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BYPASS HEADS FOR INQUIRY
29/3/06: A government ruling could mean that Lancashire County Council cannot now give the proposed lancaster Northern bypass planning permission by applying to itself for that permission. More news on this next week or visit the Transport Solutions for Lancaster and Morecambe web site for the latest info.

HOSPITAL CAR PARKING FEES
29/3/06: As controversy rages over hospital car parking fees, it's been revealed Morecambe Bay NHS Trust raised £352,000 from its car parks – presumably at the RLI and possibly Furness. The Westmorland doesn't charge.
• View the PDF detailing annual income collected from parking fees at selected English hospitals 2004-05, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act (Thanks to MG for this story)

HOT MIKADO
29/3/06: Things are about to hot up at the Grand Theatre when LADOS presents the first ever staging in the area of the ‘Hot Mikado’, a jazz/swing version of the Gilbert & Sullivan favourite.
This hilarious comedy provides a great evening’s entertainment and transforms Sullivan’s music into a score recreating the swinging sounds of Harlem featuring blues, swing, gospel and Andrews Sisteresque showstoppers.  Gilbert’s lyrics naturally remain as witty, irreverant and calculatedly confusing as ever. 
LADOS has a reputation of bringing adventurous new productions to the district and  the 2006 show is no exception.  As ever, the cast has risen to the challenge and under the expert guidance of Peggy Brierley’s production skills and Angela Pearson’s musical direction, they have created another high quality musical production which demonstrates the musical versatility of this excellent society.
The story has relocated the Japanese citizens to 1940’s America where they now speak with US accents and the men have borrowed heavily from the wardrobe of the Blues Brothers! The village of Titi-pu is now home to some of the coolest cats around and all the showstoppers including ‘Three Little Maids’ and ‘I’ve got a Litlle List’ are all included in this entertaining family show
The Hot Mikado is proof that classic music can be tinkered with in moderation to deliver older material to a completely new audience and this zoot-suited,  colourful spectacle is guaranteed to send you from the theatre with your toes tapping!
Performances take place each evening from 3rd to 8th April at 7.30pm. Tickets available from the Grand Theatre box office  Tel. 01524 64695 (between 10am & 3pm daily)

GREGSON REJECTS PHONE MAST
29/3/06: After consulting its members, a meeting of Lancaster's Gregson Centre trustees last night voted unanimously against accepting an offer from mobile phone giant Vodafone to put an phone mast on the venue's roof.

SINGLES AT THE SEASIDE!
25/3/06: Events company Éventualité Limited is set to break records this summer by organising the biggest Singles Event ever - in Morecambe.
LoveNW, a gathering of over 1,000 single people from around the North West is set to be the biggest ever event of its kind in the UK. and will take place in Morecambe, 21st to 23rd July 2006. The long weekend of love is the brainchild of Éventualité Limited Chief Executive Catherine Potter, who says the rising number of single people and the total number of clients registered with agencies is calculated at approximately 300,000 spurred her decision to organise the event.
Despite the explosion in online dating agencies, Potter says not all couples who meet online are successful. Some couples who have got off to a good start online said that things were different once they came face-to-face, and the success rate of finding a long-lasting relationship online is only around eight per cent.
In a recent survey, 79 per cent of single people also said they were afraid of potential risks associated with online dating - safety issues being one factor in their reluctance to sign up.
Another recent phenomenon, the advent of speed-dating only suits a minority of people, with its quick fire approach to match-making.
In many respects, LoveNW is the antithesis of speed-dating, with a whole weekend to find the perfect partner from a selection of carefully pre-matched individuals.
Potter chose Morecambe as the venue for LoveNW because the regeneration of Morecambe and sister city Lancaster is close to her heart, as wearing a different hat she has been at the centre of dreaming up a new economic future for her much-loved home town. With its numerous quality small hotels which mean that people from all over the North West can stay for the weekend and enjoy the stunning panoramic views over Morecambe Bay while looking for romance, the town has all the facilities required to make this event a success.
To create the right atmosphere, LoveNW, which aims to offer matches with at least 10 potential partners who can spend some romantic time together over the weekend will be staging a continuous programme of music and entertainment at the Platform, the Dome and the Waterfront.
"One of the joys of life must be sharing one's experiences with a companion, a soulmate, a partner," says Catherine. "There are over one million single adults in the North West. Let's create a little happiness, let's match a few of these people together. "Love NW presents a unique opportunity to broaden our search for a partner outside of our own home town or city and outside of our usual social group." she continued. "Miss it and miss out on meeting someone who could change your life forever."
Web Link: www.lovenorthwest.co.uk

MEETING FOR PEACE
22/3/06: Lancaster and District Coalition Against War will be holding a public meeting and slideshow at the Friend's
Meeting House, Lancaster to address people's growing concern that we may be heading towards an armed conflict with Iran. Guest speaker at the event on Thursday 30 March will be Iranian film maker and campaigner Roya Kashefi, who will be bringing lots of photos and stories of ordinary people living in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Roya is a key member of the Paris-based Association of Iranian Researchers who have recently met with representatives of the UK and US governments to try to avert a military attack on Iran. More recently she help establish the Negotiate Peace campaign, launched on March 1st 2006 in response to the call from the People's Initiative for Departments of Peace for governments to use proven non-violent conflict transformation methods to resolve the worrying situation between Iran and the West.
Their website - www.negotiate-peace.org - offers resources to individuals and organisations wishing to call on governments to adopt this non-violent strategy.will present her opinion of the UK's current political response to threats of nuclear proliferation, and invite discussion of what can be done in response.
Roya's films on contemporary politics in Iran have been nominated for international awards. She has frequently commented on Iranian issues on international radio and television.
Much of Roya's work focuses on supporting Iranian refugees and asylum-seekers in the UK. Since 2000 she has provided the English, EU and Canadian Immigration and Appeals Courts and Tribunals with expert reports on the situation in Iran and the abuses of the Islamic Republic.

NEW SUPERMARKET FOR LANCASTER?
22/3/06: Two new food super stores for Lancaster and Morecambe, more quality shopping and careful consideration of "edge of town" retail developments are among the findings of a 106 page report on Retail Needs in the Lancaster and Morecambe area (PDF document), recently published by the Council.
The survey, commissioned in part to examine requirements for new shopping development in Lancaster, Morecambe and Carnforth suggests that at present there is not the amount of expected "leakage" of shoppers to out of area shopping centres such as Blackpool, Preston and Manchester but warns that as these develop, the area may lose custom. But it also advises that any "edge of town" development - in terms of the survey's definitions, this would include the proposed Canal Corridor - should be carefully considered, and how it might affect existing shopping centres.
Consultants White Young Green warn against developments that would simply echo retail offerings in other nearby towns, and suggest that large food stores in the centres of Lancaster and Morecambe could provide strong anchors for new shopping development.
The detailed survey, studying existing food and other retail provision, reveals Morrisons in Morecambe is the most popular supermarket in the area - and is one of several not keeping pace with demand, or 'over trading' - and criticises the location of the Tesco supermarket in Carnforth, which has affected shops in the town. (The report also suggests that any further expansion of the store shiould be discouraged).
The report also touches on the impact the Internet is having locally on businesses such as music, books and clothes stores.
Local people and businesses were surveyed for the report, with Lancaster businesses voicing concerns over car park charges and Lancaster Market, and Morecambe businesses concerned by competition from Lancaster and the poor state of both the town centre and public amenities, like toilets. Many local businesses did not see out of town shopping as their major competitors, regarding other local shops as their main rivals.
Virtual-Lancaster has asked for comments on the report from Centros Miller, who are developing plans for Lancaster's Canal Corridor, but its appearance on the Council web site seems to have taken even Council leader Ian Barker by surprise. It has not yet been discussed by Council.
Councillor John Whitelegg feels much of the survey's findings are open to interpretation. "It basically says everything is very uncertain and subject to assumptions so you need to do more surveys," he told Virtual-Lancaster, "and new shopping opportunities should be focussed within existing centres. Lancaster is doing quite well, but Morecambe  is the real problem with a need for new investment.
"I was expecting a strong message that we 'need' all this extra 'non-food comparison' shopping and it's not there."
• You can download the full report from the Council web site: Click Here (PDF Document is linked to from this page)

PENSION PROTEST CLOSES COUNCIL OFFICES
22/3/06: A number of Lancaster City Council offices will be closed to the public on Tuesday 28 March, as council workers join a national protest over pensions.
UNISON members joined the planned Day of Actionbeing organised by a number of unions last week after its members voted for strike action.
Some 80% supported strike action to demand fair treatment over pension rights in the Local Government Pension Scheme. Also involved in the strike are the GMB, the Transport and General Workers Union, Amicus, the Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians (UCATT), National Association of Probation Officers, the Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance (NIPSA), the Association of Educational Psychologists (AEP) and the Community and Youth Workers' Union (CYWU).
The following council offices will be closed to the public: Lancaster Town Hall; Morecambe Town Hall; Palatine Hall, Dalton Square, Lancaster; Council Housing, Cable Street, Lancaster; the Strategic Housing in Euston Road, Morecambe; Lancaster City Museum; and Lancaster Maritime Museum
There will also be no refuse or recyling collection that day. If your waste was due to be collected on 28 March you should put it on what will be your next normal collection date instead. Household waste recycling centres, where you can take normal rubbish, will be open at Salt Ayre and Carnforth.
Public toilets will also be closed (those that are left - Ed).
Currently, all other services, including, Salt Ayre Leisure Centre, Morecambe Tourist Information Centre, Lancaster Tourist Information Centre, St Leonard's House, Lancaster Market, Morecambe Market and Council run parks are expected to be operating, although the level of service will be reduced due to lower staffing numbers.
"Contingency plans will be in place to ensure essential services that impact on health and safety are maintained," says Chief Executive Mark Cullinan.
Ten trade unions are taking part in the Day of Action over pensions, protesting at Government proposals to change Local Government Pension Schemes which, they argue, will adversely affect tens of thousands of low paid public-sector workers who were born after 31 March 1953, increasing the age at which many workers can claim their LGPS pension.
"It doesn't matter how much you paid into the LGPS, what personal sacrifices you made or how long you've worked,” says UNISON's General secretary Dave Prentis. “If you fall on the wrong side of the government's arbitrary date of 31 March 1953 - even by a day - then you will have to work an extra five years to keep all of your pension.
UNISON points out the proposals don't just affect people working in local government: LGPS members by also work in housing associations, higher and further education, the police, fire and rescue services, probation, the Environment Agency, the Meat Hygiene Service, passenger transport executives, opted out schools and in some private companies and the voluntary sector.
"The majority of LGPS members, who have spent a lifetime delivering vital services to their local communities, are women, with an average LGPS pension of just £31 a week," says Mr Prentis. "It's not much, but together with their state pension, it helps to keep these hard working people out of poverty.
"Civil servants, teachers, police, firefighters and the NHS have all been given protection for existing members over changes to their pension scheme. There is absolutely no rhyme or reason in singling out LGPS members for such unfair and unjust treatment.
"Our members deserve the pensions they have already paid for."

Comedian and author Mark Steel will be appearing at Morecambe's Platform next month (7 April 2006). Read an interview...

INTELLIGENT TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT?
21/3/06: Transport Solutions for Lancaster and Morecambe has welcomed a call for local transport improvements from City Council leader Ian Barker (see story, below), but say they must mean the Council has doubts that the Northern Bypass will prove the claimed solution to the area's traffic problems.
"We're pleased Councillor Barker has asked for talks with Lancashire County Council about public transport improvements, park and ride, HGV routing and a Luneside bridge, TSLM's co-ordinator David Gate told Virtual-Lancaster. "This demonstrates that the Council are not convinced that the £118 millon Link road to Heysham port will deal with the congestion problem or help regeneration south of the river. It also shows that the Council have put the cart before the horse, rushing to spend a fortune on a destructive and non performing road before sustainable alternatives have been implemented. Surely it should have tried the many non-road building alternatives before, not after, planning this unpopular road.
Top of Cllr Barker's wish list is a bridge to Luneside. "This was the City Council's condition for supporting the Northern route scheme," says David. "Everyone can see that the Northern route makes no sense without it. The problem is that they are unlikely to get funding for a public road bridge, because it would dump more traffic onto an already congested road; that's quite apart from the environmental problems.
"Coun Barker wants to "make use of road space freed up by the link": but this will be small, in Lancaster City Centre almost non-existent," David argues, "and will fill up with cars pretty quickly, before you can say "sustainable transport".
"Given that the Northern route has not yet received planning permission or government funding, these are very telling admissions," David feels. "Coun Barker talks about investing in 'intelligent traffic management': amen to that. But to achieve "intelligent traffic management" they will have to scrap the controversial Northern route and start again."

IN THE SWIM!
21/3/06: Lancaster City Council is 10 weeks into its new swimming lesson programme which has proved so far to be a huge success.
The numbers of people taking lessons each week has increased from around 700 to 800, with many of those taking advantage of lessons now offered during the week, after school.
"Reduced class sizes have improved the quality of teaching and in addition to our popular junior lessons," said a council spkesperson. "We now have a number adults enrolled in our learn to swim classes and swimming fitness classes."
"Feedback from customers has been extremely positive and they have all welcomed all changes that we have made," says Janet Bowers, the council's recently appointed Swimming Development Officer, " which is proved by the increase in numbers of people taking swimming lessons. However there are still places available, so I hope to see another 100 people taking part in our lessons over the next 12 months."
The new swimming lesson programme, running at all the council's local pools, offers an improved service to all our customers and costs £30 for a ten-week course. For more information on what lessons are available at your nearest pool and how to enrol, please contact each pool directly.
• Salt Ayre Sports Centre (01524) 847540
• Heysham Community Swimming Pool (01524) 420763
• Carnforth Community Swimming Pool (01524) 734699
• Hornby Community Swimming Pool (015242) 21119

CLEAN STREETS?
21/3/06: The City Council is responding to demands for cleaner streets with several key projects -- but they're keen to hear what you think about how clean our district is. If you'd like to tell us what you think of the district, and about any particular problems or areas for improvement, you can fill in a questionnaire on the council website at www.lancaster.gov.uk/spotless.
From April 1 the on-the-spot fine for littering will go up to £75. Under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 the council will also have new powers to fine people for dropping gum and cigarette butts in the street.

CAUTION URGED ON PARTY FUNDING
21/3/06: Morecambe MP Geraldine Smith has warned fellow MPs that the intriduction of state fuding for political parties would go down like "a lead balloon" with the public.
Ms Smith was speaking in the House of Commons yesterday during a debate on party political funding following revelations of huge secret loans made to Labour in the run up to the last general election. Welcoming a statement on the affair from the government she said she flet it was quite right that all political parties should declare any loans that they receive and it is right to review party political funding, "but I would err on the side of caution in going down the road of state funding for political parties," she commented, "which would go down like a lead balloon with the public.
"The way forward has been mentioned already," she pointed out. "We should make the cap on spending at elections much lower than at present." With a wry dig at some of the way Labour promoted its message at the last election in some constituencies she added: "I am sure that members of the public will not mind if they only receive one DVD instead of three."
Bridget Prentice, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, replied that "it might depend on whom those DVDs are from," but agreed Smith's views refelcted a view which she suspected, "is held quite widely.
"That is part of the reason why the debate about getting the balance right is important. As I have already said, a reference to the cap on funding is in the review."
Ms Prentice earlier announced changes to the Electoral Administration Bill, currently before the House of Lords, to make it compulsory for political parties to disclose any loans they receive. "That is an issue that affects all political parties," she stated.
All three major political parties have admitted receiving loans. The Conservatives have refused to disclose the identity of supporters who lent their party large sums of money, even though Labour has revealed the names of its previously anonymous donors.

FINED FOR CYCLING ON THE ROAD?
19/3/06: The Driving Standards Agency has begun a public consultation on a revised draft of the Highway Code - it can be viewed at www.dsa.gov.uk/highwaycode. The Code could potentially play a key role in the Government's efforts to create safer conditions for cycling. Unfortunately, despite the Cycle Touring Club's recent efforts to make it easier for cyclists to claim injury damages from drivers who hit them, the revised draft of the Code seems set to take things in exactly the opposite direction, to the concern of Lancaster's many cyclists.
For more information, visit the CTC's web site: this is a direct link to the story and CTC's campaign (Thanks to SMS for this news item)

GEORGE FOX SIX TRIAL DECISION
17/3/06: The George Fox 6 appeal hearing has upheld the original judgement made last year and found the six protestors guilty of 'momentarily disrupting a conference' - even though the University broke its own rules by holding the event without consulting staff and students.
Having been found guilty once again the six will be resentenced, and again face the possibility of a jail sentence.
A protest will take place at 3.00pm today in Alexandra Square at the University to show solidarity and protest at both the decision and the univeristy's treatment of the protestors.
• Click here for more on the Appeal further down this page

PARK AND RIDE CALL
17/3/06: A local resident is urging a serious look at 'Park and Ride' for Lancaster after another day of snarl ups and jams in the city.
"As I write this letter the traffic is at a standstill outside my house," Alfred Street resident Cal Giles told Virtual-Lancaster, revealing the traffic is gridlocked and all the drivers have their engines running. "It has been like this for at least two hours., this happens on a regular basis, no special day, no special hour, just regularly.
"I read Councillor John Whitelegg's letter regarding the proposed Canal Corridor North development in today's Lancaster Guardian  with interest. He's quite right to point out that it is our own council which decided to go for retail-led development, leading to more traffic, more pollution, more frustration.
"Whether you are for, against, or simply do not care about the proposed development, surely now is the time for the County Council, (because they are in charge of highways), Lancaster City Council, (because they are in charge of "our" land,) and Centros, (because they are the preferred developers,) sit down together and really talk about a park and ride scheme for Lancaster."
Lancaster's continued traffic woes - which some belive will be solved in part by the building of the Northern Bypass, which others argue is simply a short term solution - are an issue of great concern to both City and County Councils, and developer Centros Miller has been condusting traffice studies to assess the impact iof their plans on the city.
"I do believe Lancaster should move forward," says Cal, "the North Canal Corridor site is a mess. But we need real strategic thinking here about traffic in the city.We should demand that our elected representatives listen to us, do a full Traffic Assessment, make it public and not leave it to Centros Miller to provide the statistics. From my own meetings with Centros I'm of the opinion that they are honest, having said that, they do have their own agenda. It is only by engaging our elected representatives, and forcing them to confront and hopefully solve,  the problems inherent with Canal Corridor North will Lancaster continue to prosper in a sustainable way."

TEBAY TRAGEDY VERDICT
16/3/06: BBC News reports that Mark Connolly from Anglesey, North Wales, has been found guilty of the manslaughter of four rail workers.
Four men - one from Cumbria and three from Lancashire - were working at Tebay, Cumbria, when a trailer ran out of control in February 2004. Read the full story on the BBC...

FREE TRAVEL FOR OVER SIXTIES: DETAILS
16/3/06: Full details of the free bus travel which will be available to disabled people and those aged 60 living in the Lancaster District as from 1 April 2006 have been announced.
The existing concessionary scheme, which operates across Lancashire, is also to be improved.
Free travel will be available on journeys that take place wholly within the district council area that the pass holder lives. Free local travel will be available after 0930 weekdays and all day at weekends and Bank Holidays. On weekdays, before 0930, pass holders will continue to receive the concession as at present.
For trips outside the district, for a limited period, an introductory flat single fare of 50p will be charged to people aged over 60 after 9.30am on week days and on weekends and Bank Holidays.
Before 9.30am Monday to Friday the existing concessionary rate will apply. No return fares will be available before 9.30am Monday to Friday.
For trips within Lancashire, but wholly outside the borough council area in which a pass holder lives, the existing concessionary rate will apply.
Existing concessionary travel arrangements are retained on journeys into the neighbouring areas of Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire.
The current arrangements, between Lancashire authorities and West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority, allowing reduced cost travel within West Yorkshire, has been withdrawn by the Passenger Transport Authority.
These changes follow the announcement by the Government in the 2005 budget, that free concessionary travel would be made available on bus services within each district.
"I'm very pleased to announce that bus travel in our district will be free to disabled and over 60s from April 1st," says Coun Janice Hanson, cabinet member with responsibility for transport said. "It will allow access to parts of our district that people may not have visited before due to the cost involved. It will also hopefully encourage more people to leave their cars at home thereby reducing congestion on our very busy roads."
Pass holders need not obtain a new travel pass, as their existing NoWcard remains valid.
Leaflets detailing all these changes will be sent to all pass holders. For further information please phone the NoWcard Helpline on 0845 058 1096.

EASY, TIGER! DRINKS CAMPAIGN LAUNCHES
16/2/06: An innovative campaign designed to promote safer drinking is to be launched in Lancaster on Friday, backed by several concerned organisations.
The 'Easy Tiger' project, which is being backed by Lancaster University, police and all 46 Lancaster Town Centre pubs and clubs, aims to make people more aware of the health cost of drinking to excess.
From this weekend clubbers will receive a card highlighting the risks and symptoms of excessive drinking and the surprisingly small amount of alcohol needed to be consumed before it does becomes a series health problem.
'Easy Tiger' is a slogan that has appeared in many 60's and 70's feature films and television programmes when it was used to calm a situation and defuse a potential problem. Bar staff will be wearing the 'Easy Tiger' logo 'T' shirts, posters will also be on display on the walls of all the pubs and clubs and as a final reminder notices will be on display at the till points to keep all customers informed.
Dwayne Branch, Lancaster University Students' Union President, said: "The basics of the project are to attempt to make customers drink more soft drinks as a safer alternative and to become more aware of their drinking limits.
"To encourage this when change is given to a customer a scratch card will be included, if it is a lucky winning scratch card it will entitle the bearer to a free soft drink.
"The card also shows that excessive drinking making someone vulnerable to a potential crime. Not only could they become a victim of crime but also drunkenness could lead to accidents.
"'Easy Tiger' just wants people to think about their drinking habits. By adding a few more soft drinks into a night's drinking they may avoid spending the night in a casualty department or a police cell.''
The cards give contact numbers for organisations who will help anyone who has a problem and wants to seek assistance.
"Easy Tiger's not about telling people not to drink," explained Naomi Oosman, LUSU Women's Officer. "It's about trying to encourage people to change their habits in the long term. It's approaching the issue of binge drinking in a fun and interactive way, giving people choices and information about how they drink and what they do on a night out."
"The police fully support this excellent idea," PC Phil Corris from Lancaster police station commented."We want people to enjoy their night's out in Lancaster but we want to make sure they do so safely.
"We support any scheme that promotes responsible drinking habits.''

BETTER TRANSPORT LINKS AND NEW BRIDGE CALL
16/3/06: Lancaster City Council leader Ian Barker has asked the County Council for high levels talks about the City's sustainable transport infrastructure. On the agenda will be improvements to public transport, park and ride, HGV routing and the proposed Luneside Bridge.
"I support the County's proposals for a Heysham M6 Link," says Councillor Barker, "but by itself it will not solve all the district's traffic problems. We need to make use of the road space freed up by the Link to introduce more sustainable transport initiatives. I know that that is part of the County's agenda too, but we need to make substantial progress before the bypass is opened or the opportunity will be lost. That's why I have written to County Councillor Martin inviting him to meet me and Councillor Hanson to discuss how we can take such initiatives forward."
"Perhaps top of our agenda will be a Luneside Link Bridge. Although the County dropped it from their plans for the M6 Link, they said it could be part of a future Local Transport Plan as a separate scheme. I think that as a public transport bridge and maybe as access to a Luneside park and ride it could transform travel between Lancaster and Morecambe for local people."
"But our Planning Committee is also asking for a decision on potential park and ride sites near the A6 and Caton Road junctions and Council has asked for route HGVs away from residential areas. Again I know the County supports such ideas but we need to push them forward now that the M6 Link planning application has been submitted."
"We would also like to see from the County invest in intelligent traffic management in Lancaster in the way they are already piloting in Preston."
"This is an ambitious agenda, but one that is needed if the district is to move forward. Improving the City's transport infrastructure is not just about the M6 Link, important though that is, its about a whole set of measures to get local people around our City in a rapid and sustainable way."

CONCERN MOUNTS OVER JET SKIS ON LUNE
15/3/06: Green Party Councillor Jon Barry is calling for restrictions on the use of jet skis and powerboats on the River Lune. The use of these machines has increased since the speed limit was placed on Lake Windermere.
"I am particularly concerned about the effects on wildlife and, in particular, breeding birds on the river," says John. "In the past, there have been up to twelve pairs of breeding swans in the Skerton area. In other areas, I am told that power boat activities has frightened all of the swans away. I don't want the same thing to happen here."
Virtual-Lancaster has previously reported on jet ski issues in the Lune which provoked debate from both supporters and protestors (see feature). Currently, there is no national legislation on the use of jet skis and many organisations, such as the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, does not have any policy on the problems the jet skis can cause.
In August 2004, local bird watcher Jon Carter told Virtual-Lancaster that he thought the tern population has suffered badly during its nesting season, with very few young born because of jet ski disturbance. The effects of the noise will be worse in winter he feels, because birds nest in the marshes have a very short time to feed, which they need to do to survive overnight cold. Any disturbance will wreck the feeding cycle -- and the bird population numbers could be decimated.
The noise of jet skis is another environmental concern. "If someone rode up and down my street on a motor cycle all afternoon the police would be here like a shot," one local living near the Lune told Virtual-Lancaster. "But there doesn't seem to be anything to stop these people from ruining a quiet summer afternoon. It's a disgrace."
The recent John has written to English Nature about the potential impact on wildlife. He has also written to the Harbour Commissioners who are responsible for management and instituting any byelaws.

STIFLING DEBATE?
15/3/06 (updated 26/3/06): Today's Lancaster City Council meeting discussed a motion calling for the planning application for the Northern Bypass to be the subject of public inquiry -- but council officers issued what appears to be a hastily-drafted 'advice note' outlining why the Council should carefully consider supporting such an enquiry, a move Councillor John Whitelegg has described as "another attempt to spoil democratic debate and participation".
Virtual-Lancaster has also learnt that issue of the note may also actually lend weight to a Pubic Inquiry being called, not reduce it.
The Council meeting discussed, and voted against a proposal from Green councillors John Whitelegg and Emily Heath calling on the Council to write to the Government Office of the North West and to the Secretary of State for Transport and to the Deputy Prime Minister to request that the planning application for the Northern Bypass be called-in and that a public inquiry be held.
"Labour, LibDem and Tory all voted together to deprive local people of an opportunity to take part in the detailed questioning and examination of evidence that goes on at a public inquiry," John Whitelegg told Virtual-Lancaster. Greens and independents voted for the public inquiry.
Various groups are already calling for the Bypass to be the subject of public inquiry, and the Greens argue this would give all interested parties an opportunity to participate in the decision making process for the £115 million road scheme, which has drawn criticism in its current form from the Environment Agency, English Heritage and others.
But the document prepared by council officers (read the full note here, PDF format), suggests that a call for a public inquiry into the application could be interpreted as an objection to the application and inconsistent with the Council's Planning Committee decision of the 20th February 2006, which supported the Northern Bypass plans, with some provisos.
"Ultimately equivocation around the proposal could damage the projects (sic) potential to attract the necessary financial support to be implemented," the advice note states. "The City Council has responded, as a statutory consultee through the planning committee but this does not represent the only way that alternative views to the scheme can be presented. The County Council gave the opportunity for objections to the application to be made and individuals and lobby groups can still seek a call in of the application by approaching the Secretary of State directly."
Responding to the note, Transport Solutions for Lancaster and Morecambe, which opposes the road, describes the note as 'curious' - and are mystified as to why it has been issued.

The George Fox Six. Photo: Matt Wooton

LANCASTER STUDENT 'TRESPASSERS' APPEAL BEGINS
13/3/06: The retrial of six members of Lancaster University - accused of aggravated trespass after a protest against a networking meeting of Multinational Corporations on their campus - began today at Preston Crown Court. The case is expected to last until Wednesday 15th or Thursday 16th March. 
Today the court heard from five prosecution witnesses, all of whom were working for Lancaster University at the time of the protest. Richard Crawley, director of Lancaster University Management School said to the court that it would have done the University less damage if they had allowed the protest to continue rather than removing the protesters and having them charged.
All witness who gave evidence today have stated that they were not aware of, nor acted to fulfill the university's legal obligation to ensure freedom of speech and to facilitate dissenting views at the university. In the first trial of the six last September this legal dutybecame a central part of the defence.
The six were accompanied into court by supporters and well-wishers, and are supported nationally by Liberty, the National Union of Students, several branches of the Lecturers' Union AUT, various Trades Union Congresses and faith groups.
The President of Lancaster University Students' Union said today: “ LUSU is glad that the six are going to have a retrial.  We were very disappointed at the outcome of the last trialand can only hope that this one will be better.  The six should not be in the courts this week, or ever.  This is a waste of resources to trial these students for what is and should be normal rights of students to speak out on issues that matter to them.  This is a totally heavy handed reaction.”
A spontaneous demonstration was also held today by students at Lancaster University. (Report courtesy the George Fox Six Supporters site: www.georgefox6.co.uk)

LIBRARIES 'NOT IMPORTANT' CLAIM
11/3/06, last updated 15/3/06: In an astonishing response to complaints about recent library closures at Caton, Warton, Hest Bank and others in Lancashire (see earlier story), the County Councillor who proposed the closures has claimed people in the county do not regard libraries, museums, culture and the arts as important services.
Unfortunately, Councillor Chris Cheetham has refused permission for us to publish his response because the e-mail contained a "confidentiality footer", prohibiting the dissemination of his letter to all but the 'intended recipient' -- even though he has subsequently said he circulated it to his Labour colleagues, without informing the recipient of this action. We have to wonder why he can make his views known to an individual, and fellow councillors, but not feel obliged to make those views available to the general public.
Virtual-Lancaster has consequently requested copies of Councillor Cheetham's e-mails under the Freedom of Information Act and we hope to publish those views in due course.
The Lancaster Guardian and local Liberal Democrats are calling on local people to return copies of the Vision to County Hall, to show County Councillors what they think of the paper. Local Liberal Democrat councillor Stuart Langhorn has offered to deliver them to County Hall, so yours to:

Stuart Langhorn
5 Hawthorn Close
Brookhouse
Lancaster
LA2 9NR

• In an interesting development, Councillor Langhorn told Virtual-Lancaster he has questioned the City Council, which opposed the library cuts, about whether it can have confidence in Councillor Janice Hanson, who is not only a City Councillor and member of Cabinet, but also a County Councillor. "She followed her party whip at County rather than support the will of Lancaster City Council", Langhorn points out. Talk about conflict of interest...
• While Stuart Langhorn's proposal to dump the Vision is welcomed at VL, we do have to wonder if Liberal Democrat-run councils will consider a similar move nationally. "Whilst I think Vision is utter s***, designed appallingly and editorially dreadful why is he opposing it?" asks a VL reader. "Or is he calling on the people of Lib-Dem controlled (checked six Lib-Dem councils and found six publications) Chesterfield (Our Town); Cambridge (Open Door); Liverpool (City Magazine); Stockport (The Review) and Islington (Residents News) or no doubt the many other Lib-Dem councils in the publishing business to do the same?"

MORE CRACKS IN THE ROAD
6/3/06: English Heritage, the government's statutory advisor on the historic environment, is the latest organisation to express major concerns over Lancashire County Council's planning application for the Heysham M6 Northern route, accusing it of missing information, poor presentation and lack of vital detail.
Responding to the application, English Heritage, which must be consulted on such matters, says it is unhappy about the way information has been presented and interpreted by Lancashire County Council in the planning application for the Northern route. It believes that the assessment of the road's impact may require reworking, and demands that the planning application be deferred until missing information is provided and the organisation given the opportunity to comment further. Among English Heritage concerns are LCC's work in the grading of sites in the plan -- it is not clear to EH if any work has been done to identify locally important buildings -- and information on about half the sites in the site gazetteer is missing, and EH is unhappy that cultural heritage sites are missing from LCC maps. If they were shown, EH would have a better understanding of the road's impact on the historic environment.
The organisation also raises questions about the damage the £118 million scheme may cause to cultural heritage sites indicating it cannot assess the impact of the dual carriageway on designated parkland and what steps are being taken to minimise damage because the applicatoon does not carry enough detail - similar concerns raised by the Environment Agency (see earlier story" Agency slams road plans" ).
Also worrying for English Heritage are concerns about facing materials used in bridges and walls in terms of landscape and cultural heritage. The textured finish concrete and reconstructed stone facing in the plan would, in their view, do little to enhance the character and quality of the area. A lack of visuals to help understand the impact of the scheme is also a concern.
"This highly critical report, coming so soon after the damning objections raised by the Environment Agency, reflect very badly on LCC's planning application," says David Gate chair of Transport Solutions for Lancaster and Morecambe, the local campaign group who favour non road building solutions to the congestion problems. "The plans do not stand up to professional scrutiny.
"The mistakes here are so elementary that they must call into question the competence of LCC to manage the project. It is clear that LCC have been too quick off the mark. Funding has not even been obtained. The plain fact is that a great deal more time and money will have to be spent before EH and the EA are satisfied. How can the government fund this when the costs are unclear?"
Cracks in the support for the road surfaced in a planning meeting in Morecambe last week when seven City councillors expressed grave concerns and voted against the plan. (12 voted for, and one abstained.) But despite the fact that there are around 600 formal objectors including the EA, EH and the local MP, the County planners should have less of a problem with satisfying their own planning committee: LCC actually considers its own application to itself!
"There has been no proper public consultation," says David. "That's because LCC knows that people don't want this road, and the facts show that the public are now entitled to question the whole basis of the scheme.
"If ever there was a case for a public inquiry or judicial review this is it."

PROM BYELAWS: YOUR VIEWS WANTED
6/3/06: Lancaster City Council wants to hear your views on proposed new byelaws for the promenade and seashore at Morecambe and Heysham.
The current seashore byelaws, which date back to 1907, include no beating of carpets or provoking dogs to bark and were last updated in 1978.
The proposed replacement byelaws aim to balance wider recreational use of the promenade and seashore while protecting public safety. Cycling - which is currently prohibited - would no longer be banned but skateboarding and rollerblading would not be allowed. Horse riding would be allowed, but not between 10am and 6pm.
Strangely, the Council has not taken the opportunity to formalise any existing rules over the exercising of dogs - often a cause of concern to owners and others - but in keeping with Labour-run Britain, has maintained regulations banning public speaking, although it does at least allow this in "designated areas", which have not been identified.
The proposed (and existing) byelaws can be found on Lancaster City Council website: www.lancaster.gov.uk/promenade.
Copies are also available to view at Lancaster Town Hall, Morecambe Town Hall, Morecambe Tourist Information Centre
Lancaster Tourist Information Centre, Salt Ayre Sports Centre and Carnforth, Heysham and Hornby Community Swimming Pools.
The closing date for comments regarding the proposed byelaws should be made by 17th March 2006 to: David Owen, Leisure Services Department, Morecambe Town Hall, Marine Road Morecambe LA4 5AF

THE MESSY GANG ARE BACK!
3/3/06: Bounce into spring with the Messy Gang! Morecambe West End's family art club will be re-launched at The Hothouse (note: Flash-based web site) on Saturday, 11 March between 2pm - 4pm.
The Messy Gang is free and while the main objective is fun, local artists Sue Backhouse and Rosie Tacon Glass will be working with the gang on a spring theme to create crazy insects, hats and flowers in preparation for the second annual Spring Fever event .
Building on the success of recent community events including the stunning lantern-making project in December, the Messy Gang will culminate in a community celebration, Spring Fever on 8 April. This will be a small-scale festival that will reiinforce the West End's reputation as a centre of community celebration and high quality arts activities. The Messy Gang will parade with Baybeat and local children and families from outside the Hothouse to the community allotment where the spring -time celebrations will continue.
The weekly sessions and the Spring Fever Event are produced by a partnership that includes More Music in Morecambe, the Healthy Living Centre,the Community Association of the West End,local primary schools and the Adult College. Join the gang and join the fun!
For more information please contact MMM at the Hothouse on 01524 831997.

WORKERS LEFT IN THE DARK ON FACTORY SALE?
2/3/06: Workers at a local factory that makes products sold world-wide say they are being kept in the dark about the future of the business.
Staff at chemical manufacturers Joseph Storey and Co Ltd (web page under construction as of 2/3/06), based at Heron Chemical Works on Moor Lane, Lancaster, told virtual-lancaster management are pleading ignorance over the future of the works -- although developers Centros Miller have made no secret of the fact that the plan includes the purchase of the factory and re-development on the land -- possibly as a hotel, although this aspect of their ideas is still in discussion.
Last month, David Lewis, Associate Director of Centros Miller, told virtual-lancaster that his company was in discussions to buy the Heron Works with Joseph Storey's privately-owned American parent, Petroferm.
While negotiations between Centros Miller and Petroferm were ongoing, Mr Lewis told virtual-lancaster it was his understanding that Petroferm were considering selling the factory, and relocating the business elsewhere in the Lancaster area.
Established in 1860, Joseph Storey, which employs 22 staff, produces the Storflam range of fire retardants, considered to be at the forefront of fire retardant and smoke suppressant technology. Their products are sold world-wide.
Petroferm's UK subsidary bought the company as part of the larger purchase of the Banner Group in 1999 (see press release).
Despite its small size, Joseph Storey Ltd. is one of some 800 chemical companies in the North West that are considered a vital part of the region's manufactiuring industry. According to research carried out by North West Student and Graduate Online, a partnership of university/higher education Careers Services and Business Support Services in the North West region, between 1996 and 2001 sales in the chemical industry rose from £250,000 per employee per year to £338,000 per employee. Similarly, sales outside the UK by North West based chemical companies, increased from 50% to 57% of total sales between 2000 and 2002, a growth which exceeds average UK sales figures of 54%.
The Council's 2002 Canal Corridor briefing documents (PDF) recognise that while Heron Chemical Works remains where it is, it places restrictions on any development scheme in the immediate area.

CAUTIOUS WELCOME FOR CORRIDOR PLANS
2/3/06: A cautious welcome has been given to developer Centros Miller's plans for Lancaster's Canal Corridor North site by Bulk Ward councillor Ian Barker -- but he says that many questions still remain to be answered.
"I am encouraged by the approach," he said in a letter to Centros Miller. "The plans are much better than those by a previous developer for a site dominated by "retail boxes" with very little thought given to other uses, or to the earlier plans for an inner relief road. I am also encouraged by the fact that you are consulting residents and stakeholders and assessing opinions before you make final proposals."
Councillor Barker welcomed the fact that the scheme included an arts quarter, housing and public open space as well as retail development and had promised provision for displaced small businesses.
"The Council asked the developers to include housing, open space, an arts quarter and to make proper provision for the Music Co-op and small businesses as well retail outlets. They have done all this.
"Although I've got reservations about some of the detail, it would be churlish not to acknowledge that this is a huge step forward from the Chelverton plans that I opposed a few years ago. We said then that Lancaster deserved better and I think we can achieve that."
However Councillor Barker, who campaigned hard against former developer Chelverton's proposals, said that there were still many questions that needed to be answered before he could be convinced the scheme would work, listing five areas of concern.
"My main concern is whether the traffic and parking proposals will work. The proposed car park accessed from St Leonardsgate has to be big enough to replace the lost parking and make the scheme work. The last thing we need is extra pressure on other City car parks or residential streets. But it can't be so big that it dominates the site and the housing on Alfred Street. That's a tricky balance to strike, the developers think they can do it but they have to convince me."
"Then the details of how traffic can access the site needs to be worked out," he continued. "Alfred Street will become purely residential instead of a rat-run - that's good, but I don't want to see even more city centre extra traffic on Bulk Road. They have to find a way of getting traffic off Back Caton Road into the car park. Again they say they can do it, but I need to be convinced."
Councillor Barker also asked Centros Miller to look at the proposed green open space near the Canal so it could be "owned" by Alfred Street; integrate the buildings in the proposed Arts Quarter better; make sure they contacted individually residents as well as businesses that would be affected by the changes at Stonewell; and publish as soon as possible their studies on retail capacity. The Council is currently conducting its own survey into retail need in Lancaster.
"I am convinced Lancaster needs a decent department store and that is what they are promising us," says Ian. "It will mean fewer Lancaster people driving off to the proposed new development in Preston or the Trafford Centre. That can only be good for the local economy and the environment.
"But there is obviously a limit to how much more retail the town can take before it threatens the viability of the town centre. Again, we need to see the detail if we are to get it right."
• Read more about plans on this archive news page (Feb 2006): and on our updated development page

ALTERNATIVE UNIVERSITY LOGO
1/3/06: As the date for the retrial of the George Fox Six fast approaches, the online university news letter subext, published by some of its academic staff, ran a competition asking 'What might be on a new coat of arms for the university?'.
Reflecting concerns about the increasing ties between local academia and big buisness the winning entry, from Mike Cowie of CELT proved so entertaining to us in the virtual-lancaster office that we asked local cartoonist Nick Miller to draw it.
Mike's winning description was as follows:
"The crest shows two unhappy looking academics, one male and one female, holding up a platform above their heads. Standing on the platform is a big fat bloke in a suit, representing the weight of administration. Also on the platform, on either side of the administrator are a builder and a smart businessman. Both are smiling broadly. The administrator is shown handing an academic scroll, representing the University's credibility, to the business man, and the business man is handing back small change and shiny beads and trinkets in return. The administrator is handing a huge wad of cash to the builder with his other hand, and in return, the builder is shown handing the University a lump of cement back, but bits of it are falling off, and falling on the academics, representing the disruption caused by all the building work.
"On each of the administrator's shoulders are two small figures, an angel and a devil. The devil is shown shouting into the administrator's ear; the angel has been gagged, and cannot advise him.
"The crest is displayed over a repeating background motif of two crossed wires, representing the general confusion that exists throughout the institution."
Nick's version replaces the University's official Latin motto -- "Patet omnibus veritas" -- "Truth lies open to all" with "Ostende Mihi Pecuniam", or "Show me the money!" If anyone can think of something more subtle, plase let us know...
• Download a large version of Nick's alternative coat of arms by clicking here. A tiff version is available on request.

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