/05: The specialist city centre regeneration developer Centros Miller has assured locals the Musicians Co-op will not be lost when development begins on the old Mitchell Brewery site -- and is to lead an extensive consultation exercise aimed at finding out what local people's preferences are for the development of the former brewery site in Lancaster city centre.
The consultation follows Lancaster City Council's recent confirmation of Centros Miller as its preferred developer for the Canal Corridor North site.
" We are delighted to have been appointed as the council's preferred developer and having concluded a development agreement with Mitchell's Brewery, we are now progressing the legal documentation with the council," Centros Miller's associate director, David Lewis, said. "At this stage we have no preconceptions about how the site might be developed and our consultation will start with the questions 'what does Lancaster need?' and 'what would you like to see developed on the site?'
" In recent weeks, many people have been expressing their fears about what might happen -- particularly about the Musicians' Co-op on the site. However, these are completely unfounded as we are only just at the start of the development process. Certainly, the Musician's Co-op can rest assured that we will be meeting with them very soon. We believe that the Co-op is a valuable facility to have in the city centre and our aim is to ensure that it is kept."
The consultation will begin with a street survey of shoppers and visitors to the city centre during the weeks before Christmas. People will be asked by interviewers for their views about what the city needs in terms of additional shopping, leisure, residential and other facilities. A project website will also be set up to enable people to send in their views to the development team throughout the project.
Around the same time in early December, Centros Miller will begin a series of workshops with local interest groups such as the Chamber of Commerce and the Civic Society, plus key stakeholders such as the Musician's Co-op and the two theatres on the site.
Centros Miller will also be working closely throughout with Lancaster City Council and will use all the feedback gained through the consultation process to help to prepare a masterplan. This will be revealed early next year and then further consultation will follow, during which Government architectural and heritage watchdogs CABE (Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment) and English Heritage will be involved.
"We're delighted to be working with Centros Miller," says Coun Alex Stone, Cabinet member with responsibility for property for Lancaster City Council, who claims the company has "a track record of sensitive city and town centre development.
" I believe that by working together we will be able to enhance our town centre, whilst protecting the aspects which are most important for our community, ultimately providing Lancaster with a sustainable solution for the canal corridor site which builds on Lancaster's many strengths."
Centros Miller, a joint venture between property companies The Miller Group and Delancey, specialises in working in partnership with local authorities and other land owners to deliver the regeneration of sites in town and city centres throughout the UK. It has recently won awards for Weavers Wharf in Kidderminster and Pescod Square in Boston. It completed the £100 million development of Fremlin Walk in Maidstone earlier this year, and the company will start construction of a highly contorversial £85 million development of the Cattle Market in Bury St Edmunds towards the end of 2006.
The company, owned by a joint venture comprising The Miller Group and Delancey, through its managed funds, says public consultation plays a strong role in all of the company's work and is used to shape and refine development proposals with the aim of producing the best possible result for each location. Following two years of consultation, Centros Miller won planning consent last week for a £300 million regeneration of the former Tricorn site in Portsmouth city centre.

NEW LICENSING LAWS IN FORCE
24/11/05: New licensing laws are now in force, and local Labour Party sources have responded to our earlier report about its implementation, so we've updated the story. Read More below...

OPERA ON TOUR
24/11/05: English Touring Opera returns to the Coronation Hall in Ulverston with two new shows this autumn. Handel's Alcina and Verdi's Falstaff opened in London to rave reviews, and are coming to Ulverston to conclude their 11-venue national tour. Read the Preview bu Michael P. Nunn

CALL OF THE WILD
24/11/05: After the success of the Outdoor Writers' Guild (OWG) AGM and Awards Dinner held in the Lancaster district this month, a book has been launched to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Guild. Call of the Wild, now available from Morecambe and Lancaster Tourist Information Centres priced £12.50, is a beautifully produced anthology of 25 essays by members of the Outdoor Writers' Guild. The book features essays from local photographer Jon Sparks, (who is the current Chairman of the Guild) and historian Robert Swain who writes evocatively about Morecambe Bay as the 'The Wet Sahara'.
The Outdoor Writers' Guild (OWG) has almost 200 members actively and professionally involved in outdoor journalism, photography or illustration. As part of their trip to the Lancaster district in November, they spent the weekend sampling the delights of the wealth of outdoor activities on offer in places such as the Lune Valley, Forest of Bowland and the canal network in and around Carnforth.
The Outdoor Writers' Guild weekend was co-ordinated by Lancaster City Council's Economic Development and Tourism Services.
"The Guild were delighted by what the Lancaster district had to offer," said Terry Marsh of the OWG, "and despite the weather, many people enjoyed discovering for the first time this beautiful part of the country."

A SKATEPARK FOR GREAVES PARK?
24/11/05: This Sunday afternoon (27th November), Friends of Greaves Park (1) will be holding a public consultation event to find out what local residents think about the idea of creating a skatepark in Greaves Park. The group has identified three possible locations for the skatepark, and four companies have provided designs which are suitable for skateboarding and other wheeled sports with a target age range of 7-14 years.
The idea originally came from a group of young people in the Greaves area, who were fed up with the lack of facilities for their age group in Greaves. They collected 250 petition signatures from local residents who supported the principle of the skatepark. The group now wants to find out if residents still support the idea if it means losing some green space in the park.
The consultation will be held in the 53rd Scouts' Headquarters (in Greaves Park, off Bellevue Terrace) from 2 til 4pm. Drinks and cakes will be provided, and people will have an opportunity to look at the plans and fill in a questionnaire covering all aspects of the skatepark proposals.
Cllr Emily Heath, a member of the group, said: "We want to hear from residents of all ages, whether or not they are potential users of the skatepark. If there is strong support for the skatepark we will use the consultation results to choose a preferred location and design, and then proceed to a planning application and fundraising. If there is not enough support for the skatepark we will abandon the idea and concentrate on other improvements to the park instead."

GREGSON CONSIDERS PHONE MAST
24/11/05, updated 25/11/05: Lancaster's Gregson community centre has been approached by Vodafone to consider placing a mobile phone mast on its roof. Vodafone have asked the Freehold-based centre if they can place what they describe as a visually unobtrusive mobile "flagpole" telephone mast on the centre's roof. In return, they're offering sponsorship of at least £60,000 over ten years (payring rental at £6,000 per year) to the Gregson Charity. The siting of phone masts is often controversial -- Skerton residents recently campaigned and secured the removal of one such mast. The Government Health Protction Agency also officially recommend a precautionary approach to mobile telephony in general and stressed the need for more research. (See government report)
With this in mind, the Gresgon is seeking feedback from its membership and the local community before considering any decision.
• You can read the offer and comment on the Gregson web site: www.gregson.co.uk
• Friends of the Earth information on Phone Masts

QUEEN'S AWARD FOR LANCASTER UNIVERSITY
24/11/05: Lancaster University has won a Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher & Further Education for the extensive regional broadband networks rolled out by its Information Systems Services Directorate.
The Prize for Connecting the Last Mile: the Largest Regional Rural Broadband Network for Education in Europe was announced at a special ceremony at St James's Palace on 17th November and will be presented by Her Majesty The Queen, accompanied by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, at an honours ceremony at Buckingham Palace in mid-February.
Lancaster University's Prize recognises its achievement in delivering the largest 'last-mile' regional broadband infrastructure in Europe across what is a highly dispersed and largely rural region, and which has a highly varied and mountainous terrain.
Universities, schools, colleges, libraries, museums, community and adult learning centres are among the many local groups benefiting from sustainable, low-cost, high-capacity broadband regional networks developed by Lancaster University and its education and public sector partners. Researchers and communities throughout the region who are linked to the University's very high capacity (10GbE) backbone network which runs from Carlisle in North to Cheshire in the South have also been helped, along with Lancaster University partners Cumbria Institute of the Arts, St Martin's College and Carlisle College, as well as other colleges and sites in the Region who benefit from state of the art network connectivity provided by Lancaster University as the lead site for the Cumbria and North Lancashire wide-area academic network (CANLMAN).
By far the most extensive in terms of area covered and nodes connected, is the network for the Cumbria and Lancashire Education Online (CLEO) Regional Broadband Consortium. With its County Council partners in Lancashire and Cumbria, the University has delivered a broadband network that has already hooked up over 1000 schools, including remote primary schools in Lakeland valleys and rural Lancashire. Remote schools such as these would either be beyond the reach of other commercial telecommunications networks or they could not afford the commercial charges.
The Queen's Anniversary Prizes reward universities and colleges that demonstrate work of a world-class standard of excellence. The Prize is one of the highest honours a university can achieve.

NIGHTINGALE FARM MEETING
24/11/05: There will be a public meeting in the Gregson (Green Room) at 7.30pm on Tuesday 29 November to discuss Nightingale Hall Farm and what we can do about it. One suggestion is that we set up a campaign group to fight for its permanent closure.
"In the past year the stink has gone from bad to worse and there has been very little sign of activity from the Council," says Bulk Ward councillor John Whitelegg. "Now the plant is shut as a result of the fire 3 weeks ago we have an opportunity to demand that it remain shut and to demand the right to use our homes and gardens and parks without the threat of nauseating smells."
Other local councillors, including council leader Ian Barker, have also expressed concerns about the Farm.

MP'S SCOTFORTH VISIT
23/11/05: Lancaster's MP is to see for himself how people in the city are fighting hard to improve their neighbourhood this weekend
Ben Wallace will visit Scotforth this Saturday (26 November). He'll find out how a new residents' group - POST (People of Scotforth Together) - has already made a difference in the fight against anti-social behaviour and in improving the area as a whole.
POST was set up earlier this year initially amid concerns about youth nuisance on the Palatine Recreation Area. Since then, with the help of the council and the police, that problem has improved.but it hasn't gone away.
POST is also doing its bit for a cleaner neighbourhood.and earlier this month, it organised a community clean-up day where residents tidied local sites.
"We're looking forward to showing Mr Wallace the problems we are still facing and the improvements we have already helped put in place," says POST Secretary Peter Corke. "We're a non-political group. We just want a better life for everyone in and around Scotforth. We have strong support from our local Labour, Liberal Democrat and Green Councillors. Now, our Conservative MP will also be fighting our cause in Westminster."

HAS ANYONE FOUND THE MAYOR'S BADGE?
23/11/05: Lancaster's Mayor is appealing for help to find a special badge which went missing on Sunday.
The Mayor, Councillor Joyce Taylor, is appealing for help in locating the Consort's badge which was lost on Sunday afternoon when the Mayor and Consort were attending the switch on of the Christmas Lights in Lancaster Town Centre.
The badge, a gold rose shaped pendent of about two and a half inches in diameter on a blue ribbon, is worn by the Consort of a Mayor, or by the Mayoress when it is not appropriate for the Mayoress to wear the chain.
"Both the Consort and I are terribly upset that the Badge gas gone missing," says Joyce, "and I appeal to anyone who may have it or know of its whereabouts to ensure it's safe return."
Although the badge is not of any high monetary value, it is of significant historic value to the Mayoralty and the City Council would be delighted to have it returned. Anyone who is able to provide information as to the location of the badge may contact Lancaster Police Station, or the Mayor's Office at Lancaster Town Hall. It may also be safely returned to either location.

NEW LICENSING LAWS IN FORCE
23/11/05, updated 24/11/05: New British Licensing Laws are now in force. About one third of all the pubs, clubs and shops in England and Wales licensed to sell alcohol will stay open for longer.
Most local pubs wil see extended hours but contrary to the earlier version of this report, there were actually a few changes to applications for extended hours -- most notably at the Moorlands, where local Labour councillors Joe Ravetz and Maggie Chadwick worked with local residents to build a strong case within the new legislation to ensure their application was substantially modified.
"Five Labour councillors, as well as ten members from other parties also worked phenomenally long hours on the Licensing Act Committee to ensure that this act, however poorly put together and thought out, was implemented as effectively as possible within the scope of the legislation," an anonymous local Labour Party source told Virtual-Lancaster. "Whether they agreed with it or not, and I suspect the latter, they fulfilled their democratic duty superbly with little fuss or for that matter, pay."

DESIGNING IN DIGITAL
23/11/05: White Cross-based COMMware International Ltd has launched their website to exhibit their impressive collection of products and images.
The company is now establishing a world wide reputation for innovation and high quality service and their custom-made products reflect the advent of technology within the Industry to produce one-off fabrics, furnishings, wall coverings and all interior décor products to bring creative individuality to offices, hotels and other premises -- even your own home.
With more than 60 years of combined knowledge and expertise in the design industry, the team at COMMware International provides the design and supply of bespoke, custom-made interior furnishings, examples of which are evident on the website.
"The big advantage of digital print technology is that it brings freedom for individuals to create their own environment and express their ideas," explains Norma Smith, Commware's Managing Director. "This includes both corporate and domestic areas. Gone are the restrictions of conventional printing methods so imagine designing your own interior décor and furnishings for your home, office, hotel or restaurant. It really can be done."
An extensive library of images which can be used on any of their products can be viewed on the website, including information on waterproofing, care and handling and individual products.
The web site includes a 'client's online secure page' to view the development of the design in progress.
Contact COMMware via email: info@commware-int.com or telephone 01524 37531
Website: www.commware-int.com.

MORE MONEY FOR LOCAL GROUPS
21/11/05: 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 the CVS (see below) and the next closing date is Friday 13th January 2006 for decisions in January.
In October, ten local charities shared £9600 from the Galbraith Trust. Grants varied between £250 and £2,000 and went towards supporting the work of Lancaster Boys Club, Lancaster Children's Integration Group, 34th Lancaster Scouts, Silverdale Playgroup, Torrisholme Cricket Club, Trumacar Action Group, Woodfield Resident's Association and others. Projects included building works, day trips for the elderly, supported places for children, equipment and the creation of a community IT suite.
Further information from the CVS at Trinity Community Centre, Middle Street, Lancaster, LA1 1JZ. Tel: 01524 555900 Email: billlivesey@lancastercvs.org.uk

LANCASTER PREPARES FOR CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SWITCH ON
16/11/05: Expect Lancaster City Centre to be busy this Sunday (20th), with the officicial start of Sunday Christmas opening for shops and a Bay Radio roadshow and procession leading up to the Christmas Lights switch on.
The day kicks off at around 2.00pm in the centre, with the Bay Radio Roadshow in Market Square with games and giveaways and an outside broadcast from 3.30pm.
Later on, at 4.30pm, a procession featuring the Cairngorm Reindeer will start outside Marks and Spencer on Brock Street and will finish in the Market Square at 5.00pm for the official switch-on. You'll be able to meet the Cairngorm Reindeer after the parade. Oh, and maybe Father Christmas, but who cares about him when there's reindeer!
(These animals are part of a herd introduced into Scotland in the 1950s. If you get the chance to visit them there, we recommend it. The Cairngorm Reindeer Centre also has an adoption scheme).

IT'S OUR CITY CAMPAIGN LAUNCHES
16/11/05: It's Our City, a new group has been set up by concerned residents, the Music Co-op and local businesses, to have meaningful dialogue with the City Council and their preferred developer Centros Miller about planed developments on Lancaster's Canal Corridor. All involved in the campaign recognise the need to develop the North Canal Corridor as at the moment they feel it's bleak indeed.
The council and Centros Miller will be holding a series of "master plan" meetings to be held in the first week of December and the group are urging local residents to get involved. "It's vital that we as "stakeholders" in the city are included in any planning," feels spokesperson Cal, who lives on Alfred Street.
It's Our City will be holding a public meeting at the Gregson Institute, Moor Lane on 23 November 8.00pm to hear all views and wishes on the development, then formulate concrete concerns, in order to take them forward to a meeting slated to be held on December 4/5th between It's Our City, the council and Centros Miller.
"Many, many planning mistakes have been made in Lancaster in the past," says Cal. "Lancaster is well loved and should not be blighted by more mistakes. We want a positive outcome to any redevelopment and by using our collective voices we can, we are sure, make this city more vibrant, whilst enhancing the lives of it's inhabitants, businesses and visitors."
So, make your views known. Get to the Gregson on the 23rd or contact itsourcity@yahoo.co.uk.

CAR CRASHES OFF SKERTON BRIDGE - BUT DRIVER 'NOT SERIOUSLY HURT'
Above: The Citroen Saxo which crashed into the River Lune from Skerton Bridge, shortly before Bernice Dent, from Barrow, was rescued by the RNLI and other emergency services. Photo: John Freeman

HELP DOUBLE CYCLING!
15/11/05: Anyone interested in doubling cycling over the next three years should get along to a meeting on Wednesday 23rd November, 7.30pm, at the Friends Meeting House, which has cycle parking at the rear of the building and is next to Lancaster train station.
Organised by local cycle campaign group Dynamo, the meeting is in response to the district's recent success in becoming a 'Cycling Demonstration Town'.
"Along with Aylesbury, Brighton, Darlington, Derby and Exeter, our district will see a big injection of money into cycling over the next three years," explained Dave Horton of Dynamo. "This is wonderful news. It ought to make a massive difference. In fact, we want to see twice as much cycling result from the district's cycling demonstration town status".
The meeting is for anyone keen to explore ideas and shape the direction of the demonstration town process. Bike shops, cycling clubs, present and future cyclists are all invited. On the night, Council representatives will set out their plans, many different and inspiring cycling promotion ideas will be aired for discussion, and everyone will get the chance to have their say.
"Let's work together to figure out how we can best make this extra support really work for local cycling," says Patricia Clarke of Dynamo. "We've got a tremendous opportunity to boost cycling, so let's go! Let's double cycling in three years!"

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