Previous stories: 16 - 31 October 2006
Next stories: 16 - 30 November 2006

COUNTY RESPONDS TO PARK AND RIDE QUESTIONS
14/11/06: Lancashire County Council has replied to questions about the Park and Ride scheme announced as an integral part of its plans for the new M6-Heysham Link Road.
Responding to questions about the P&R plan- virtual-lancaster readers have asked why such a scheme has to be linked with the new road proposal - a spokesperson for Lancashire County Council says the Council has been developing a Park and Ride strategy for the whole Lancashire and Lancaster has been included.
"Several sites have been considered around Lancaster including one on the Caton Road corridor," the spokesperson explained. There is an opportunity to include a site at Junction 34 within the footprint of the proposed link road and the funding application to the Department for Transport for the link road is being amended to include the cost of the Park and Ride site.
"Caton Road is currently very congested for much of the day, but with the reduction in traffic on the opening of the link road it will be possible to introduce bus priority measures along Caton Road.
"Whilst the Park and Ride could be built in isolation from the link road, the costs would be higher, the county council would have to find the funding and the bus travel times would be greater."
The County Council has also denied it has ignored local objections to the £137 million road scheme.
Read More in our updated news feature on the Bypass plans …

DV-FM - COMMUNITY RADIOHEADS TUNING UP
13/11/06: Lancaster and Morecambe community radio project Diversity FM is celebrating its award of a five-year broadcasting licence from OFCOM PLUS the employment of three key members of staff to get the project up and running.

Community Radio is an expanding force in the UK and the government have realised the benefits to communities in allowing small local stations to broadcast over a restricted area. Following a successful short-term pilot broadcast Diversity FM will soon become Lancaster and Morecambe’s new community station, bringing with it the opportunity for local people to get involved in the action.

Based at the YMCA 'Heart of the City' building in Lancaster, Diversity FM is an open access project and will offer training to any member of the public who is interested in volunteering to work on the station.

Angela Metcalf, who is one of two co-ordinators who will look after the volunteers said,
“We aim to help train those who want to work on the station in many different skills, such as DJ techniques, programme production, journalism, news gathering, interviewing, writing for radio and more. Many aspects of these skills are transferable and will help local people to take leadership in their communities and improve their chances when job hunting and making decisions about their future.”

Angela is well-known in the area, having been involved in Youth and Community work in the district for a number of years and she has a background in training and development which promotes increased confidence and self-esteem through the use of creative arts.

Working alongside Angela is Duncan Moore. Duncan, who manages a short-term radio station each summer, now runs his own media business part-time so he can be involved with Diversity FM. “This is a great project to work on, not only does it give local people the opportunity to be creative in ways they perhaps never thought possible, it allows them to discuss the local issues that are important to them at length. It also gives them the chance to broadcast material that normally wouldn’t get radio airplay,” he said.

Tony Cudlip recently moved to Lancaster from Eire where he set up and ran a number of internet cafés and helped develop the Dublin South community radio station. Tony has responsibility for the studio and technical issues. Coming from a musical background Tony has wide experience of the music industry and radio in general. Talking about how Diversity FM will operate locally he said. “A number of people have asked if we plan to take listeners away from Bay Radio and BBC Radio Lancashire. For us it’s not about numbers, it’s about giving the community a new voice. If anything we want to work in partnership with The Bay and the BBC to give the people of Lancaster and Morecambe the best locally focused radio possible.”

Following essential engineering works it is hoped that the station will begin broadcasting on FM early in the new year but should start streaming live over the internet in the next few weeks. Anyone who has a computer and internet connection will be able to tune into live and recorded programmes when the new website, which will be at www.diversityfm.co.uk (so add this to your favourites now!), is complete.

If you are interested in volunteering to work on Diversity FM you can contact Angela or Duncan at diversityfm@gmail.com telephone 01524 383394 or write to Diversity FM c/o YMCA Fleet Square, Lancaster LA1 1HA.

CALLING ALL SINGERS!!!!
12/11/06: Winter draws on and the days are shorter - and wetter and colder too. So if you're feeling a bit caged in and uninspired, here's a stirring project for those of you who can hold a tune.
Lancaster & District Choral Society is looking for extra singers to swell the choir to around 130 for a performance of ‘Verdi’s Requiem’ on 19 May 2007.
This is a golden opportunity to participate in an exciting and dramatic work rarely staged in our area. You will have the opportunity to sing in the Ashton Hall, Lancaster, which has a great acoustic. AND be accompanied by an orchestra of over fifty musicians.
Would you like to know more? Click here for further info on the choir and /or please contact 01524 791634 as soon as possible.

LITFEST - IN TOWN AND ONLINE!
11/11/06: Lancaster LitFest begins this Wednesday 15 November and runs through until Sunday 19 with a diverse rainbow of literary events featuring prose and poetry from writers celebrated locally, nationally and internationally. You can download a copy of the festival programme from the website, www.litfest.org, or see our events listings.
This year represents a special triumph for the organisers as LitFest is launching a brand new publishing imprint to be known as Flax Books and which will be committed to supporting local writers. Square Cuts, the first online digital anthology from Flax Books, features six popular writers who all hail from or work in Lancashire and the diversity of their stories reflect the size and scope of the county.

It is being launched on Saturday 18 November at 2pm at the Dukes Theatre and six local writers, Lynne Alexander, Mollie Baxter, Jane Eagland, Hendryk Korzeniowski, Andrew Michael Hurley, Ian Seed and Peter Wild will be reading their touching, weird and spooky stories.

From stories about beached whales, to ghosts in the kitchen via garages and curious children, this anthology is sure to keep its readers entertained and absorbed. And the launch will be an opportunity to hear the writers read, and animate, these stories.

Sarah Hymas, the publishing development manager, said, "It's a great opportunity for writers to have their work presented like this. We intend to celebrate and explore the potential of digital publishing.

"Audio clips will be linked to the anthology. The design will be colourful and readable, walking the wire between traditional and contemporary design to reflect the subjects and styles that absorbs the writers. And, of course, that it is available as a download to read from your computer means it has
worldwide distribution. The reading is free but please book in advance as places are limited. You can read the anthology from that Saturday on www.litfest.org"

And if this literary feast inspires your creative juices, a novel opportunity to let them flow is at hand. Writer and musician Mollie Baxter is well known to devotees of the notorious Lancaster Spotlight Club (and I remember fondly her outragiously hilarious and inspired performance as the mediaeval Japanese authoress of a classical pillow book at the Annual Balloon Debate). With the help of funding from the City & County Councils and the Arts Council for the 3rd year running Lancaster Spotlight is repeating its highly successful Words & Music Collaborations Workshop, which will be led by Mollie Baxter and Ron Baker.

The free workshop will be a two day weekend event at St Martin’s College on Saturday 25 & Sunday 26 November 2006
from 10.30am - 4.30pm.

The aim of the weekend workshop is to enable seven writers and seven musicians (places are limited) to work for two days in collaborations experimenting with the combination of text and sound. Please note: this is not a ‘songwriting workshop’. If you would like more information or to book a place e-mail: spotlightclub@btinternet.com

PLUS next Friday 17 November sees the Spotlight Club Open Mic Gong Show Slam! It starts at 8.30pm at The Yorkshire House, Lancaster. Admission: Audience £3/£2 - Contestants £4/£3. Contestants have three minutes to perform poetry, prose, comedy, a song.. Contestants will be gonged off if they over-run. All work performed must be the contestant's own original work. First Prize £50; Second Prize £30; Third Prize £15. Winners will be judged by audience vote. Places will be allocated on a strictly first come first served basis. The compere is our very own John Freeman and there will be live music from Cogna. Places are limited and must be booked in advance - To sign up for a three minute spot
e-mail: spotlightclub@btinternet.com or phone: 01524 381642. See www.spotlightlancaster.co.uk

CANAL CORRIDOR: LABOUR COUNCILLORS MAY FACE STANDARDS HEARING OVER INTERESTS

11/11/06: Trouble could be brewing for Lancaster's Labour Councillors as it was disclosed this week that they may have failed to follow procedures laid down in the City Council's Code of Conduct by not properly declaring their interests in the property owned by the City of Lancaster Labour Trust at 15/15a Moor Lane - which falls within the plans for the proposed Canal Corridor development by Centros Miller - an interest which, if declared, might have resulted in their exclusion from all Council committee debates and votes on the development.

The building originally served as an office for MP Hilton Dawson and is now rented out commercially. It is held in trust for the Labour Party by a group of trustees, three of whom, Cllrs Barker, Grattan and Denwood, were registered as trustee owners at time of purchase with the Land Registry and still were as of 6 November 2006. This registration has remained unamended, although the group of trustees has experienced some turnover. Cllr Barker's name remains on the Land Register, along with those of the two other Labour Councillors, although his trusteeship terminated some time ago.

Ownership of a property affected by a proposed development clearly constitutes an interest in that development. The Councillors Code of Conduct (click here to download this from the Council website) states (S5 pp 33-36):

9 (1) A member with a personal interest in a matter who attends a meeting of the Authority at which the matter is considered must disclose to that meeting the existence and nature of that interest at the commencement of that consideration, or when the interest becomes apparent.

and that:
12 (1) a member with a prejudicial interest in any matter
must –
(a) withdraw from the room or chamber where a meeting is being held whenever it becomes apparent that the matter is being considered at that meeting, unless they has (sic) obtained a dispensation from the Authority’s Standards Committee;

A prejudicial interest is defined as one
"which a member of the public with knowledge of the relevant facts would reasonably regard as so significant that it is likely to prejudice the member’s judgement of the public interest."

The property represents an investment by the local Labour Party, which benefits as an organisation from rents raised and from any increase in the value of the property.

The property is part of a short terrace running east (uphill) from Mitchell's Offices to the Dukes Theatre. This terrace is listed and cannot be demolished. The Centros Miller plans originally referred to it as "Buildings of character, which are to be restored and brought back into use for local businesses". The more recent Centros Miller Masterplan Report (August 2006) suggests that these buildings, being listed and occupied, will not undergo any work but be incorporated into a new cultural circuit within the site. The residents have not been contacted except as residents generally in the area have received an update mailshot on the development.

West of Mitchell's Offices the terrace runs down to Stonewell. All those buildings are to be demolished and replaced by a mixed use construction and the residents have all been individually contacted by Centros Miller regarding this.
(Click here to view the plans on the Centros Miller website).

The location of the property - smack between the old and new town centres - would be central and its value and rents could double. This represents a useful sum, one that could be considered significant in any local election campaign or in meeting political expenses.
Consequently all the members of the Labour party may have an interest, which, if so, might strictly be seen as prejudicial - and therefore meaning that they should not have participated in any committee meetings - whether full Council, Transport, Cabinet or Overview & Scrutiny where the development was debated, nor should they have voted upon it.

However even if the interest is not prejudicial:
(2) a member with a personal interest in any matter
who has made an executive decision in relation to that matter must ensure that any written statement of that decision records the existence and nature of that interest.

Cllr Barker, Leader of the Council, registered the property on the Councillors' Public Register of Interests on behalf of all the Labour Councillors in November 2005 when it looked as if it might come within the scope of the development (Centros Miller were originally chosen by the council as preferred developer back in April 2005). Strictly speaking, this should have been done by each councillor individually, however the registration was accepted by the Council's Monitoring Office.

All such registered interests, whether personal or prejudicial should, according to the Councillors' Code of Conduct, have been declared at the start of each meeting where the canal corridor development was raised - and if this is a case of prejudicial interest, then the Labour Councillors should have left the chamber at that point. And should not have voted on the issue. This is a basic and routine matter for local councillors in a community where they are likely to be involved in many local organisations, initiatives and enterprises and generally hold a diversity of interests.

Cllr Barker did declare an interest at a meeting of the Cabinet Canal Corridor Liaison Group on 28 September 2006. (This is a group from which the public and press were excluded, its minutes are not kept on the Council website and it has no decision making powers.) However a number of other meetings took place at various levels, some of which are listed in the Masterplan Report.

One for the Standards Board to ponder - and a complaint has already been made both to them and to Lancaster City Council's own Head of Legal & Human Resources and Monitoring Officer.

Emilie Secker of local campaign group It's Our City (IOC) commented: "I am astounded at this news, especially given that It’s Our City recently asked Cllr Barker 'Does any councillor or council officer have any shares or other interests in Centros Miller or any associated company?'
He replied 'Not as far as I am aware. It’s up to councillors and officers to declare interests. There is a Public Register of Councillors' Interests and a register that the Chief Executive keeps of officers' interests.
'What saddens me about this question is the implication that decisions are being taken for improper reasons. It's Our City have not produced a scintilla of evidence to support this implication, yet it is a leitmotif of all their questions - and Emilie Secker's in particular. It really is about time she put up or shut up on this point.' "

Billy Pye added "Not only was the decision to proceed with the Canal Corridor development made without adequate information on the impact on traffic and retail, it now seems that some of the councillors, and in particular the Leader of the Council, who were at that point championing the development, neglected to point out that they had an owning interest in a building within the development. I am sure that Cllr Barker will want to clarify this issue for the local electorate at the earliest opportunity".

Cllr Ian Barker has hit back strongly at claims by Its Our City that he failed to declare an interest when discussing Centros Miller. He said:
"Its Our City’s claims are malicious nonsense. Their press officer Emilie Secker keeps suggesting that councillors have improper motives but so far she has failed to produce a single piece of evidence that stands up to examination. Their most recent claims are based on information that is out of date or just plain wrong. This is the politics of smear and innuendo rather than discussion of the real issues.

"What are the facts?
The Labour Party owns 15/15A Moor Lane, which was Hilton Dawson’s former office and the flat above. When they bought the property in 1995, I was one of the trustees but I resigned some years ago. I have no current involvement in the management of the property.

"It's Our City’s claims that I have an "owning interest" are thus false. The Land Registry document that they quote is out of date. However it does show that I was formerly involved as a trustee not as a beneficial owner - information that It's Our City chose to suppress.

"A year ago, when it appeared that Centros Miller might be interested in the property, I registered an interest on behalf of myself and my Labour colleagues. This can be found in the City Council’s Register of Interests in a signed memo dated 4th November 2005.

"The Register of Interests is a public document. It's Our City refer to it in their press release. They could have inspected it. Instead they say that I and other Labour councillors failed to declare an interest. That is completely untrue. We declared an interest and it's on the public record.

"More recently Centros Miller have fixed the boundaries of their development. 15/15A Moor Lane is outside that boundary. They have approached property owners who are affected. I have checked with the Labour Party Property Management Committee and they have not been approached.

"It's Our City's claims in their press release that the property was known to be inside the proposed development at the time the Cabinet and Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered the development agreement are false; it was known to be outside the boundary.

"As usual Emilie Secker and It's Our City are building castles on sand in their attempts to prove improper behaviour. The facts they adduce are untrue; the documents they produce are out of date. Apparently someone has reported me to the Standards Board. I look forward to their letter and to exposing these claims as the malicious nonsense they are."
S.
LINKS
Centros Miller Interactive plan of the development
Centros Miller Masterplan Report (August 2006)
Lancaster City Council Constitution (See S5 for the Members Code of Conduct)
It's Our City campaign website
Update 13/11/06: Centros Miller have exchanged a lease agreement with Debenhams to secure the department store as the main retail anchor of its mixed-use Canal Corridor North development in Lancaster city centre.

Debenhams has taken a 105,000 sq ft (9,750 sq m) unit on a 25-year lease within the £150 million, 10-acre city centre extension. Centros Miller’s shareholders, Delancey and the Miller Group, are financing the development, which has yet to obtain planning permission.

If the development were to go ahead the new Debenhams would be spread over three levels and would be one of the largest Debenhams stores in the northwest.

David Lewis, Associate Director of Centros Miller, commented: “The signing of the Development Agreement and the securing of Debenhams signifies a major milestone allowing us to move forward to the next stage of delivering this exciting scheme, with the planning application to be made in the Spring of next year. We believe Lancaster is the largest city in the UK that does not currently have a department store."

COUNCIL BYPASS CLAIMS CHALLENGED

9/11/06, updated 14/11/06 by John Freeman: Lancaster City Council's claims that they have evidence that business is being put off from investing in Morecambe and Heysham because of a lack of a link road or bypass appear to have little basis in fact.
Earlier this week, the City Council welcomed the unanimous decision of Lancashire County Council's Development Control Committee's controversial decision to ignore local objections and proceed with its plans for a Northern Bypass, the "Heysham-M6 Link Road" project.
In a City Council statement, its leader Ian Barker declared the planned Link Road, which will cost at least £137 million to build and will plough through Torrisholme and farm land just outside Skerton, vital to the economic development of Morecambe and Heysham.
"There is evidence that potential investors in Morecambe and Heysham were deterred by poor communications with the M6," Cllr Barker claimed. "It is important to separate the strategic traffic heading for the Port of Heysham from more local traffic and the Link will do this."
Asked which companies had expressed such concerns, a council spokesperson told virtual-lancaster that 'current developers including Urban Splash' who have shown confidence in the area by making significant investments have said the lack of an M6 link is a drawback to attracting private sector investment.
Several days ago virtual-lancaster contacted Urban Splash, who are renovating Morecambe's art-deco Midland Hotel for confirmation of this claim via its web site. We asked if they would be prepared to reveal which investors have specifically stated the lack of a Link Road might affect investment in the area, given that this does not seem to have affected decisions by Aldi, Morrisons to do so, or the Apollo Cinema which has recently announced a major upgrade to its Morecambe facility.
At press time we had yet to receive a reply to our enquiry.

No Economic Utopia
Green City Councillor John Whitelegg, who is a professional advisor to governments across the world on transport matters, is baffled by the Council's claims about the economic benefits they think a new Link Road will bring.
"New roads do not create the economic utopia promised for them," he argues. "This is so well documented it's a real shame that it has to be re-stated so frequently.  
"If the 'roads bring jobs' argument had any credibility at all then Glasgow would be a top class world economic success and Edinburgh would be poverty struck and disadvantaged. It is the other way round."
Cllr Whitelegg's views are supported by evidence from the Council for the Protection of Rural England and the Countryside Agency which has published a report which says that new roads simply generate new traffic and fail to deliver promised results.
Many factors affect economic development in the area. One obvious scheme is the proposed Centros Miller "Canal Corridor" development for Lancaster championed by a Labour/LibDem coalition in the Council. On page 87 of the LCC briefing on the development Centros Miller comment: "There should not be over-development in Morecambe, particularly for retail development when opportunities exist in Lancaster which play a more strategic role'.

Strong Views from all sides
The M6-Heysham Link Road has generated different views across the area, drawing support from the business community and many local politicians -- some of whom opposed the route in the past.
Cllr Ian Barker, Cllr Janice Hanson and the City Council's Head of Planning Services Andrew Dobson were some of a number of speakers who gave evidence in favour of the Link to the Development Control Committee before it made its decision last week. They argued the new Link will free up road space, particularly on the Lune Bridges, which, they say, is vital to introduce sustainable transport measures.
"Alternative routes such as the Western Bypass, in either its Green or Blue versions, are not viable on environmental grounds," says Cllr Barker. "I used to support the Western Bypass but it became obvious to me in 1997 when the County consulted on alternatives that this was unsustainable. It really is Northern or Nothing."
Cllr Barker says the City Council would eventually like to see a Luneside Link bridge to enable the development of Lancaster's Luneside West area.
"This is a great step forward for the district," he noted. "The economic development of Morecambe and Heysham has been hindered by its poor links to the M6. We do need this road if we are not to have a two speed economy in the district with Lancaster moving ahead and Morecambe always hindered by its poor communications."
John Donnellon the City Council's Corporate Director responsible for Regeneration expressed hopes that the Secretary of State would issue a prompt decision on the scheme and enable both the City Council, and the business community to enjoy certainty for development and investment decisions alike.  He feels the City Council needs to get on with preparing its Local Development Framework and indecision on the link makes this far more difficult.   

White Elephant
But Transport Solutions for Lancaster and Morecambe is calling for a public enquiry after Lancashire County Council ignored local objections, and voted for its own road plan. With several events planned to highlight the damage the road will do to the area and its lack of long term benefits to traffic management, the group says the fight against the "monster road" is not over. They are urging objectors to write now to Government Office North West and demand that they set up an independent public inquiry.
No residents spoke in favour of the scheme at the County Council hearing, but determined folk from Torrisholme, Slyne and Halton spoke against. "They are fearful of the massive structures at Torrisholme, which will destroy the quiet residential district," says TSLM's David Gate. "At Slyne, congestion on the A6 will get worse, with traffic up 87 per cent, and another set of lights to contend with.
"Halton will see 'rat running' through the ancient narrow streets, and many more damaging problems."
Morecambe and Lunesdale MP Geraldine Smith called the Northern route a white elephant at the planning hearing, telling County Councillors that if it went ahead ahead people will be disappointed because it will not solve the congestion in Lancaster.
"She's not kidding," says David. "People will be downright furious!"
"This road is not designed to combat our local congestion problem," he continues. "It will attract more heavy traffic into the area en route to the ferry.
"At a time when the government is making plans to combat environmental damage and climate change, following the ominous Stern Report, County Hall carry on regardless with plans that encourage more cars and lorries onto our roads.
"The Council admits that the road will do little to relieve traffic in Lancaster City centre, and it does nothing for regeneration south of the river at Bailrigg and Luneside.
"The University, the main employer in the district, remains cut off from Morecambe and North Lancaster.
"173 acres of our Green Belt will be destroyed if the Council gets its way," he reveals. "The very future of Lancaster and Morecambe College is under threat: 900 jobs there could well be at risk.
"The health and wellbeing of thousands of us who live near to the HGV route will be affected by noise, fumes, vibration and light pollution from them."
Other questions raised by the City Council's recent press release have also not been answered, because although the City Council has expressed a view on the County Council's road plans, their spokepersons say all questions on transport matters should be directed to the County Council.

Park and Ride poser
Responding to questions about Park and Ride - readers have asked why such a scheme has to be linked with the new road proposal -- a spokesperson for Lancashire County Council told virtual-lancaster the Council has been developing a Park and Ride strategy for the whole Lancashire and Lancaster has been included.
"Several sites have been considered around Lancaster including one on the Caton Road corridor," the spokesperson explained. There is an opportunity to include a site at Junction 34 within the footprint of the proposed link road and the funding application to the Department for Transport for the link road is being amended to include the cost of the Park and Ride site.
"Caton Road is currently very congested for much of the day, but with the reduction in traffic on the opening of the link road it will be possible to introduce bus priority measures along Caton Road.
"Whilst the Park and Ride could be built in isolation from the link road, the costs would be higher, the county council would have to find the funding and the bus travel times would be greater."
Coun Whitelegg says the County Council has refused to include at least two schemes for Park and Ride for Lancaster into funding bids in its Local transport plan process in the past ten years (although it has approved them for Preston). "Park and Ride need not and should not be linked to a new road!"
Coun Barker has welcomed the proposal for a P&R site at Junction 34 in the application for the Link Road, but when it comes to sustainable transport he says "more needs to be done."
Challenged on the environmental impact of the road, the County Council's spokeperson told virtual-lancaster “All drainage outfalls on the scheme will be fitted with interceptors which help to prevent any pollution getting into waterways. Storage ponds and pipes will be provided to control the release of potential flood waters."

Lack of consultation?
Opponents of the grandiose scheme are very disappointed at the lack of consultation with residents on the plans.
"The people of the district have not been consulted since the plans were published in 2005, and no package of less-destructive alternatives to building this monster have been considered," says David Gate. "It can't be right that Councillors promote the road, pass their own plans and then brush aside the residents along the route.”
Lancashire County Council denies there has been a lack of consultation, refuting claims that it has ignored local objections. "The county’s Development Control Committee takes into account all information and comments it receives when making a decision.”
For Cllr Whitelegg, there is no question the Link Road will be a costly mistake. "It will be a monument to short-sightedness and stupidity and it destroys any credibility Labour, LibDem and Tories might be seeking in the area of environment, countryside and climate change."

More Information
• Transport Solutions for Lancaster and Morecambe are holding another information stall in Lancaster Market Square this Saturday (11th November) 10am - 3pm.
"We chose the date because Lancashire County Council Development Control Committee have just approved the scheme," said a spokesperson, "but it now passes to Government Office for the North West to decide on a call-in for an independent public inquiry."
• TSLM Exhibitions about the Heysham M6 Link Road will be held at  Slyne with Hest Memorial Hall, Hest Bank Lane  on Monday 13 November 3.00am to 7.00 pm; the Vale of Lune Rugby Club, Powderhouse Lane on Tuesday 14 November 3.ooam to 7.00 pm; and Halton Youth & Community Centre, Low Road, Thursday 16 November 3.30 to 7.00pm
• If you are concerned by these road plans, write now to Government Office North West and demand that they set up an independent public inquiry.
Write to: Ossie Knight, Planning Casework Team, Government Office for the North West, 12th floor, City Tower, Piccadilly Plaza, Manchester M1 4BE (Or email: Ossie.Knight@gonw.gsi.gov.uk)
It is important that you also copy your letter to: Ruth Kelly at the Department for Communities & Local Government, Eland House, Bressenden Place, London SW1E 5DU (Or Email: Contactus@communities.gsi.gov.uk); Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP, Department for Transport, Great Minster House, 76 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DR (or email: Douglas.Alexander@dft.gsi.gov.uk); and Geraldine Smith MP, the House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA (or email smithg@parliament.uk)
If you send emails, please be sure to add your postal address.

Web Links
• Transport Solutions for Lancaster and Morecambe
• Love the Link - Website supporting the Link owned by local Labour Party member Darren Clifford
• Countryside Agency Report on Traffic

LANCASTER PRIDE NEWS
6/11/06: Winter Pride is fast approaching. The event at the beginning of December is set to include info stalls in Lancaster's Market Square and a torch-lit procession to name but a few activities.
Next Meeting is this Wednesday 8 November (more details below) when plans will be finalised. Come along if you have time to help co-ordinate and support the weekend's events.
We have been given a grant for £1,000 from Lancaster District Local strategic partnership towards the cost of our Healthy and Out campaign scheduled for May 2007.
There are opportunities for volunteers to develop the campaign and set up sporting tournaments. Individuals and teams are already signing up to be part of the tournament and LGBT teams from across the north west are also interested. You can register an interest in entering a team for the tournament by sending us an email with 'play' in the subject field. Tell us what sport your are interested in and we will try and get enough individuals and teams together to make it happen. If you referee any sport and would like to volunteers to ref a game let us know.
LGBT History month is celebrated every year in February. Lancaster Pride is planning to recover, discover and uncover the LGBT history of Lancaster. We are looking for people to tell us their stories and memories of Lancaster. Do you remember the Navigation? What about Paris from the Albert? The Farmers Arms? The introduction of section 28? If you have any stories or memories or are interested in helping us set up a LGBT History Trail around Lancaster send us an email with 'history' in the subject field.
Don't forget, Lancaster Pride meetings are every second Wednesday of the month. They start at 7pm and are in the Donald Coggan Room at St Martins College. The Donald Coggan room is upstairs in the Student Union building. If you are unfamiliar with St Martins campus, a member of Pride will be waiting around reception from 6.50pm and can show you the way.
If you are unable to make the meeting but want to contribute in anyway or have an idea for a new activity, send us an email and we will get in touch with you.
See you all soon
Lancaster Pride
www.lancasterpride.co.uk
Email: lancaster_pride@yahoo.co.uk

CYCLING: IT'S ALL GOING ON!
3/11/06: Just over a year ago, Lancaster with Morecambe became one of six cycling demonstration towns in England. With £1.5M of funding over three years from the Department of Transport to show how increased investment can encourage more cyclists to get on their bikes, Lancaster City Council launched a new website offering a wide variety of information to help promote cycling in the Lancaster and Morecambe district.
Rachel Scott, Project Manager said: “The CDT team hope that this additional feature will be a useful tool for existing and would-be cyclists alike. Whether you want to get rid of that old bike from your garage or find out the best place to start mountain biking then please post your comments on our message board.”
In October last year, Lancaster with Morecambe became one of six cycling demonstration towns in England and received funding from the Department of Transport to show how increased investment can encourage more cyclists to get on their bikes.
Funding has been set aside to provide a training programme for the district's 11 Bike It Schools.
The aim of the training provided by Pedal Power, a non-profit making cycle recycling and training centre and Lancashire County Council Road Safety team is to give children the skills and confidence to cycle safely in and around today's roads and environment.
To date, over 84 pupils between the ages of nine and 12 have already signed up to the courses on offer and it is hoped that as a result, more and more Bike It pupils will take up cycling as a fun and healthy way of getting to school independently.
Looking forward to seeing more children cycling through the school gates in the morning, Head Teacher of St. Johns School, Barbara White said: "The children and staff have been enthused by the project. We are working with 'Pedal Power' to enable our Year 5 pupils to have cycle training. All of this involvement is encouraging more children to choose the healthy option of cycling to school as opposed to being brought in a vehicle."
A Bike Film and Animation Award has been launched nationwide to showcase bike culture at the growing list of Bike Film Festivals across the UK.
There are £300 prizes for 'best action', 'documentary' and 'animation' categories. Individual prizes for best local film and an audience vote winner will be awarded at each screening. Selected entries will be available on a limited edition 2007 Bike Shorts DVD for sale at participating festivals.
Lesley Ann Rose, organiser of Lancaster Bike Film Festival said: "We organised a ground breaking festival at The Dukes Cinema In Lancaster last year and we'll do the same in early 2007".
Coun Gina Dowding, member of the Cycling Demonstration Town Project Board said: "These bike film and animation awards will boost the profile of cycling - and the fun that cycling is. I hope that we get plenty of contributions from this district."
If cycling's 'the new football', bike film festivals are 'the new fanzines' - engaging, irreverent and passionate. Any profit from the DVD sales will support cycling, short film-making and animation at each festival.
Download a submission form at www.bikefilmawards.org or log on to Lancaster City Council's celebrating cycling website. Deadline for submissions is now 14 February 2007.
For all you need to know about cycling in the district visit www.celebratingcycling.org. If you are looking for spares, advice, or just want to say your piece, you can now post a message on the new Lancaster City Council's Cycling Demonstration Town Team (CDT) bicycling message board at www.celebratingcycling.org.
Specific questions to the CDT Team should be sent to celebratingcycling@lancaster.gov.uk.
Image: Ellel St Johns Primary School Children on a supervised bike training ride.

HAVE YOUR SAY ON THE CANAL CORRIDOR PLAN
3/11/06: Local campaign group for community-led town planning It's Our City (IOC) are holding a public meeting on Thursday 9November at 7.30pm in St Walburge's Chapel, Cathedral Centre, Balmoral Road. This is the first of a series of meetings planned to be held around the city over the coming months.
The purpose of these meetings is to make local people aware of the latest plans for the proposed Canal Corridor North development by Centros Miller and the reasons for IOC 's continued opposition. IOC invite all members of the public and councillors to attend.
The campaign group says it appreciates being included in a working group set up by Centros Miller to discuss and provide input on their plans for the Canal Corridor but point out that this approach falls short of being truly inclusive, as only selected stakeholders, rather than the general public, have been invited to these workshops.
Andy Marsh of IOC commented “True public consultation should be as wide as possible. This is particularly significant as Centros Miller are still failing to address the public demand for a genuine community-led development rather than their current retail-led plans”.
Emilie Secker added “Although Centros Miller have made it clear that they think they are trying to take account of local opinion, we do not think that they have gone far enough. Both Lancaster City Council and Centros Miller should go back to the beginning and find out what people really want, then come up with a plan that fits these criteria. Instead they have come up with a plan that fits their own interests, and are now trying to convince people that they should accept it”.
It's Our City also have launched a new section on their website www.itsourcity.org.uk This discussion forum is intended to widen the public debate and allow the people of Lancaster to voice their opinions on the canal corridor north development.

GOOD NEIGHBOURS GET A BIG THANK-YOU
3/11/06: Lancaster City Council's Housing Service has announced the winners of its annual Good Neighbour competition.
Often too much attention is given to problem neighbours or those causing anti-social behaviour, which thankfully are in the minority. All too often we forget to thank our good neighbours, the unsung heroes who help when we need it most with childcare, shopping, gardening, looking after our home when we are away and other valuable assistance.
There were plenty of entrants keen to nominate their neighbour for this competition. The ways in which tenants helped other tenants varied from helping with terminally ill relatives to providing free fruit and vegetables from their allotment. This made the judging a difficult task for Steven Milce, Head of Council Housing Services.
He said: “It was very hard making a decision as everyone deserves some thanks and recognition, but three nominees stood out from the rest by going that extra mile to help their neighbours.
The winner, Mrs Ada Pilling of Christie Avenue, Morecambe, was nominated by her neighbour Mrs Pamela Bennett, also of Christie Avenue, Morecambe.
Mrs Bennett said: “My neighbour Ada has been wonderful, she helps me no end. My husband recently passed away from a terminal illness and I would have been lost without her support and help.
"“We have even been working together on a healthy eating regime and I have lost 7½ stone and she has lost 6 stone.
“I now feel like I am getting my life back -- as Ada said it's ‘Pam time' now.”
Runner up - Mrs Barbara Arkwright of Highfield Road, Carnforth was nominated by Mrs P Lovering also of Highfield Road, Carnforth.
Mrs Lovering nominated her neighbour because she is always helping others and giving advice where needed. She said: “She has always been there for me since I moved in and I didn't know anyone.
“She takes care of my dog for me when I am away and helps me when I'm ill. She also provides me and other neighbours with lots of fruit and veg from her allotment.”
Runner up -- Mrs Maureen Knowles of Laburnum Grove, Marsh was nominated by her neighbour Ms Sally Ann Dooke of Lime Grove, Marsh.
Ms Dooke said: “When I moved to Lancaster I had no family here and my neighbour Mrs Knowles made me feel really welcome. We often go out for the day together and she helps me with my children. She is like a second mum to me.”
Photo: Mrs Ada Pilling (left) who was nominated by her neighbour Mrs Pamela Bennet, both of Christie Avenue, Morecambe

FASLANE 365: WHAT YOU WON'T SEE ON TV

3/11/06: Unreported in the national media, a year long anti-nuclear warfare blockade is taking place at the Trident Nuclear Submarine Base at Faslane on the Clyde. Different groups from throughout the UK are each taking 'shifts' of a day or a weekend and over Halloween it was the turn of CandLE (Cumbria & Lancashire Etc! - a group of people from Lancaster and Cumbria) to hold the line. You can read a report of their experience at
http://publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/11/355042.htm.And to get a better idea of what happens on the blockade, you can also watch a lively 'Seize The Day' video of blockaders, police and music at
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvdtvsvDcqE
Find out more about CandLE (and see more of their photos) at: www.faslane365.org/en/group/candle
Faslane 365 website: www.faslane365.org

COUNTY COUNCIL APPROVES ROAD PLAN
3/11/06: Despite huge controversy and widespread criticism of the road scheme, Lancashire County Council ignored calls to reconsider and it came as no surprise that yesterday they folowed their own recommendations and approved their own planning application (to themselves).
The real hurdles for the HGV dual carriageway scheme still remain. Following the publication of the Stern Report the goverment has this week acknowledged that the need to combat environmental damage and climate change will require a re-think of the national road-building programme. However, for reasons that remain unclear, County Council politicians are still striving to force through plans that experts say will encourage more cars onto the roads, sending out a dubious message to the people of Lancashire.
Lancashire County Council have yet to persuade the Government to stump up over £137 million for the controversial scheme, and the Government Office for the North West has already served notice on the County Council which prevents the Council from going ahead without reference to them. This gives the Government the opportunity to call the matter in for the much needed independent public inquiry. If that were not enough, the Northern route has a formidable opponent in the district MP Geraldine Smith who considers the scheme to be a white elephant.
The Council's objective for the massive dual carriageway road is to cut the journey time to the Port of Heysham. This would attract more heavy traffic into the area en route to the ferry. Unfortunately, as many critics have shown, the road would bring many burdens for the people who live in the district. The plan makes no contribution towards relieving traffic in Lancaster City centre, nor towards regeneration south of the river. The University, the main employer in the district, would remain isolated from Morecambe and North Lancaster.
173 acres of Green Belt would be destroyed if the Council gets their way. Lancaster and Morecambe College will be severely compromised: 900 jobs there could well be at risk. The health and wellbeing of thousands of people who live near to the HGV route will be affected by various kinds of pollution from the HGV road.
Originally local communities asked for relief from congestion, a problem likely to become even more severe if plans for a mixed development oin Lancaster's Canal Corridor go ahead. The County Council have responded to lobbying from the Port of Heysham and British Nuclear Fuels by instead planning to supply them with an HGV route for Heysham traffic. No meaningful attempt to consult the people of the district has been undertaken since the plans were published in spring of 2005, and no option of less destructive alternative measures has been proposed.
Another, major technical problem faces the County Council - they have to prove that the Northern route is in the Lancaster and District Local Plan. If the Northern route is not in the plan, as appears to be the case, then technically it is a departure from the Development Plan, and on this point alone, it cannot go through without a public inquiry.
David Gate, Chair of Transport Solutions for Lancaster and Morecambe (TSLM), who favour alternatives to road building, said “We are not surprised at the decision. It has been the only ambition of the County Council for some time, and they would look foolish rejecting their only plan.
We have been focused on the need for a public inquiry and the poor value for money aspect, and the campaign to stop the road moves up a gear.
The only people to speak up for the road, apart from someone from the Chamber of Commerce, were local Labour councillors, and they now have Geraldine Smith to contend with. No local residents spoke in favour of the scheme; in fact residents from Torrisholme, Slyne and Halton demonstrated how angry the local public will now be about the destruction and the failure to tackle congestion.”
"TSLM will now be stepping up the campaign for a call in and it urges everyone to write to the Government Office for the North West to demand the ‘call in' and appointment of an independent inspector. "

BNP: ROCKET LAUNCHERS FOUND IN POLICE RAID
3/11/06: The NW Evening Mail reports that police arrested retired Grange dentist and Nelson resident David Jackson in the Lancaster area on 6 October 2006.
He was charged with being in possession of an explosive substance for an unlawful purpose. Police found rocket launchers, chemicals, British National Party literature and a hazard protection suit at his home.
Earlier the police had found 22 chemical components during a search on the house of his alleged accomplice, Robert Cottage, a former BNP election candidate, living in Colne. The haul is thought to be the largest ever found at a house in this country.
Read report

LIGHT UP YOUR LIFE THIS CHRISTMAS
3/11/06: Light For Life will be hosting celebrations in Lancaster's Market Square, on November 26 from 4pm. Following the celebrations all the schools in the area are invited to take part in a 10 minutes spotlight performance, which will be judged by a panel including a celebrity. The number of schools is limited to six, so schools are advised to register their interest as soon as possible. The winners will be presented with the Light for Life Trophy.
The entertainments confirmed are Lancaster University Ballroom Dance, Turning Point Theatre Arts, The Grand Theatre, Lancaster Boys Grammar School and Folly and Santa will also be arriving to give the kids a treat with a Christmas Lucky Dip. The organisers are also hoping for street performers, choirs and musicians. At around 6.45pm the choir will lead a candle lit procession to Dalton Square for a Trophy presentation followed by a moment of reflection and switch on the lights with a firework finale! The essence of the Light for Life campaign (a CancerCare initiative) is that the lights on the trees symbolise the life of a loved one. Individuals and organisations can sponsor lights, to celebrate and remember the life of a loved one and the events are an opportunity to celebrate that life with friends and family.
Ian Howarth, Creative Director of Rehab, the event's organisers, said “ My dad died of Cancer, and corporate responsibility is at the core of what we do at Rehab, so we were delighted to help CancerCare. We hope to capture the public's imagination to donate as much as they can and make this a happy annual event for all the family.”
Light for Life in Kendal is on 25 November and in Ambleside on 2 December.
To dedicate a light or make a donation and find out the latest news visit www.light4life.org.uk or contact CancerCare on 01524 381820.

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