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FESTIVAL LINE UP ANNOUNCED
28/2/06: The events that will take place at the first St Martin's Festival in Lancaster in May have been announced. The four day Festival, running 11 - 14 May, a celebration of creativity in the local community, will feature events including pianist extraordinaire Harry Harris in a Grand Gala Evening Concert and the popular BBC Radio 4 topical debate programme 'Any Questions?' with Jonathan Dimbleby broadcasting live from Lancaster. Anyone interested in taking part in this should book their tickets via Fesival Director Peter Noke on 07970 703844. There will also be the Festival Showcase, a varied arts performance featuring local schools and the local community, all creating work on the festival theme of 'Bay'. Workshops in a variety of creative disciplines will be open to all throughout the Festival, details of which are to be finalised.
"We want this to be a really enjoyable event for all and to provide a diverse festival with something for everyone," explains Festival Director Peter Noke. "The purpose of the St Martin's Festival is to creatively inspire the people of our community and provide a forum for their work to be showcased, exhibited and performed. The title of the Festival is 'A Celebration of Our Time' and that's exactly what we want it to be, highlighting the creativity around us now and widening participation in artistic activities.
A website, www.stmartinsfestival.org, is planned to go online in March which will be the focus for the Festival's work all year round. It will feature exhibitions, information, the posting and publications of people's creative work and a forum for ideas concerning the Festival's ongoing development.

ANOTHER FINE MESS?
28/2/06: With Council leader Ian Barker calling for more money to be spent on street cleaning, it's been revealed Lancaster is just one of many in the North West that has not made much of its fixed-penalty powers to clamp down on littering and dog fouling.
Statistics released by Minister for Local Environmental Quality Ben Bradshaw, at this week's Cleaner, Safer, Greener conference show that local authorities in the North West issued a combined total of just 2,269 fines for environmental crimes such as littering and dog fouling last year. What's more, around 30% of them have never been paid.
In Lancaster, just seven fines issued for littering, four were paid, and the other three were taken to court between April 2004 and March 2005. Dog fouling resulted in three fines, while no-one has received a fixed penalty notice for graffiti or fly posting (in common with other authorities), or noise.
A spokesperson for Lancaster City Council told virtual-lancaster it was not Council policy to issue Fixed Penalty Notices unless they had firm evidence of the offenders -- and cited the lack of resources to issue FPNs.
The Council is however beginning to increase the number of community wardens and officials who can issue FPNs, so the numbers are expected to rise. From April, new powers will be introduced nationally which make greater use of fixed penalty notices, with greater opportunities for the authority to retain the receipts.
"We don't have a dedicated noise officer," said the spokeperson, addressing why no noise FPNs had been issued. "The Environmental Protection team is structured on an area basis with one Environmental Health Officer (EHO) and one technical officer covering a range of environmental protection issues in Lancaster and one EHO and one technical officer covering the same range in Morecambe.  
"This range of duties includes noise, air pollution, drainage, water, odour as well as any other statutory nuisance work. Other dedicated officers cover contaminated land and authorised processes."
The issue of noise pollution was debated last year in Council.
Last week, Council leader Ian Barker called for more resources to be spent on street cleaning. A national MORI poll placed clean streets third, behind only low-level crime and good health services, in a survey of what makes somewhere a 'good place to live'.
Mr Bradshaw told the conference, organised by the Keep Britain Tidy Group, that he was 'disturbed' to hear that of the 20,000 fixed penalty notices (FPNs) issued nationally in England in 2004/05, 8,000 (or 40%) were never paid.
"Far too many local authorities are treating fixed penalty notices as some kind of voluntary fining scheme - what kind of message does that send to the litterbugs and vandals?
"People will only take these fines seriously if local authorities take them seriously."
Web Links
Details of the fixed penalty notices issued in 2004/05 for littering, dog fouling, graffiti and fly-posting are now available on the Defra website for every local authority in the country. There is also backdated information available.

QUIZZICALLY DIGITAL!
28/2/06: Lancaster's pub Quiz league has entered the Inernet age with its own website at www.lanccityquizleague.co.uk. The site includes current league positions and other info for the area's 'thinkers and drinkers'.

Transport Minister Derek Twigg, MPs Ben Wallace and Geraldine Smith and representatives from Lancaster City Council, Cycling England and Dynamo cycling at the press launch yesterday for Lancaster's bid to become cycling capital of the North West. Photo courtesy Lancaster City Council.

PEDALLING TO THE FUTURE
28/2/06: Transport Minister Derek Twigg MP visited Lancaster yesterday to support the unveiling of plans to transform the district into the cycling capital of the North West.
The launch of the £3 million 'Celebrating Cycling in our City, Coast and Countryside' project comes almost five years to the day since the official opening of Lancaster's Millennium Bridge, which has provided a vital link between the district's cycle network and is widely credited with boosting the district's cycle rate to above the national average.
“Cycling is a fun, healthy and green way to travel," declared Mr Twigg, "and I congratulate Lancaster City Council on its ambitious plans to make Lancaster and Morecambe a cycling capital of the North West.
“This investment of £1.5 million over the next three years shows our commitment to encouraging more people to take up cycling in their daily journeys and for fitness and leisure.”
Thanks to Lancaster and Morecambe's new status as one of just six places in the country to be designated ‘cycling demonstration’ towns, and a grant of £0.5m a year from the Department for Transport until 2008, Lancaster City Council and partners are committed to encouraging twice as many people to get on their bikes and, in doing so, transform the travel culture of the district.
These ambitious aims will be supported by match funding from a variety of sources including Lancashire County Council, the European Regional Development Fund as well as the enthusiasm and commitment from a whole range of partners, including local cycling groups.
"We know there are barriers and reasons why people don't cycle even though they would like to and this project is about helping people overcome those barriers," explains Coun Gina Dowding, "particularly for journeys to school, work and the university. There are lots of local partners involved with the city council in this and all have real commitment to ensuring that it works well, and really addresses the real issues - which is about helping people ( and their children) to feel safe and competent on their bike, and by ensuring that this is a bike-friendly district."
John Leach, of local ccyle group Dynamo added his support. "The whole district is starting from a base with a relatively high cycling rate," he says. "There are many people and organisations interested in cycling locally including the innovative Pedal Power, cycle hire from Budgie Bikes and the academic input of the Centre for Mobility's Research at Lancaster University as well as the city and the county.
"This is a strength which together with the catalyst of Dynamo and the enthusiasm of the cycling clubs is enabling us to remove the barriers to cycle so we will attain a quarter of all journeys in the district by cycle."

NIGHTINGALE HALL FARM FIRE DELIBERATE?
26/2/06: A Lancaster Fire Service investigation into the cause of the fire which destroyed the Nightingale Hall Farm rendering plant last year suggests it may have been deliberate. Now Green councillors are demanding further investigation.
Nightingale Hall Farm burned down on 31 October last year. In January 2006 Councillor John Whitelegg requested a report on the fire from the Fire Service under Freedom of Information regulations, which he received earlier today and revealed the "supposed cause" of the fire, based on the evidence available to the Investigating Officer was that "the most likely cause of fire rests between an electrical fault and deliberate ignition."
"I was very surprised and disturbed indeed to see the possibility of "deliberate ignition" raised in an official Fire Service Report," commented John. "This fire put many workers and many hundreds of people at risk and I am calling for a thorough investigation to get to the bottom of what caused the fire.
"This disturbing information makes it more important than ever that we get clear assurances that animal waste rendering will cease totally at this site, regardless of who owns the site" he continued, "and that we agree a plan to develop the site for housing, parkland and community uses."

LANCASTER AND FLEETWOOD LABOUR PARTY LAUNCHED
27/2/06, updated 2/3/06: The first meeting of the new Lancaster and Fleetwood Constituency Labour Party took place last week and included an appearance by the woman hotly tipped to be Labour's candidate for the new parliamentary seat at the next General Election.
The new Party organisation has been formed in response to boundary changes for parliamentary seats in Lancashire. Lancaster and Fleetwood will form one constituency at the next general election, while the boundaries of Blackpool North will be change. There will also be a new constituency in Wyre.

Joan Humble MP - in the running to be Lancaster and Fleetwood's new MP?

The meeting saw the election of County Councillor Clive Grunshaw as Chairperson and James Groves as Secretary and discussed a parliamentary report from Blackpool North MP Joan Humble about the Health and Social Care White Paper and the Welfare Reform Green Paper.
As a member of the House of Commons Work and Pensions Select Committee, Joan, a Lancaster University graduate and former civil servant, is participating in a detailed review of the Welfare Reform proposals for report back to the government in the Spring.
As virtual-lancaster reported last October, there's much speculation that Joan may be pitching to be the Labour candidate for the new Lancaster and Fleetwood seat.
Based on her recent voting record in the Commons, Humble, who fought hard to win Blackpool North from the Tories in 1997 and kept her seat in 2001, and, it appears, strongly supports Labour’s anti terror laws, but has wavered on support for foundation hospitals. She supported the ban on fox hunting and is in favour of equal rights for gays.
On the eve of the Iraq War Joan voted with the Labour rebels on the amendment that the case for war had not been made. This was the key vote and the only one where the government could have been defeated: see this link on the Public Whip site for more information.
A Christian Socialist, she tends to intervene in social services debates in the Commons, and especially on child care and child protection issues.

UNCOVERED: RESIDENTS SURVEY ON CANAL CORRIDOR PLANS
26/2/06, updated 28/2/06: In 2003, local residents banded together and mounted a huge and ultimately successful campaign to oppose plans for a supermarket on Bulk Road and 'big box' development on what is now Lancaster's Canal Corridor development site. Campaign group Real Planning for Lancaster conducted an extensive survey to find out what local people really wanted to see in the area, and presented the results to Lancaster City Council.
The views of people living on or near the Canal Corridor were clearly outlined and included ideas for affordable housing, a real 'cultural quarter' and widespread opposition to large 'big box' shopping developments being proposed by developers Chelverton for the area.
Virtual-Lancaster has obtained a copy of that survey and you can read it online by clicking here. The document is in PDF format: if you need a PDF reader, click here (Adobe.com).
Centros Miller spokesperson Steve Bryson says their proposals differ significantly from Chelverton's much-criticised scheme.
"Centros Miller’s initial masterplan concept is far from being a 'big box' scheme," he told virtual-lancaster. "'Big boxes' mean large retail sheds of the type that retailers like B&Q or Tesco go for in edge of town retail parks, and there are no such boxes in our proposals. In fact our proposal is a truly mixed-use scheme, the retail elements of which include units from the size of a paper shop up to the department store."
Response to the plans outlined by Centros Miller has been mixed so far. Local campaign group It's Our City has yet to comment formally on the initial plans but members expressed concern at the inclusion of a multi-storey car park, advocating research into Park and Ride, and were shocked that no plans for small business were included, although Centros Miller say that there are. "There will be space for small businesses in the scheme and we did explain that," says Steve. "Nevertheless, I expect that we will be able to explain this in more detail in our next round of consultation meetings in early April."
The Lancaster Guardian (24/2/06) has reported that the plans had the support of Alan Young, postmaster of the Stonewell Post Office (which would be demolished and relocated); and an "anonymous" group of tennants also said they supported the scheme.
Centros Miller say they have now surveyed nearly 1200 households in the key areas around the site. "We look like achieving an amazing response rate of about 25%," says Steve.

WINEMAKER IN LANCASTER
26/2/05: A British winemaker will be visiting Lancaster next month to give a talk about her work at an event organised by the Morecambe Bay Wine Appreciation Society.
Mike and Sue Spring started producing wine in Cahors in 1994. Mike is originally from Warrington while Sue retains close links with the South Lakes.
Sue Spring planned to visit her mother in Ambleside and contacted Kate Young of Lancaster-based French Regional Wines to arrange a tasting of their wines and discuss the possibility of them being added to their list.
You can find out more about the wines -- and sample them -- at an event organised the Morecambe Bay Wine Appreciation Society at Lancaster and Morecambe College on Monday 6 March.
Organisers say the evening will provide a fascinating insight into the rigours of maintaining a vineyard and the uncertainties of producing wine from season to season, as well as the experiences of an English couple coming to terms with an entirely different lifestyle.
The wines of Domaine du Garinet - the produce of Mike and Sue's small vineyard, just 2.5 hecatres in size - are highly regarded but not currently available in the UK. Their Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay were described as "quite impressive and represent stunning value for money at the cellar door prices" by wine author and scientist Jamie Goode who visited the domaine in 2002.
Mike and Sue will have eight wines for the audience to taste two whites, a rose and five reds.
Kate and partner John Dickinson of French Regional Wines have just returned from the Vinisud wine fair in Montpellier where they were able to meet Sue and taste her wonderful wines and both say they are looking forward to the Lancaster tasting.
• Tickets for the event cost £10 and are available from Barry Howarth at Corking Ideas: telephone 01524 64862.

Luneside East. Image courtesy Lancaster City Council

LUNESIDE EAST PLANS ONE STEP NEARER
23/2/06: The £60 million project to regenerate Luneside East, a derelict and contaminated area on St. George's Quay, Lancaster has taken a major step forward this week with the closure of the CPO (Compulsory Purchase Order) Inquiry.
The Inspector leading the inquiry into the compulsory purchase order for the Luneside East development closed the inquiry on 16 February 2006 following consideration of detailed evidence over two weeks.
A key element in the conclusion of the inquiry was the withdrawal of the objection from Thomas Newall Ltd who had been the principal objector to the CPO. The company, who own the St George's Works mill building that fronts onto the quayside, have agreed to join with the council and the developer CTP Ltd / Development Securities plc in delivering the scheme.
Reclamation of Luneside East, a 6.5 hectare brownfield site on Lancaster's historic river Lune waterfront, is Lancaster City Council's main regeneration priority in the city.
"This agreement between Thomas Newall, our preferred developer CTP/Development Securities and the council is a major step forward in developing the Luneside East site," says John Donnellon, who is Lancaster City Council's Corporate Director for Regeneration. "The council has still to wait for the outcome of the inquiry which we understand might be some time in late spring this year. If as we hope, the CPO is confirmed, the developer will work with Thomas Newall Ltd to deliver the development and should start clean up work either later this year or very early next and wants to complete a large first phase of development by the end of 2008. The developer will now begin work on a detailed clean up strategy."
"Thomas Newall Ltd has been supportive of the scheme from the outset and now welcomes the opportunity in working with LCC and CTP Ltd / Development Securities plc on this exciting project," Thomas Newall directors Stephen Loxam and Ian Tyson said in a joint statement with the Council. "The company has been in business in Lancaster for well over 100 years and their future is now secured."
Plans for the new development include a new high quality neighbourhood of 350 new homes, 8,000 sq m of new offices and supporting uses such as a hotel, small shops, cafes and bars, set in high quality landscaped areas including parkland. It will be well connected to the city centre and surrounding areas by foot and cycle routes.
The development is a partnership project by the public and private sectors. The national regeneration agency English Partnerships, the North West Development Agency and the European Regional Development Fund has allocated some £10 million of public funding to the council to prepare the site for development in land assembly and removing the gasholder.
CTP Ltd', specialists in urban regeneration, have worked on many other projects in the North West including The Round Foundary in Leeds, Wigan Pier Business Park, and the Tower Wharf in Chester.
Engineering works by National Grid plc have already begun towards decommissioning and demolishing the gas holder on the site and providing replacement storage engineering. National Grid are programming their work so that the gasholder should be demolished by the end of the year.
The Environment Agency has also started work on the Lower Lune Flood Protection Scheme and by the end of 2006, the entire length of the built up riverside west of Carlisle Bridge, including Luneside East, should be very well protected from flooding.
• Read more about the plans for the regeneration on the City Council's web site: Click Here

LIBRARY CAMPAIGN CONTINUES
21/2/06: Local campaigners say they will continue their fight to save local libraries in Caton, Warton and Hest Bank (see earlier story)
They have also condemned the decision by Lancashire County Council last week to close the libraries - but continue, instead, to spend huge amounts of tax payers money on County Hall's canteen.

Liberal city councillor Stuart Langhorn - furious that the County Council meeting was not made aware of the1500-strong petition. "This has been appalling," he says. "1500 people wanted to keep the library open - Council was not even informed of this. We were not allowed to address the council and make our case."

A party of campaigners, including Caton councillors Pat Quinton and Joyce Pritchard, parish councillors and City Councillor Stuart Langhorn, travelled down to the County Council Budget meeting to make their views known, and present a petition organised by Stuart, signed by 1500 local residents, urging the Council to keep the libraries open.
County Councillor Chris Cheetham received the petition - commenting that consultation on the future of the libraries would take place - a nonsense, since the decision to close the libraries has been taken before any consultation takes place.
The Budget meeting proceeded with its leader, Labour Councillor Anne Brown, saying that the County Council had to make tough decisions and needed to save money.
Opposing Labour's plans, the Conservative group put forward a detailed case against the cuts to front line services proposed by the Labour administration, which included putting the money back into the budget for the threatened libraries of £141,000.
Councillor Cheatham and fellow Labour members dismissed all the Conservatives reasoning and voted against it. Although
the Liberal Democrats supported the Conservatives, opponents to the cuts still didn't have enough votes to defeat the Labour majority.
Liberal Democrat Leader David Whipp then made a further amendment - proposing cuts to the library service as well as cuts to school clothing grants and meals on wheels services be reversed.
The money for these proposals could be found by getting rid of the £465,000 cost of the County's Vision newspaper, he argued, and a staggering £260,000 subsidy to the County Hall canteen. Labour voted against these proposals and would not even debate a further proposal to keep the nine rural libraries open by taking £141,000 from the canteen budget.
Horrified by what he saw, as were other campaigners, Coun Stuart Langhorn said "This has been appalling. 1500 people wanted to keep the library open - Council was not even informed of this. We were not allowed to address the council and make our case. When reasonable amendments were put in to change Labour's cuts, the party whip was brought out and the issue was not debated.
"Even Labour Councillors who represent Morecambe and Lancaster were not prepared to stand up for the people who live here," Stuart says, furious at the decision. "They have placed feeding their own bellies ahead of the needs of the young and old in this area. Getting a photo of themselves in the Vision newspaper is more important than the needs of the most vulnerable in this area.
Green County councillor Chris Coates also condemned the decsion, as does Conservative County Councillor Sarah Fishwick. So far, not one Labour local county councillor has responded to virtual-lancaster editor John Freeman's personal letter of protest about the closures, which he described as "cultural barabarism" - not even Lancaster South East ward's Peter Elliot, a councillor whose connections with the University and education, and his involvement in past campaigns against educations cuts should surely have made him reconsider his postion on the library closures.
"I voted against the closures and in favour of the various amendments to the County budget that attempted to keep the libraries open," Chris told John. "This appears to be a completely cynical cost cutting exercise by the Labour administration - as far as I am aware none of the Libraries being closed are in areas with Labour councillors."
"I spoke in the debate against all the closures as I have done since learning of this decision," Coun Sarah Fishwick says, "and I will continue the fight with the local parishes and residents to find a satisfactory resolution."
"As usual it is the young, elderly and people already disadvantaged by poor health, physical means or distance who are being hit hardest," says Coun Fishwick. "When I spoke, I quoted the much hyped County slogan "Everyone matters" but added the rider so many people have used to me since it was first plastered on road signs - "But nobody cares!".
Stuart Langhorn told virtual-lancaster the campaign to save the libraries will continue. Invitations and letters will now be sent to County Hall in order to start the process of negotiation. The Secretary of State for Culture will aslo be contacted in order to inform her of the poor decision making on the libraries.
In the meantime a campaign to "Stuff the Vision" - sending the free newspaper the County Council produces back to them has been launched by Cllr. Langhorn.
"It's a waste of resources," he feels. "We only needed £16000 to keep Caton library open, but the County think this newspaper, which most people just throw away, is more important.
I'm urging people to send them back to County Hall. Drop them off at County offices or give them back to your County Councillor.
"I'm quite happy to collect as many as I can," he added. "Maybe then we can show County Councillors what we really think matters."

MORE MONEY FOR CLEANER STREETS, YOUTH SCHEMES?
21/2/06: Further budget proposals will go before Lancaster City Council's Cabinet today, Tuesday (21st), to improve street cleansing and boost working with young people on some of the city's estates.
The proposals have been put forward by Council leader Ian Barker, who says a reduction in the costs of servicing Council means it is able to release more money to meet some of the Council's priorities.
"One of the overriding priorities is to improve street cleansing," he says. "We have already made proposals to strengthen enforcement against people who fly tip and dump litter, by teaming up with the Police to employ environmental Community Support Officers. Now I'm proposing that we employ additional people directly on cleansing. An additional £40,000 will enable us to do more to keep our streets and open spaces clean."
"With the ending of the Lancaster SRB, we have less external money to support youth and community work," he adds. "We've already decided to deliver the Community Development Partnership differently. The County Council will take the lead in Skerton with the City and the voluntary sector taking the lead south of the Lune. An extra £12,000 should enable us to continue to work with young people on the Marsh, Ridge and Newton. The City's Leisure Services and our voluntary sector partners should now be able to provide a worthwhile and valuable programme in south Lancaster."
"The careful work we have done on this year's budget has enabled us to deliver significant growth into the Council's priorities while strengthening our overall financial position. This further financial improvement means we can do even more."

HAVING A BALL!
21/2/06: Children on the Ridge Estate in Lancaster will soon be able to play football and basketball all year round, thanks to new lighting soon to go in on the multi-use games area.
The ball games area, which has a hard flooring, and football and basketball goals, surrounded by fencing to keep balls inside was built by Lancaster City Council in 2003. It has been well used by children in the area ever since, and recent consultation with children showed a demand for floodlights to allow longer hours of use in the winter months.
Lighting, funded by SRB regeneration money, the Local Strategic Partnership and Lancaster City Council. will allow still wider usage of the site, which will be the first floodlit free-access facility of its kind within Lancaster district.
The lights will be operated via a sensor and time switch, so they will come on at dusk and switch off at 10.00pm. The bulbs will be of low brightness, similar to a street light, and angled strictly onto the games area, so will not disturb neighbouring houses.
Work was due to begin yesterday on the lighting, for two to three weeks, dependent on the weather. Then it will pass to United Utilities to make the final electrical connection to switch on the lights a few weeks after that.

AGENCY SLAMS ROAD PLANS
20/2/06: The government's Environment Agency has criticised the County Council's Heysham M6 Link plans, filing a number of worrying objections which draw attention to a disturbing lack of detail and information in the current proposals.
The objections come just days after the LCC tried to reassure locals that, despite a question raised in the Commons by Geraldine Smith MP about the flood risk to Halton, their relationship with the Environment Agency was still on track.
The Agency has highlighted the LCC's failure to provide a flood risk assessment in its plans or account fully for the ecological impact of the scheme. The government department's assessment also states that design of the new bridge fails to meet its standards on several counts, both visually and structurally.
Among the other criticisms are the Council's failure to provide an assessment of such things as the environmental impact of artificial lighting on the river Lune and its corridor (artificial lighting would disrupt a range of wildlife using or living in the river); and raises a number of concerns about the damage to other waterways such as Howgill Brook.
Environmental concerns were among the reasons for the eventual decision not build the Western Bypass around Lancaster, which would have damaged Sites of Scientific Interest and affected rare wildlife and have a huge impact on green belt areas, woods and the river. (There were also other reasons, detailed by the lovethelink group)
"These objections from the Environment Agency are a massive blow to the scheme and a huge embarrassment to Lancashire County Council, who had been trying to calm people's fears over the flood risks in the plan," feels David Gate, chair of Transport Solutions for Lancaster and Morecambe, the independent group who favour non road building solutions to the traffic problem. "It now looks like LCC will have to spend considerably more time and money to satisfy the Agency, and it may well be that the government will not come up with the additional cash."
"LCC have been too quick off the mark, despite several hundred letters of objection and now the EA's damning report," David continues. "They want to approve their own planning application before the funding is finalised, but the government will not approve a scheme without an exact costing for the bridge and other revised work, and where doubts remain about the flood risk and environmental impact."
The road plan has the support of several groups, including the County Council who will be approving their own planning proposal, who are arguing in favour of the link on a "Northern or Nothing" ticket (see lovethelink.com web site), completely forgetting their previous antipathy to the Northern scheme when the Western Bypass was on the drawing board. (Skerton Labour Party was firmly against the Northern link at the time, and some Labour councillors representing the area remain unconvinced of its value).
The North West Regional Assembly (NWRA) has backed plans for the link by putting it forward for a slice of £1.3billion being spent in the region and including in a list of the region's top transport priorities.
• Read the Environmental Agency's objections in full (links to a page on this site which will open in a new window)

Photo courtesy Lancaster University

SWANS TESTED FOR BIRD FLU
20/2/06, updated 21/2/06: The Lancashire Evening Post is reporting that two swans found dead near Preston are being tested for bird flu. (The tests have proved negative, BBC News reported last night).
The tests are part of ongoing tests on dead birds as concerns mount that the disease will reach the UK, meaning all poultry will have to be brought indoors.
First identified in 1878, avian influenza is a previously rare infection caused by avian influenza viruses which occur naturally among birds. Wild birds worldwide carry the viruses in their intestines, but do not usually get sick from them. However, avian influenza is very contagious among birds and can make some domesticated birds, including chickens, ducks, and turkeys, very sick and kill them, with a mortality rate that can approach 100% within 48 hours..
Avian flu can affect humans - it has killed 91 people since 2003. In all cases, the victims contracted it from close contact with poultry. The concern is that the flu may mutate and begin to be passed from human to human, causing a pandemic.
Bird flu is not, of course, the only danger to humans from birds. Last November, Lancaster University's Dr Keith Jones warned that wild birds are reservoirs for all manner of infectious disease from Lyme disease to E-coli -- and we can do little about it. (Read a press release about Dr Jones' artilce for Microbiology Today, the quarterly magazine of the Society for General Microbiology, here)
• DEFRA hotline: 08459 335577
• Bird Flu facts from the World Health Organisation

STOREYS STAFF STILL WAITING FOR PENSIONS NEWS
19/2/06: Former workers at Storeys, Morecambe are still waiting to find out what has happened to a £70 million shortfall in their pension fund.
Trustees of the scheme have taken legal advice and are awaiting a court judgment on its future, to establish exactly who takes precedence for available money, is expected, but a ruling could take many months.
Evershed Pension Trustees revealed the extent of the shortfall to the Imperial Home Décor pension fund last year, which affects nearly 4000 people who worked for Storeys in Mortecambe and Darwen but closed in 2003.
The fund has assets of some £120 million but would need more than £190 million to meet members' future expectations. About 1,300 current pensioners are guaranteed pensions at current levels but with no promise of increases in years to come. Another 2,500 who are not yet receiving payments will get less than they anticipated.
The Lancaster Guardian reported last July how Evershed Pension Trustees had discovered the shortfall, but little seems to have been done since - even though, under current legislation, the government would appear to have some obligation to step in and help affected pensioners.
Giles Orton, a lawyer for the company, has warned there will be a "significant scaling down" of expected benefits for these 2,500 people.
Orton is well versed in pension fund issues. He struggled for many years to win full compensation for Mirror Group workers who lost their pensions after former newspaper owner Robert Maxwell raided their pension funds.
Last December, trade union Amicus expressed concern over the future of the Imperial Home Decor Pension Scheme, which is registered with the government-backed Financial Assistance Scheme designed to help workers affected by company closures. Amicus said it was worried about length of time being taken to wind up the scheme and for pensions to be made safe. Following pressure from former employees and Amicus trustees, the administrators called a general meeting of ex-employees in December to address the members concerns.
"Amicus members are very concerned about the lack of progress and are worried about their pensions. They want some answers from the trustees," said Amicus North East Lancs Branch Secretary Terry Thompson.
Payments to existing pensioners are being made from cash transferred to the Prudential by the fund.
Multinational company Hammonds (www.hammonds.com) is acting as receivers of the Imperial Home Decor Group Limited.
. We all want a richer old age . but do we want to be forced to pay for it?
Sunday Herald news story, published in April 2005 on pensions, outlining government obligations on pensions through FAS -- and how it has avoided honouring them

LOCAL MRSA FIGURES RELEASED
19/2/06: Morecambe Bay Hospitals Trust is apparently improving in its battle against MRSA, the deadly superbug plaguing hospitals across the western world. Infection rates for the Univeristy Hospitals of the Trust have been reported as 0.12 per 1000 bed days from April to September last year, compared with the national average of 0.166 per cent.
Last month, Furness General Hospital revealed it had reported 544 cases between April 2003 and October 2005, compared with 411 at Lancaster Royal Infirmary and 170 at Westmorland General Hospital, Kendal.
• What do you think of these figures? Let us know via ed@virtual-lancaster.net

CANAL CORRIDOR PLANS: NEW DETAIL REVEALED

An indicative sketch illustrating how the Stonewell entranceway to the new £100 million development planned by Centros Miller for Lancaster's canal corridor area might look. Click on the image for a larger picture, or click here. Current businesses, including the Stonewell Post Office will be relocated.

17/2/06: At an exclusive presentation for virtual-lancaster, Centros Miller and PR company Halogen yesterday offered more detail on their plans for Lancaster's "canal corridor" area, and answered some of the many questions local residents have about the scheme.
The presentation was one of several the company has made this week to a wide variety of interested parties.
The Canal Corridor scheme is certainly ambitious. Centros Miller hopes that it will blend local wishes for a 'cultural quarter' with the economic necessities of new shops and other developments that will fund such regeneration plans for the area.
David Lewis, Associate Director of Centros Miller, who has been busy this week meeting locals affected by the plans, was keen to allay concerns about the height of the proposed multi-storey car park and potential traffic problems the project might cause raised by virtual-lancaster readers after publication of the first outline of the scheme earlier this week.
During the presentation, architect Tom Hewitt outlined the approach to the development plan and together with Mr Lewis, explained that some elements -- the final location of a new Musicians' Co-op and possible expansions to the Dukes and the Grand -- had yet to be finalised, as these were issues still in negotiation.
Centring on a new square, the architects told virtual-lancaster they are taking their inspiration for the £100 million development from Lancaster's existing architecture -- such as the layout of Market Square -- and had been inspired by the shopping mix offered by towns such as York and Durham.
While a new department store would help anchor the project, providing a draw for shoppers from Marks and Spencer and Penny Street through to the new shopping area, Centros Miller also hopes to offer smaller at affordable rents to attract independent retailers.
The high street retailers who would take larger units in the development have not been named, but Mr Lewis says Centros Miller is currently talking only to brands with no presence, as yet, in the city.
Other ideas for the area include a new hotel, new offices for Mitchells on Moor Lane and a park area adjacent to Alfred Street.
Commenting on concerns about a new large department store -- a key part of the plans -- he said Centros Miller recognised that there are a large number of existing independent traders in Lancaster -- currently about 20% of Lancaster's shops -- and says that they would benefit from the introduction of a new large store. His company's experience in other cities has seen the introduction of new large stores increase the number of shopper visits, he says.
"We don't want Lancaster to be a clone town," Mr Lewis emphasised. "By bringing more people to Lancaster, more money is being spent," he argues -- and independent stores would benefit from that.
"Early studies we did showed that by introducing a department store to Lancaster would actually claw another 50,000 people into the catchment area... some £30 million of business that would come to Lancaster."
Plans for a possible new pedestrian bridge across Lancaster Canal, connecting the new development with Freehold, have also yet to be discussed with British Waterways, although widening the adjacent towpath area is definitely part of the plans.
Addressing concerns about the size of the proposed multi-storey car park, Mr Lewis told virtual-lancaster no final decision had been made about the size of the facility, but that new housing and careful use of the site's elevation would mean it would not be visible from Alfred Street -- an issue raised by the It's Our City residents group.
On traffic issues, he revealed the company had been carrying out traffic studies in the area last week, and will be working with both City and County councils to try and come up with a workable solution to potential bottlenecks.
It's hoped that the scheme might actually bring an end to some of Lancaster's "rat runs" which have blighted residents lives in recent years - Albert Street would no longer suffer through traffic, for example.
"The traffic problem here is actually keeping people away from Lancaster," David feels, which encourages shoppers to travel to Preston - currently in the process of major development - or further afield.
The Centros Miller team have also noted proposals for a large music venue in the area, perhaps linked with the Musician's Co-op or some other exiting arts venue. But they are cautious. "We'll explore that," said Mr Lewis, " But there's a risk that it could turn out to be something people then decide they don't want." The company has no desire for a huge, boarded-up building on the site, citing the problems with the unopened cinema development on Church Street.
Mr Lewis feels strongly that if Lancaster does not develop and expand its retail centre, the city will lose business to Manchester and Preston. "All our experience shows that a development scheme like this has beneficial effects on a city," says Mr. Lewis. "It boosts the rest of the town."
There is still much work to be done - many more meetings with residents and businesses affected by the plans need to be held, with Centros Miller saying they are keen to maintain "continuity of trade" for existing shops.
The plans, if accepted, will take perhaps four years to complete and reaction to the scheme is still being assessed. But for better or worse, there is a clear sense of vision and enthusiasm from the Centros Miller team that might just prove infectious.
• Read more about scheme below: and some reactions from locals here

COUNTY IGNORES LOCALS, CLOSES LIBRARIES
17/2/06: Despite a determined campaign by local residents, councillors, supported by the Lancaster Guardian, Lancashire County Council voted yesterday to close libraries in Caton, Warton and Hest Bank.
Nine libraries are to close in Lancashire to help the county council balance the books -- part of a wider crisis for Britain's library service, with some 50 British libraries -- many in small or isolated communities - facing closure this year as local governments in at least six counties look for ways to cut costs or more effectively allocate funds they spend on libraries.

Lucy Miller and Jenne Dallas from Total Fitness with, from left, PCSOs John Brayshaw, Cliff Riley and Lorraine Campbell at the launch of the local police's "You Can Fit The Bill'' recruitment initiative.

YOU CAN FIT THE BILL!
16/2/06: You can fit The Bill -- that's the message from local police who launched a new recruitment initiative at the Total Fitness gym on Monday evening.
It was the first time police had held such an event locally and more than 40 members of the gym took the chance to speak to recruitment experts and officers about roles in the force locally. Police are looking to build up a bank of people interested in working for them across a wide range of jobs including police officers, community support officers, special constables, communications rooms staff and volunteers.
Human Resources manager for the Lancashire Constabulary's Northern Division Mr Victor Robinson said: "We are always looking for people of all ages and backgrounds who would like to come and work for any of the roles in the extended police family.
"We are offering people the chance to come and have a chat about the varied roles we have on offer and let them know about any vacancies as and when they arise. We will develop individuals at all levels and do our utmost to help them to achieve the role they want within the organisation.''
Police last week launched a major recruitment drive for community support officers with up to 40 posts being made available in the Lancaster and Morecambe area this year and more in 2007. They are also keen to hear from anyone who would like details of being a special constable.
Talking about the Total Fitness event Mr Robinson said: "This was the first time we have tried this recruitment initiative and we were delighted with the response we received. We know that there are a lot of people in our communities who would like to join the police family but don't really know how to go about it.
"We are here to help and would be delighted to hear from any member of the public who is interested in speaking to us about a job in the Constabulary.''
Jenne Dallas, duty manager at Total Fitness, said she was delighted to be involved."We're always keen to promote good community initiatives," she said, "and a number of our members said it was a really good idea.'' *
• Anyone requiring further details about joining the police family can contact Glenis Stables on 01524 596983.

A picture of the tombstone shortly after it was excavated, published by the Wigan Archaeological Society. The excavation work was carried out by a team from Manchester University headed by Dave Powers and Peter Noble. The tablet depicts a cavalryman subduing his enemy; unsually, with a sword in his hand instead of the usual lance. If you look closely you can also see that the soldier has decapitated his opponent with it. Look again and you will see he is clutching the severed head by the hair in his sword hand. Peter Iles from Lancashire County Council’s Archaeological Services says he has not seen another example like it, certainly not in this country. Peter also says that the archaeologists did not find a burial associated with it, but ditches found nearby are suggestive of a mortuary enclosure, which points to this being a memorial stone or stele rather than a gravestone. Mike Pitts, the editor of the British Arcaheology magazine, described the stone as “immensely exciting and seriously important”. “Much of Roman sculpture is very fragmentary and, even if it is in good condition, it is not of a particularly high quality aesthetically," he told The Times. "This is more or less complete, with a carving whose quality is superb.”

SAVE OUR HISTORY!
16/2/06: Council leader Ian Barker has stepped into controversy over the Roman gravestone recently found in Lancaster during the building of a block of flats, which property developer Chris Tudor Wheelan is proposing to auction at Sotheby's, suggesting it might raise almost £58,000.
The Times reported last week that Britain might lose the arefact, which depicts a mounted trooper holding a sword and the head of a man he has just killed, archaeologists say is a unique find, to an overseas buyer.
Councillor Barker has now written to the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport, Tessa Jowell, asking her to refuse an export licence if this happens.
The gravestone, which has been dated to 1st or early 2nd century, is currently being dried ot at the County Museum in Preston.
Councillor Barker said that, as far as the City Council was concerned, planning permission was granted with archaeological conditions attached. There was an obligation in the development agreement not to dispose of any important archaeological finds.
"No one could have anticipated finding a stone of such significance," says Councillor Barker, "but it was known that this could be an important archaeological site.
" Planning permission was only granted on condition that a proper archaeological investigation was carried out. The costs of this should have been built into the development, so its more than a little opportunistic to seek to recover them just because something really important has been found."
"This stone is an important relic of Lancaster's Roman past," says Coun Barker. "In my view it should stay in Lancaster and the public should be able to see it. It shouldn't be sold into a private collection or sent abroad. I will certainly be asking officers of the City and the County Councils to do all they can to enforce the obligations attached to the planning consent."
"I've asked Tessa Jowell to refuse an export licence if this is sold abroad, so that we have a chance to keep the gravestone in Lancaster."
Mr Whelan told the Morecambe Visitor this week that he has invested a lot in Lancaster and he was not looking to sell off its heritage.
"But I would like to cover my costs," he told the paper. "I had to pay a total of about £39,000 to have the digs completed under the planning regulations and, with the delay to the building that resulted, I reckon it's cost me about £50,000, which is a lot to recoup.
"I've already been contacted by someone who offered to buy it as long as it remained in Lancaster," he added, "and that's what I'd like to happen – but we'll have to see what develops."

FIRST LOOK: CANAL CORRIDOR IDEAS REVEALED

Click the image or here for a larger version of this graphic, which will open in a new window. Click here to read your views so far (this will also open in a new window).

"I am not happy," commented local councillor John Whitelegg after seeing the ideas. He is meeting Centros Miller this evening (16th). along with It's Our City and other interested parties. "It will damage the existing city centre and we will see boarded up shops and dereliction in Market Square, Penny Street and the [existing] pedestrianised area.

"There are already about 30 empty shops in the city centre."

Centros Miller, Lancaster City Council's preferred developer for the Canal Corridor North site, revealed its key principles behind its emerging masterplan for the site earlier this week, emphasising a new pedestrian route through the area, linking Lancaster Canal to the city centre through a series of open public spaces towards Stonewell, where a new pedestrian bridge will link the site with the city centre, hopefully, through St Nicholas Arcades. Further routes across the site will make the area completely pedestrianised, with the existing minor roads being closed.

Areas of the site have also been identified for particular uses. These include residential areas and green space near Alfred Street and the canal, a new department store and a variety of new shops in the central area leading towards Stonewell, plus cultural and leisure uses - including cafés and restaurants - supporting and linking the Dukes and Grand theatres. A multi-storey car park is also suggested, accessed via St Leonards Gate - replacing the existing parking, but a proposal that is certain to meet with much resistance.

Under the plans, buildings such as Stonewell Post Office - one of Lancaster's busiest post offices, especially since the closure of many others -- would be completely demolished and relocated (its owner, is keen to have larger premises), but Mitchells, the Dukes, the Grand Theatre and the old, currently closed Tramway pub would remain.

Release of the plans follows publication of the results of Centros Miller's first survey results -- a survey of some 600 plus people in Lancaster's City Centre -- which showed that just over 54 per cent of those polled favoured increased leisure and cultural use of the Canal Corridor area, over 46.1 percent favouring more retail space.

Only 26.6 per cent of those polled favoured a new department store, but it forms a central part of Centros Miller's outline plans. Centros Miller say respondees offerend many ideas for the new area when questioned, but a large department store was an idea most voiced, which was why it has been included in the results.

Initial reactions to the plans have been mixed. "Alfred Street will overlook the multi storey," said a spokesperson for residents group It's Our City. "Plus, we don't know the height of the proposed resident "block".

"We have a real battle on our hands, in my view. I'm furious there's no provision for small businesses in these plans."

Centros Miller have responded quickly to this concern. "The car park will take advantage of the changing levels of the site (which drops a great deal from the level of Alfred Street)," explains Steve Bryson, who works for Centros Miller's PR company, Halogen. "The plan also proposes new housing on Alfred Street and therefore the existing residents of Alfred Street will not be able to see the car park. They will also benefit considerably from their street changing from a busy rat-run to a cul-de-sac with a green park at the end."

I loathe the idea of a multi-store ca rpark," says Simon Creswell. "These always blight areas and can have safety concerns. Can Centros point to a cheery pleasant car park?

"I would bet anything that most of the retail spaces will struggle in the way in which artificially created shopping areas in so many towns located at the margins struggle," he feels. "It won't take long before some shops collapse with empty retail space undermining the health and vibrancy of the others. For example, the retail spaces in and near the new Booths and the old M&S in Kendal are quite high turnover." (Read all Simon's comments)

David Lewis, Associate Director of Centros Miller is enthusiastic about the ideas. "Having listened to everyone's views in our first round of meetings, we have now put forward the key principles and concepts for how the site may best be developed," he says says. "We are now seeking feedback from the public on this before we move to the next stage."

"Our initial concept for the masterplan aims to produce a mixed-use development that will not only fulfil the Council's planning brief, but will also fulfil local people's aspirations for the site," feels Mr. Lewis. "Our recent survey of people in the city centre demonstrated high support for a mixed-use scheme incorporating enhanced cultural and leisure facilities, new varied public open space, a department store and improved retail and residential uses. The feedback we are also getting from our separate survey of local residents also supports those desires.

"Traffic, of course, will be a major issue and we are currently undertaking full traffic counts and parking surveys to establish the current traffic and parking patterns.

"We believe that some key improvements to roads and junctions away from the site will enhance access to the city centre and the car park on the site will be able to intercept much of the traffic presently circulating on the inner ring road - and this proposal will be tested once we have all the traffic data.

"We also aim to preserve many of the buildings around the edge of the site, and ensure that views across the city are maintained. In addition, we are already in discussions with many of the owners and occupiers of buildings on the site to see if we can either offer them new premises within the scheme or relocate them within the area. We are also in discussions with the owners of St Nicholas Arcades."

• What do YOU think of these outline plans? Let us know via ed@virtual-lancaster.net
• Click here to read your views so far (this will open in a new window).

CANAL CORRIDOR SURVEY RESULTS
16/2/02: On behalf of Centros Miller, Halogen organised a survey of visitors to Lancaster city centre over three days, from 10.00am to 4.00pm Thursday 19th to Saturday 21st January 2006. Based close to two stalls (branded Canal Corridor North) located initially in Market Street but then later (due to inclement weather) at the Cheapside entrance of St Nicholas Arcades, four interviewers approached members of the public asking them to participate in the survey. Willing interviewees were then asked a series of questions about their visit and their views about the city and its needs.
Altogether 608 members of the public were interviewed and a summary of their responses is as follows:

• 85% of people are frequent visitors to the city centre, visiting weekly or more often (with 41.3% being daily visitors).
• The main reason given for visiting the city centre was for non-food shopping, with leisure, business and food shopping being other main reasons for visits.
• The most popular modes of travel to the city centre were by foot and by car. Buses were the next most common mode of transport.
• 69.9% of those interviewed also said they visited the city centre in the evenings, with 27% being regular evening visitors
• 59.2% said that they also regularly visited other locations for shopping, with 24.5% visiting Preston and 16.3% visiting Manchester (including the Trafford centre).
• 71.7% said that Lancaster needed a more extensive range of shops in the city centre
When asked what, if anything, was missing from Lancaster city centre, 26.6% said "a department store". The other, most common suggestions were "more shopping choice" and "more variety".
47.5% of people were aware of the proposed development of the Canal Corridor North site. (Afterwards, interviewees were given a leaflet explaining the survey, identifying the Canal Corridor North site and providing information on how to find out more and contribute further in the consultation process.)

When asked about the types of uses that should be included in the development, people suggested the following:

• Leisure/cultural quarter: 54.1%
• Shopping: 46.1%
• Open space: 25.5%
• Housing: 19.2%
• Parking: 18.9%
• Small workshops/industrial units: 8.2%
• Offices: 4.9%

Steve Bryson, a spokesperson for Cetros Miller recently told virtual-lancaster that although a quarter of the public polled suggested open space as one of the elements to be included in the mix, only a small percentage of people (c.6% of the total sample) qualified that by suggesting that the open space element should include some form of green space. "Some of these suggestions included a city farm and a football pitch," says Steve, "and other individual suggestions included a boat marina, Park & Ride, a swimming pool, a relief road through the middle, and a skate park.
A survey of local residents is still continuing. Steve Bryson from Halogen told virtual-lancaster he was staggered by the number or responses so far. It's clear the plans are attracting a lot of attention and discussion.

Survey notes:
• All percentages are of the total sample of 608. Some questions were multiple-choice, so percentages do not necessarily add up to 100.
• 69% of the 608 people interviewed lived in the LA1 postcode area and a further 16.4% lived in postcode areas LA2, LA3 and LA4.
• The sample covered all age groups, though a higher than representative proportion of 16-24 year olds were included (possibly because higher numbers of young people were visiting the city centre, or there was a reluctance of those in the older age groups to be interviewed).
• 53.1% of interviewees were male and 46.9% female.

MORE TRAINS FOR LANCASTER?
15/2/06: Lancaster, Morecambe & District Rail User Group reports that new track relaying at Lancaster station now means the speed limit for trains departing Platform 4has been increased from 10 mph to 30 mph.
By reducing the time required for calling at Lancaster, Virgin Trains may be persuaded to allow more services to stop.
The next Group meeting will take place on Tues 21 February at 7.30pm at the Friends Meeting House. More info on 01524 33077

MORE MONEY FOR LOCAL GROUPS
15/2/06: 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 and the next closing date is Friday 12th May 2006 for decisions at the end of the Month.
In January, Nine local charities shared £9,600 from the Galbraith Trust. Grants varied between £600 and £2,000 and went towards supporting the work of Red Rose Youth, Silverdale Bowling Club, The Skerton Players, Lancaster District Recycling Forum, Galgate Pre-school and others. Projects included running a Performing arts course, restoration of old and out of print music, rebuilding of a boundary wall, IT equipment and an expedition to Brazil.
Further information from the CVS at Trinity Community Centre, Middle Street, Lancaster, LA1 1JZ. Tel: 01524 555900 E-mail: billlivesey@lancastercvs.org.uk

ANNE SACKS DIES
15/2/06: Lancaster Labour Party's parliamentary candidate at the last General Election has died.
Anne Sacks, who was selected as Labour's parliamentary candidate for the Lancaster seat following Hilton Dawson's decision to stand down, had been diagnosed with cancer shortly after the 2005 General Election and passed away this morning in a London hospice.
Despite a narrow majority and a difficult job to retain the seat for Labour, she moved to Lancaster and gave the General Election campaign her all, said a Lancaster Labour Party spokesperson.
"Anne came to Lancaster in difficult circumstances," commented her election agent James Groves, "but she showed enormous courage and determination in fighting this seat on behalf of the people of Lancaster. She will be greatly missed."
Anne Sacks was a journalist who had an extensive career on national newspapers. Born in 1955, she grew up in South Africa, where she was active in the campaign against the apartheid regime. After gaining a degree in journalism and politics and a postgraduate diploma in industrial relations, Anne worked as a political reporter in Johannesburg. She came to Britain in 1985 because her political activities had put her in danger.
She continued her journalistic career on the Financial Times, London Evening Standard, Independent on Sunday and the Guardian. However she put her career aside to move to Lancaster and take up her role as Labour's parliamentary candidate.
Said Lancaster branch Chair, Michael Gibson, "Anne loved living in Lancaster and had made it her home. It was her intention to stay in the area and continue the work she had begun but this was tragically taken away from her."
Anne leaves a husband, David, and three stepsons.

DESIGN A FLAG COMPETITION
15/2/06: Work began this week on the new Aqua Play Facility in Happy Mount Park, Morecambe, with the pool due to open in May 2006. The facility replaces the former paddling pool and will provide a safe and exciting play facility for children of all ages and now the Council is looking for a flag for the entrance.
The Interactive Aqua Park will have free entry and be one of the biggest in the region and will provide a fun place for our local residents and visitors that Happy Mount Park attracts throughout the summer. Originally developed in the USA, Aqua Parks are becoming popular in the UK, and are seen as a safe alternative to ageing paddling pools.
An aqua arch, water fences, and a fill'n'spill feature are just some of the interactive water jets, sprays and cannons that will form part of the Aqua Park in Happy Mount Park. The surface of the aqua park will be soft, similar to play ground safety flooring.
One lucky child and their classmates will have the chance to enjoy a sneak preview of the water play park before it is open to the public, all they need to do is to design a flag for the entrance to the aqua play area.
Anyone aged between 5 - 11 years old can enter the competition. Your flag design, which should have water as the theme, should be drawn on A4 sized paper and handed into school or posted to Leisure Services Department, Morecambe Town Hall, Marine Road Morecambe, LA4 5AF by March 17, 2006.
Lancaster City Council Cabinet member for Leisure, Councillor Ron Sands said: 'This is a very exciting development for Happy Mount Park. I am sure that families will spend many happy hours enjoying the facility and new visitors will be attracted to the town. All the features will be interactive, operated by control points throughout the play area, and this adds an extra element for children to enjoy.'
For further Information on the new aqua play area please contact Sharon Wilson Promenade/Outdoor Facility Manager in Leisure Services 01524 582847 swilson@lancaster.gov.uk

PRIMARY HEALTH CARE VIEWS SOUGHT
15/2/06: The Morecambe Bay PCT PPI Forum is seeking views from the public on the options for new Primary Care Trusts in Cumbria and Lancashire.
The options under consideration are:
Option 1 - Four Primary Care Trusts (Blackpool PCT, Lancashire PCT, Blackburn with Darwen PCT and Cumbria PCT)
Option 2 - Five Primary Care Trusts (Blackpool PCT, Lancashire PCT, Blackburn with Darwen PCT, North Cumbria PCT and Morecambe Bay PCT)
Option 3 - Six Primary Care Trusts (Blackpool PCT, Lancaster, Wyre & Fylde PCT, Burnley, Rossendale & Ribble Valley PCT, Blackburn with Darwen PCT, West Lancs, Chorley & Preston PCT and Cumbria PCT)
Responses will be very valuable in deciding on the future configuration of Primary Care Trusts, a Forum spokesperson told virtual-lancaster. The final decision will decide who will be responsible for commissioning services for patients and improving the health of the local population.
Full information is available from www.clha.nhs.uk Please let the PCT Forum know your views and preferred option by the 14th March 2006 by sending your views to Zoe Guest, Morecambe Bay Patient and Public Involvement in Health Forums, Barrow CVS, 72-74 Scott Street, Barrow in Furness, Cumbria Tel. 01229 823144 Fax. 01229 823155 E-mail cppih@bcvs.demon.co.uk
The Forum will then be able to send a full report to the Stategic Health Authority by 22 March 2006.

SUMMER PROMENADE IN THE WILLOWS
15/2/06: Are you a fan of Kenneth Grahame’s classic tale The Wind in the Willows?  You now have the chance of an acting or backstage role in a “promenade” dramatisation of the story to be staged this summer, courtesy of local drama group Living Image.
Promenade theatre is usually left to the professionals. You need the right play, the right venue, a dash of ingenuity and a bit of luck with the weather. Amateur group Living Image has not only taken on the challenge but made it something of a speciality, especially since discovering the wonderful setting of St Helen’s Churchtown, near Garstang.
Readers who remember last year’s Lark Rise, or The Winter’s Tale in 2003, won’t need reminding how idyllic the church grounds and square can be a long, light midsummer evening.  Even if the weather doesn’t co-operate, the historic parish church itself provides an atmospheric setting for an indoor performance.  Living Image is delighted to have been invited back for another production in June.
The group recruits openly for its larger productions, and anyone interested is now encouraged to join the team for The Wind in the Willows.  Audiences will follow the adventures of Mole and Rat, the gruff but kindly Badger, and the eccentric Toad with his reckless escapades and “crazes”. As well as these principal roles, there’s a variety of smaller acting parts with potential for doubling up.  And there are plenty of ways to be involved without the stage-fright!  Could you help with creating imaginative costumes - or constructing hardware?  (How do you fancy a boat, a barge or a Romany caravan?)  You may have skills in publicity and promotion, or be willing to give a hand with ticket collecting, escorting the audience, or getting printing done.
If it appeals to you, come to an introductory and casting session on Monday 6th March, 7.30pm at Hollins Lane Methodist Church, Forton.  If you want travel directions, or if you can’t manage that date but are still interested, contact either Don Semple (phone 01995 640579, email Donone5757@aol.com) or Ann Thomson (phone 01524 791787, email FortonAnn@aol.com).  If you’re reading this after the date has passed, you’re welcome to get in touch anyway.

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