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WANTED - LANCASHIRE'S TOP YOUNG CITIZEN
9/12/05: Do you know an outstanding young individual in the Lancaster and Morecambe area?
If you do the High Sheriff of Lancashire, former England footballer Jimmy Armfield, is looking to hear their story as part of this years Lancashire Young Citizen of the Year Award.
He is looking to turn the spotlight on the county's local heroes - people who don't seek glory but deserve recognition nonetheless. The award seeks to celebrate and reward the achievements of these individuals - particularly those who have put others before themselves. They are likely to be people whose hard work, grit and determination has made them a household name in their own communities.
The former Blackpool football legend added: "I am positive there are many young people across the county who deserve recognition for the excellent work they are doing and we look forward to reading many nominations.
"This scheme recognises some of the county's unsung heroes who go beyond their potential to help others in their communities and make their streets and towns better places to live. They are the people who always have a smile on their face despite suffering pain, hardship, pain and adversity.
"If you know of any young people aged between 12 and 19 who have carried out caring work or been involved in helping their school, family or friends for at least six months, please nominate them and help them set a shining example to others."
The scheme - administered by the Lancashire Partnership Against Crime, is sponsored by Transco, the gas pipeline company which will match the top prize of £250 and donate it to the winner's favourite charity.
Nomination forms are available from Ian Groundwater or Al Yusuf on 01772 412796 or can be picked up from schools and police stations.
Applications can also be made on-line via the LANPAC website at www.lanpac.co.uk. The closing date for entries is Saturday, December 31, 2005. The finalists will be invited to attend a presentation, followed by lunch at HQ in February 2006.

LABOUR TAKES JOHN O'GAUNT WARD
9/12/05: James Blakely (Labour) was elected as City Councillor for John O'Gaunt ward in the by-election yesterday.
The newly elected Councillor replaces Joe Ravetz who resigned in October when he moved out of the district. Councillor Blakely is a member of the Labour Group and there is therefore no change to the political make-up of the Council.
Local Labour members were delighted with the result but Liberal candidate Phil Dunster was disapointed to lose the seat. "Regrettably, as predicted, Matt for the Greens took a slice of my vote," he commented, "Letting Labour in again"
The full results were: James Blakely (Labour) was elected with 466 votes. The other candidates, Philip Dunster (Liberal Democrats) received 287 votes, Matthew Wootton (Green Party) 247 votes, and William Hill (Conservative) 226 votes. The turn-out figure was 23.9%.

SELLAFIELD CONCERNS
9/12/05: The Irish Government has expressed concern about the safety of the Sellafield nuclear plant in Cumbria, after a temporary evacuation had to be carried out.
Breakiung News reports an inspection at a sampling location on one of the plant’s High Activity Storage Tanks (HAST) on Sunday uncovered very high dose rates.
Irish Environment Minister Dick Roche said he had been informed by the British authorities of the test results.
"This incident presents continuing evidence of a facility where safety seems to be compromised and a plant which does not match up to the safety assurances being made on its behalf by the UK authorities," he said.
The high dose rate is believed to be have been caused by a blockage in the pipe loop from which the samples were taken. No radioactive material escaped from the tanks but the area was temporarily evacuated as a precaution.

6/12/05: Thwaites Shire Horses at Giant Axe earlier today, shortly before touring Lancaster. They also visited Willow Lane School. Photo: John Burkinshaw

DOUBLE THE CYCLING
7/12/05: How can cycling in the Lancaster District be doubled in three years? Following Lancaster's successful bid to become a Cycling Demonstration Town, next week's meeting of the Sustainable Transport Forum will explore practical ways of encouraging and enabling many more people in the Lancaster District to cycle.
This meeting is not aimed specifically at cyclists and there will be a focus on intergration with other modes of transport and on wider sustainability benefits.
The meeting takes place on Wednesday 14 December from 10.00am until 12 noon in Morecambe Town Hall. Orannisers say there will be a presentation by Peter Loker (Corporate Director, Lancaster City Council) and plenty of time for discussion. All are welcome.

WILL THE TOWN HALL MOVE?
6/12/05: New figures have just been released for the City Council's accommodation review, which may see Lancaster Town Hall become a museum, Morecambe Town Hall sold off and a new Town Hall built.
The figures will be considered by the Council on Wednesday when it considers a Cabinet report on the future of the City's two town halls.
There has been mixed reaction to the proposals with some opposing any sell off of Morecambe Town Hall -- campaigners have a stall in Morecambe's Arndale Centre protesting at the idea.
" I promised at Cabinet that we would give the Council up to date comparative costs of the options," says Leader of the Council Ian Barker, presenting the figures. "I also promised figures on two different options. [One option] looks at the costs of repairing the existing Morecambe Town Hall and extending it to use it as the principal administrative and democratic headquarters of the Council. [Another option] considers borrowing over 25 years to buy a new town hall in Morecambe rather than leasing it. Council is now able to make an informed decision with officers best estimates of all the costs on set out in the same way."
" On the face of it the radical option favoured by Cabinet is likely to be the most cost effective," feels Coun Barker. "It does, however, depend on attracting grant aid to open Lancaster Town Hall as a major museum. That's why we require a full financial appraisal and feasibility study before we go ahead. Council will be asked to approve the feasibility study."
Coun Barker says the figures will need a lot more work, but there is a big gap (£550,000 per annum for the first 25 years) between leasing a new town hall in Morecambe and repairing and extending the existing one.
" Unless this gap can be closed on further study, that would seem to rule that out," he says. "I couldn't possibly recommend spending the extra half million pounds a year. "This is a big decision for the Council, but it is essential we don't postpone decisions about the future of council buildings any longer. We saw from the example of the Lancaster Clock Tower how this can end up costing the council taxpayer dear. I think the worst thing we could do next week is to put off a decision."

Our Town Halls: The Options

The options for the future of Lancaster and Morecambe Town Halls have been evaluated assuming that any necessary borrowing is on the basis of a 25 year PWLB loan. This enables revenue costs to be given for the first 25 years and then from year 26 onward. These costs are compared with carrying on with existing buildings, doing the outstanding repairs but not having customer service centres.

The Cabinet considered two options:

Option 1 keeps and repairs the two town halls and has customer service centres there. There is a further major office either at Palatine Hall, Lancaster or at the Co-op building in Regent Road, Morecambe. Other buildings will be sold.

The study shows this costs £187,000 a year up to year 25 compared with carrying on with existing buildings and costs £67, 000 a year from year 26 onwards.

Option 2 is the radical option favoured by Cabinet. Lancaster Town Hall will become a major museum and it is hoped to attract grant aid for this. The old Georgian Town Hall in Market Square, which currently houses the City Museum, will become the customer service centre for Lancaster. A new town hall, which will house almost all the administrative and democratic functions of the council, will be built in central Morecambe. This will include the customer service centre for Morecambe. It is intended to lease this building. In the region of 332 office jobs will be transferred from Lancaster to Morecambe. Other buildings including the existing Morecambe Town Hall will be sold.

The study shows this saves £315,000 a year up to year 25 compared with carrying on with existing buildings and saves £21, 000 a year from year 26 onwards.

Since the Cabinet meeting two further options have been evaluated.

Option 2a is the same as Option 2 except that the council borrows money to build the new town hall itself.

The study shows this saves £31,000 a year up to year 25 compared with carrying on with existing buildings and saves £717, 000 a year from year 26 onwards.

Option 3 is the same as Option 2 except that Morecambe Town Hall is kept and extended and is used as the new headquarters of the Council. Again the Council will borrow to build the major extensions required.

The study shows this costs £235,000 a year up to year 25 compared with carrying on with existing buildings and saves £591, 000 a year from year 26 onwards.

LIB DEMS OPPOSE RAIL CLOSURE
6/12/05: Local Liberal Democrat campaigner, and candidate in the city council by-election in John O'Gaunt ward said today how much he opposes any plans to close the Heysham rail link (see earlier story).
" I fail to comprehend how anybody can consider such a closure against a background of increasing traffic in the area," says Phil Dunster. "Surely this link is essential for the planned growth of Heysham Port.
"Rather than running down this line and the whole Morecambe/Lancaster link, we as locals should encourage enhancing this facility and encouraging the Rail providers to provide a more frequent service to encourage people out of their cars and on to public transport
"I fully support the idea of additional commuter stops on this line in new residential areas, as more people are attracted to live in our wonderful area more of us will be moving around and building more roads is just not the answer!
" I ask that the city council asks, challenges and demands the security and enhancement of this existing piece of infrastructure for the good of all the people in the council's area!"

CASH BOOST REWARDS COUNCIL PLANNING PERFORMANCE
6/12/05: Lancaster has been awarded a provisional £331,853 funding from central government for the first phase of £135m Planning Delivery Grant (PDG) which rewards improvements in planning performance.
The grant, which is additional incentive to local authority funding, rewards local authorities for progress in online planning, speed in determining applications, improving housing stock provision, and developing plans for their communities.
A Council spokesperson told Virtual-Lancaster "Last year's Planning Delivery Grant was invested in additional key workers to give the service the resources to deal with its planning caseload, and to develop its e-government systems.
"This year's grant will be used to secure the permanence of those resources, to maintain the high performance achieved, and to take our electronic delivery systems a further stage to meet the Government's challenging agenda."
"A well-resourced local planning system is vital to delivering sustainable communities," said Minister Baroness Andrews, who works for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister , announcing the funding. "The £135 million next year will have a major impact on planning services both in improving their performance and in raising the profile of planning departments within local authorities. "
Since 2003 some £350 million has been allocated through the PDG to local government. The government says independent research has shown that the grant is delivering real improvements in performance on the ground and is being invested in vital services.
The highest award to an individual authority for Development Control this year is for the London Borough of Camden which has been allocated over £500,000 for meeting all three government targets and making improvements in performance from last year. There are 188 authorities this year that are likely to receive a £50,000 bonus for meeting all three development control targets.
Some authorities in this group have made very strong improvements. Bury Metropolitan Borough Council will be awarded over £390,000 this year compared with less than £73,000 in 2005/6.
The remaining allocations of PDG, for housing, plan making and e-planning, will be announced early next year. In total, £16m is planned to be awarded for housing delivery in areas of high demand, £2.5m to recognise issues of low demand, £5.7m for e-planning and £20.8m for plan-making, along with proposed topslices to support the Regional Planning Bodies, Planning Inspectorate and provide postgraduate bursaries.

TATCHELL SUPPORTS GEORGE FOX SIX
4/12/05: At the opening event of Lancaster's first Pride celebration on Friday, international human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell had a message of solidarity and support for the George Fox Six.
"It is outrageous that the students have been prosecuted for daring to challenge rich, powerful and unethical institutions," he told virtual-lancaster's Chief Arts Correspondent. "Universities are supposed to defend freedom of speech and conscience, not to suppress it".
Fuller coverage of the opening event, and of Peter Tatchell's keynote speech, will follow shortly.

Above: With Animal Care's cattery being re-built, there's extra demand on the charity's resources over Christmas. Picture courtesy Animal Care

Fozzy Dog -- one of Animal Care's success stories, now re-homed with a loving family

This homeless kitten is looking for a new home.

Have you got a home for Billy the dog...

... or Ian the cat? All pictures courtesy Animal Care

ANIMAL CARE CHRISTMAS APPEAL
2/12/05, updated 4/12/05: The festive season may be drawing closer and our hearts warmed by the thoughts of spending time with our families, eating, drinking and partying -- or maybe just looking forward to a break from the rat race. But spare a thought

for those people whose jobs can't stop and the animals whose lives are held in limbo yearning for a family to be part of. A space by the fire would be their Christmas wish. Yes, Lancaster Animal Care is looking for your help and support again. Sadly, there are over one hundred animals at the sanctuary right now -- including over 50 dogs and 100 cats -- all looking for a responsible loving home. But time is running out for their Christmas wish to come true, as the charity, along with many other rescue centres across the country, desperately tries to find homes for all sorts of creatures great and small, and settle them in before the crazy Christmas period.
Sunday 18 December is the final day of re-homing until the New Year -- Animal Care don't re-home animals during the Christmas because this exactly the kind of time more animals, given as presents are taken in, unwanted. This, of course, puts a strain on the Centre's resources, because although no animal leaves the sanctuary until the New Year many still find refuge here, pushing resources past their limits.
"By the time Christmas Day arrives the reception, staff room, office and function room will have to accommodate our furry friends," explains Animal Care's Resource Manager, Vanessa Walling. "The work load for the staff and volunteers is heavily increased and running costs rocket.
There are added problems this year, as the Centre is going through some re-building to improve its facilities. " We've demolished our cattery and are already using temporary areas whilst also trying to work within a building site," says Vanessa. "This all means the next couple of months are going to be especially difficult for the charity.
In addition to the animals homed at Animal Care, over 20 older animals in foster homes that the charity pays veterinary care for -- and many months the vet bill can be over £5,000. The Centre also has resident farm animals and relies on its sponsorship scheme to help pay for their food and vet care. "Because of the current building works they are being looked after off site," says Vanessa, "which has increased our costs, even though a terrific lady has given free use of her stables for the length of the project."
Of course, not everyone has the kind of lifestyle that suits the time, energy and cost of needed in taking proper care of a pet. But you can still help Animal Care, by donating any chicken-based dog or cat food ("We'll be grateful for any food, "Vanessa explains. "We state chicken based simply as it is better for the animals"). Towels and blankets are also welcome, as are cash donations. You can even sponsor a farm animal, a kennel, a cat pen or a rabbit hutch.
Support from the Centre is strong locally. Local lady Dorothy Shaw and vet James Glass have raised £190 between them since Easter for Animal Care in Lancaster. Dorothy makes knitted items such as Easter Chicks, Christmas Doggie Stockings that James then has for sale in his Lancaster Vet practice.
"Support from the local community like this makes a huge difference to helping the charity cover its £160,000 costs," says Vanessa.
• If you think you can help Animal Care's animals in anyway please visit the sanctuary between 11.00am-3.00pm (open 7 days a week) on Blea Tarn Rd, Scotforth, Lancaster or call 01524 65495 between 11am-3pm. You can also donate online via Animal Care's web site at www.animalcare-lancaster.co.uk using credit card or via Paypal.

CO-OP TO MEET COUNCIL?
3/12/05: Lancaster City Council's leader Ian Barker has invited members of the Lancaster Musician's Co-operative to meet members of the City's Cabinet to discuss future plans for the Co-op.
The move follows comes after the Co-op and its supporters have raised concerns about the future of the popular community facility, which has helped young bands practice and record for many years -- but it's current premises are under threat. Local residents are also worried that developer Centros Miller's plans are not what they want for Lancaster's Canalside Corridor (see our report on the first It's Our City meeting).
"Much misleading comment continues to be made about the Cabinet decision in October about the Canal Corridor and the Musicians Co-operative," explained Councillor Barker. "It's been said that the Cabinet has decided to evict the Musicians' Co-operative; in fact the Cabinet decision guarantees a place in the new development."
"It's also said that council land is being sold off and that decisions on the form of the development are being handed over to the developers; that too is untrue," Councillor Barker continued. His statement comes after local residents discovered that developer Centros Miller had reportedly threatened one landowner and one local business with Compulsary Purchase orders -- something only the Council can legally enact.
"In an earlier decision the Cabinet envisaged a development agreement rather than a straight sale," says Mr Barker. "This means the council could retain some control as landowner. It also required a master planning exercise in which affected parties and the public in general could participate. This is more than is required by normal planning procedures.
"It should make sure that this will be the sort of development Lancaster will be happy with. That process has started and I understand the Musicians are to meet the developers next week."
Explaining the problems facing the Co-op from the Council's point of view, Mr Barkers says: "In 2002 a decision was made to offer the Musicians a longer lease. That was in the context of them attracting funding for ambitious plans for a 300 capacity venue, café and shops in addition to improving the existing rehearsal rooms and recording studios. These have not come to fruition, and clearly another way forward is now needed."
"That is why I have invited the Musicians to meet members of the Cabinet. We all want to see the Co-operative continue. I certainly see the social value of a place where aspiring rock musicians can come together, and so do my Cabinet colleagues. I rather resent the repeated assertions to the contrary.
"The repeated misrepresentations of the Cabinet's position are doing nobody any good," feels Councilor Barker. " I hope a meeting will clear the air and will find a way forward that we can agree on."
Councillor Barker told Virtual-Lancaster he also understands the Co-op's concerns that rents on any new facility might prove higher than their current agreement with the Council. "The concerns about rent levels are something that could be addressed in our meeting," says Ian. "I don't know what they are looking for in terms of facilities - that seems to change. I don't know what they are willing/able to pay - that too seems to change. Obviously if they have a business plan they could share with us it would help."
Earlier this week, Bulk Ward Councillor John Whitelegg condemned the way developers Centros Miller are handling their side of the Canalside development, revealing he had been trying to secure a meeting with the company without success for some time. "This development is already taking shape and there has been no consultation with local residents or local businesses," he feels. "Even worse, there has been no open discussion with city centre retailers about the knock on effect of this development on city centre retailing.
"This is poor quality stuff and it is time to put residents, councillors and businesses at the centre of this process rather than as a late addition when most of the serious decisions have been made."

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