Previous stories: 16 - 28 February 2007

CAFE CREATE COMES TO LANCASTER
13/3/07: Saturday 17 March see the launch of Café Create at St Thomas' Church on Marton Street in Lancaster at 8 pm.
Café Create will be an occasional event where adults can get together and relax in a chilled atmosphere and enjoy each other's company and some great entertainment.
The church will be transformed into an intimate cabaret style space with subtle lighting and café style seating. Café Create follows on from the original Arts House events held at the church some years ago, which attracted musicians, comedians and cabaret acts from across the country. Café Create plans to bring Lancaster the best in home grown
talent and entertainers from further afield.

Speaking about the event, organiser Mike Peatman said, "We felt that there was a need for this sort of venue in Lancaster, a place where people can go and enjoy themselves in a relaxed atmosphere, be entertained but also have time to sit, chat and chill if that's what they want. We plan to offer something a little different from the normal night out at a pub. We're hoping to create a space in which
people have the opportunity to enjoy a drink or two with friends, perhaps meet new people and where they can listen to some good music or stand up comedy and other types of entertainment. Just a good night out really, without being jostled at the bar or deafened by the juke box.
Mike added, "Some people might think this is a subversive way of getting people into church, but this is not an exercise in evangelism for the Church of England. We hope that no-one will be put off by the fact that Café Create is held in a church and that anyone of any faith or belief or none will see it for what it is - a relaxed night out."

At this first event, the highly popular local band Lava will be playing their unique brand of Latin flavoured music. Along with Lava a number of local musicians will also be playing and there will be table magic from the excellent Dave Lancaster and more. The entrance price is £2 on the door which includes a first drink from the licensed Fairtrade
bar and there will be drinks available at well below normal pub prices.
Seats are limited and offered on a first come first served basis. Once full the doors will close for the evening - so get in early.

MORECAMBE MP: NO TO TRIDENT?
13/3/07: Morecambe & Lunesdale MP Geraldine Smith (Lab) has written to Virtual-Lancaster to clarify her position on the Trident nuclear weapons system. Parliament is to debate the issue tomorrow. It is predicted that a large number of Labour MPs will vote against the government and against funding this programme, which many argue contravenes the international non proliferation treaty.
Ms Smith wrote: "I can assure you that there are no circumstances under which I would vote for Trident."
Lancaster & Wyre MP Ben Wallace (Con) has indicated in correspondence to local constituents that he intends to support the government's proposals to commission a new Trident nuclear programme.
Update 15/3/07: Mr Wallace indeed voted as indicated.
And, just as she said, Ms Smith did not vote for Trident. She didn't vote against it either. In fact she didn't vote at all. The government's bill was passed.

CLLR BARKER: CORRECTION
13/3/03: In our last newsletter (9/3/07) we wrote that City Cllr Ian Barker had said (in relation to a potential increase in traffic congestion arising from the plan) that "he could not vote for planning approval until this issue was resolved." This was in fact inaccurate and Cllr Barker has asked Virtual-Lancaster to correct the wholly incorrect  implication that he is on the Planning Committee and that he has a vote on the development. He said' "I will speak against the development if I don’t think CM satisfy the retail impact and traffic impact tests. That has been my consistent position throughout."

SOLD! LANCASTER ECO-HOMES
12/3/07: Lancaster Cohousing unveiled the first of their architect's sketches for their planned eco community earlier this month and pre-sold 16 of the homes to Lancaster families, as well as a further 3 to people moving to the area from as far as Manchester and Derby specifically to live in this exciting new development.
This leaves only 5 of the planned homes left to be bought, but with several families seriously interested, the group is making plans to set-up a waiting list for disappointed buyers. Mark Westcombe, Treasurer for the group, commented “this is a huge leap of faith for many of us, but shows the level of interest and commitment of the buyers to wanting to live together as a stronger community.”
As well as signing pre-sale agreements this weekend, all the families buying into the scheme have made a £5,000 interest free loan to the company which acts as a deposit on their future home. This will enable the group to raise money from the Co-op bank to purchase land and begin the building.
The group have several sites in mind, but are keen to purchase land on Aldcliffe Road which is expected to go on the market soon and save the site from commercial development of more student flats, unwanted theme pub and more traffic. They have appointed award winning architects EcoArc of York who have a reputation for sensitive design having worked with the National Trust on upgrading some of their listed buildings and even gaining the approval of Prince Charles.
Some initial sketches of their ideas were unveiled at a public meeting held recently at the Gregson Centre with one hopeful buyer travelling from as far as London to look at the plans.
If the project is successful, the residents will each have their own state-of-the-art eco house, plus the benefit of increased neighbourliness through access to some shared indoor and outdoor space.
Tom Brown who is moving with his partner and daughter Ali and Ella (cf picture signing his pre-sale agreement) from Wolverhampton, said “it's a bit like having your own village hall and park at the top of your street, except we all expect to go there a bit more often!”
The site will be car-free, with just footpaths across the open space between the houses and gardens. Sue Holden, mother of Bob and Flo comments "it will be great for the children to run around freely and for us not to have to worry about the risk of them getting run over". For other members the stronger sense of community is the key draw, as the neighbours will be able to meet, chat and eat together in the shared facilities.
The project is a very timely response to global warming and the government's future housing plans. The houses will use cutting edge technology not yet seen in the North West which will be used to make the houses highly energy efficient. Indeed, the homes will need only minimal heating, as super-insulation and passive solar gain will make central heating unnecessary. This will mean the houses will always be warm, whether in the middle of the night or on return from your winter holidays and there'll be no more radiators to get in the way of the furniture! With rising fuel costs residents can expect to save even a £1000 a year in bills.
There are a few plots remaining in the scheme and anyone who is interested in finding out more should go to the group's website: www.lancastercohousing.org.uk while the last few houses remain.

STUDENTS ELECT V-L'S ROCK BEECH FOR SCAN EDITOR!
10/3/07: Virtual-Lancaster rock reviewer Joe Beech is celebrating his successful campaign for election as the next Editor of SCAN, the Lancaster University Students Union weekly newspaper.
Currently events co-ordinator for the Lancaster University Live Unsigned Music Society, Joe will start work at SCAN after Easter, with training from outgoing SCAN editor Ben Bailey.
SCAN editorship is a sabbatical role, which means a year out from studying to take up this paid position.
His term of office officially begins at the start of the 2007/8 academic year.
He said; "During the week-long campaign I gave free cups of tea to cold people on campus, hung up my late grandad's bed sheet with "reach for Joe Beech" scrawled on it above Pizetta, started a mexican wave in a lecture, spoke to hundreds of people on what they want for SCAN and talked to current SCAN Editor Ben Bailey on running the paper to find out improvements that could be made. It's been a great week but I'm glad it's over and obviously ecstatic that I was elected!
"I'm honoured to join and lead the team of a great publication and aim to keep my word on policies I've mentioned throughout my campaign, mainly to unify the campus societies, colleges and radio station through making people more aware of events and goings on (this includes publicising more big events that are going on and re-introducing the Bailrigg Chart).
"Also; proof readers within each editorial section to eradicate bad grammar (and a much more updated, better website!
"The first paper will be ready crisp and beautiful by the first week of next academic year. More than anything I want to know what people think so I will have a suggestion box and open office hours for people to drop by.
"I hope to keep ties between us and Virtual Lancaster as I've been a proud journalist for the website for a while and am looking forward to its progression and continuing success."
We're proud too Joe.

CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF CARTOONING!
10/3/07: The 20th Anniversary Really Heavy Greatcoat, written by two local comics creators has just been published online.
Since its first appearance in 1987, The Really Heavy Greatcoat has been poking fun at local politics - from the stink of Nightinagle Farm to the perils of bus travel, overblown development plans and Heysham power station - and the strip hasn't ignore national issues, either. Along the way, creators John Freeman and Nick Miller have amassed a huge assembly of weird and normal characters, and picked up numerous fans worldwide.
Created during a "creative discussion" in the Moorlands pub in 1987, the Greatcoat, which centres on a living, talking greatcoat brought to life during the hippy culture of the 1960s, was first published in Lancaster's free listings magazine, On the Beat. In 2001, the creative team re-launched the strip online and now appears on the comics site www.downthetubes.net which gets over 14,000 unique visitors a month.
In addition to online publication, The Really Heavy Greatcoat is regularly published in the international comics magazine Comics International, has appeared in The Norm in the USA, and other publications.
"We even have our own entry on Wikipedia," says writer John Freeman, "and that wasn't as easy to acheive as it might appear!"
"We're looking forward to plenty more Greatcoat madness for a few years to come," John continues. "After all, there's no shortage of madness in politics and everyday life to draw inspiration from."
• Read the Anniversary strip on virtual-lancaster!

HOME RULE FOR MORECAMBE!
8/3/07: While Lancaster City Council is making plans to devolve from Lancashire County Council ito a Unitary Authority, over 3,000 people have signed a petition calling for Morecambe to have its own town council again, after 30+ years of being merged with Lancaster. That's more than the required 10% of the electorate and the Council now has to consult widely about the proposal.
The petition was received by the council on January 31, 2007 and requests the creation of a Town Council for Morecambe based on the area covered by the wards of Poulton, Bare, Torrisholme, Westgate, Harbour and Heysham North.
The powers of a Town Council are set out in law, including for example: maintaining cemeteries and parks, providing bus shelters, car and bike parking, seats, litter bins, clocks, CCTV, public toilets, street lighting. They can make byelaws on things such as public open spaces and control of dogs, make grants to voluntary organisations, bus services and the Police, establish neighbourhood watch schemes and car sharing schemes, contribute to traffic calming measures, establish, operate and provide parks, theatres, and community centres, put on entertainment and events, and encourage people to visit an area.
They are also consulted on many issues affecting their area e.g. planning applications, diverting or 'stopping up unclassified roads, footpaths or bridleways.
By law, the council must now seek the views of residents and interested parties on the proposal, before deciding whether to endorse the proposal before it is sent to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, who will decide whether to agree to the request.
The Council is keen to receive your views using the Council’s Consultation Finder System (Type Morecambe Town Council into the title box) at: www.lancaster.gov.uk/consultation
However as this link is currently being beseiged by consultees, you may prefer to email your views to
democracy@lancaster.gov.uk
or in writing to:
Democratic Services
Lancaster City Council
Town Hall
Dalton Square
Lancaster
LA1 1PJ
The deadline for responses is April 2, 2007. The proposal and the results of consultation will be considered by the Council at its meeting on April 18, 2007, 2pm at Morecambe Town Hall and will be published on the Council’s website.
If the results of the consultation are positive a report will be submitted to Full Council, and then if agreed it will be sent to the Government with a recommendation, and then the government will make the final decision to create a Morecambe Town Council.
Morecambe may well feel overshadowed by Lancaster. The Morecambe Regeneration Masterplan of 2005 stressed the necessity of developing the retail offering in the West End and the need for strong retail anchors at each end of the Yorkshire Street Area, preferably a department store.
However Centros Miller, who hope to develop Lancaster's Canal Corridor, stressed in a recommendation to Lancaster City Council that: "There should not be over-development in Morecambe, particularly for retail development when opportunities exist in Lancaster which plays a more strategic role."
Housing has been another issue. Many of Morecambe's difficulties have been blamed on transients - people moving through low cost rented accommodation in Morecambe's West End. Ofsted reports on Morecambe and Heysham schools refer to this as a problem affecting school performance. However Lancaster residents threatened with homelessness are not helped in Lancaster but sent by the Housing Dept to the Morecambe office, to be supplied with a list of West End landlords, miles away from from their friends, their families and any resources they might otherwise be able to draw on.
Lancaster City Council is itself hoping to devolve from Lancashire County Council into a Unitary Authority.

HEYSHAM POWER STATION: SEEKS PARTNER, GSOH
8/3/07: In Brief: The BBC report that British Energy is offering space on its land adjacent to Heysham Power station to potential partners to develop new nuclear generators.
A British Energy spokeswoman told the BBC: "We are now waiting for guidance from the government before moving forward to new build but are looking for partners in preparation."
Read full BBC report

NORTHERN ROUTE - THE ROT SETS IN
8/3/07: Documents revealed following a Freedom of Information Act request, show that behind the scenes Lancashire County Council (LCC) has had to slash its economic regeneration claims for the Northern route by 70%, making the chances of obtaining Government funding even less likely.
In its original economic impact report of July 2005, LCC claimed a notional £162 million ‘regeneration benefit’ for the area based on the scheme creating 6,014 new jobs. This LCC described as ‘very significant’ in relation to the scheme cost estimate of £118 million (LCC 2005 figure).
A Freedom of Information Act request made by Transport Solutions for Lancaster and Morecambe (TSLM), the local transport campaign group (1), has discovered the existence of a revised economic impact report, dated December 2006 but not published, by LCC consultants Faber Maunsell. In the revised report the original forecast has been revised downwards from 6014 to 1,822 theoretical new jobs.
The effect of this reduction on the notional regeneration benefit is a drastic cut of 70% from £162 million to £49 million.
“They overestimated new jobs by a massive 330%!” said David Gate, chair of TSLM. “For two years they have used the 6,000 new jobs claim to justify the scheme. Now it turns out to be a mistake.
“This makes the value for money claim for this destructive and polluting road highly questionable; even more so now that inflation has pushed the construction costs to £137 million, and that’s not counting recent changes to the plans.
“LCC have been keeping these figures to themselves; only last week LCC Labour County Councillor Jean Yates quoted the original new jobs estimate in an interview with a national planning magazine.
“The Northern route destroys the Green Belt, adds to CO2 emissions, impacts on communities and does not deal with the congestion problem. Now that the theoretical regeneration benefits have been slashed, it is time for the Government to tell Lancashire County Council that the plan will not be accepted into the funding programme and that taxpayers' money will not be made available.”

PHONE MASTS -
8/3/07: It's the last thing you want to see - a mobile phone mast going up next to your house - or your children's school. And Lancaster residents have fought one campaign after another to keep them at a distance.
Sometimes winning, as in the case of the Gregson and in Skerton when O2 flouted planning rules and erected a mast just a few yards from a resident's window (see picture above) - only to be ordered to remove it.
Sometimes losing, as in the case of the council-owned block in Skerton, where tenants live under a mast just a few metres above their heads. And currently Golgotha Road residents are waging a furious campaign against the proposed 40 foot 3G phone mast. Are they harmful? As there was with tobacco and global warming, there is a long stage of conflicting evidence and uncertainty and a lot of vested interests each way that don't help.
But the City Council may finally be lifting the burden from beleaguered residents. Labour Councillors Jim Blakely and Ron Sands have proposed that the City Council have proposed that the Council should adopt a precautionary approach where new phone masts should not be sited less than twice their height from the nearest residential property or school.
That’s not very far at all, but it would be enough to make a difference in the case of council-owned block of flats in Skerton. It’s not clear if the proposal would apply to existing masts, but it would be the decent thing if the council (assuming it adopts the proposal) extended the same precautionary care to its own tenants as to the rest of the city.
Cllr Blakely said: "Without firm policies adopted by the Council, wealthy phone companies seem to have a free-run over the district. Phone companies will have to think harder where to position masts. We don’t want phone masts on our footpaths in residential areas or near schools."
"Other local authorities have limits on how close phone masts can be to homes and schools, we as a Council must adopt these sensible planning policies."
Councillor Sands said: "There is an enormous strength of opinion which cannot be ignored any longer. Council needs to toughen-up planning policy and follow the lead that’s already been given by other concerned local authorities."

LANCASTER: KEEP THE NHS PUBLIC
8/3/07: Morecambe Bay Primary Care Trust lasted only 4 years before being replaced by Cumbria PCT and North Lancashire PCT, the latter of which came into being last December with an initial directive to save £11.8 million on the 2006/7 budget.
More than 6,000 job losses nationally have been announced by NHS trusts struggling to balance their books.
Since new year the Green Party has been talking to local residents on the Ridge and Newton estates in Bulk Ward about NHS cuts and job loss.
The response of local residents has been overwhelmingly supportive of the NHS and keeping the NHS public and avoiding job loss. Just under 300 people signed a petition supporting a publicly provided health service and opposing jobs cuts in this area.
These petition forms have now been forwarded to a national campaign group “Keep our NHS public” and you can sign up online there.
Bulk Ward Green Cllr John Whitelegg, said,
“The NHS is very important to my ward. Many of my constituents work at the RLI and many use the services provided there. I expected local people to support the NHS but I was amazed at the strength of feeling and support. This should send a strong message to the Labour government to stop messing about with the NHS and stop the senseless waste of 6000 jobs.”
And it's not just NHS workers who are suffering. Lancastrian Jeff Woodman (45), who suffers from a severe degenerative spinal condition is a victim of the cuts; "The local health trust had approved funding for an operation that would slow down my deterioration and reduce the severe pain I currently experience . However they now find that they are £11.8 million short to meet their 2006/7 commitments - they have to save this amount somewhere - and I have now had a letter reversing their previous decision and telling me that I now don't qualify for this treatment. I have also now discovered that the specialist spinal care that I have been receiving from the NHS for the last seven years, which is essential to prevent deterioration and loss of my valued independence, has been discontinued.
"I am very angry that some book-keeper has decided to kill me off so that the many ill-judged and wasteful contracts the Blair/Brown administration has formed with private health-care companies can continue to pay dividends to their shareholders. I will fight this decision, but I'm well aware that there are thousands of people so laid low by treatable illness and injury who simply don't have the strength to stand up to this."

OLYMPICS LOTTERY CAMPAIGN
7/3/07: Following the government cock-up that led to the cost of the Olympics being wildly underestimated, Lancaster Community Volunteer Service (who support the countless local voluntary organisations and volunteers without whose selfless work this city would be on its knees) have been in touch about Parliamentary Early Day Motion (No.695).
This has been tabled expressing concerns about the use of a further £900 million of National Lottery money to pay for the 2012 Olympics (in addition to the £1.5 billion of lottery money already allocated to the olympics), depriving the voluntary and community sector of vital funds.
Many local services and organisations that we depend on and take for granted may be wiped out by this loss of funding.
Please urge your local MPs to sign this motion. Currently Ben Wallace, MP for Lancaster and Wyre and Geraldine Smith, MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale have NOT signed the motion. Ben Wallace’s e-mail address is: wallaceb@parliament.uk and Geraldine Smith’s is: smithg@parliament.uk. To see the motion and the MPs that have signed it click here.

MORECAMBE BAY: INSPIRING!
4/3/07: Echo Artists’ latest group exhibition is on at The Sultan Gallery, Brock Street, Lancaster from 5 March to 28 April. The 7 members of this Lancaster-based artists’ group - Dawn Blackmore, Janette Ireland, Barb Madoc, Catriona Stamp, Diane Faye, Vicki Mulligan, Patricia Haskey Knowles - work in a wide range of media. They have produced an exhibition which is held together by the theme, ‘Inspired by Location’, and has a great variety of art-work. The work on show includes glass, pebble-mosaics, sculpture, artists books, prints, ceramics, fibre arts and fine art.
Secretary of the group, Catriona Stamp, said, ‘When we were making plans for this exhibition, we realised that the local area was an important source of inspiration for all of us, (though we each have other sources as well), even though there are differences in what aspect we focus on and how we interpret it. We hope that the variety of work we have on show will provide something of interest to everyone who comes.’
Individual members have exhibited their work throughout the region. The group has also had several exhibitions in Preston, but this is the first time that they have shown their work together in Lancaster.
Later in the month, on 22 March from 6.30 -8.30pm at the Sultan, there will be a talk and networking session organised by Echo in collaboration with Lancashire Artists' Network. The main speaker will be John Fox, prolific artist, printmaker, poet and essayist, who was co-founder and art director of Welfare State International. John’s talk “A Vision of One Rock in Morecambe Bay” will use images and films from the last two years to put his current visual work into the wider political context. The event is free, but booking is recommended, because places are limited - email celia.cross@lanarts.com For further information check www.lanarts.com
Catriona Stamp's most recent artist's book, 'Beach Findings', and some of the prints will also be exhibited as part of the show, thanks to project funding from Arts Council England. The main artworks on show are the prints made for the book, which is about the litter around Morecambe Bay and the efforts of volunteers to clean it up. There will also be some of the photographs taken as source material during the research period. See www.artistsbooks.org.
Catriona said, 'I undertook this project because I am passionate about the local environment and I wanted to contribute my skills as an artist on the issue of beach litter, in order to help publicise the efforts of members of Beach Care and other volunteer litter-picking groups. I hope my book helps to raise awareness about some of the problems caused by beach litter, and to motivate more people to take their litter home with them.'

She added, 'I want to thank the volunteers who regularly pick up the beach litter for allowing me to talk to them, and I hope the book reflects some of their concerns. I learnt a great deal from the volunteers about how badly the litter affects the wildlife, as well as local people and their animals.'
As a result of requests from some of the volunteers Catriona Stamp is publishing some copies of the book in paperback, cost £10 plus £1.50 P&P, with £1 donated to Beach Care for each copy sold. To order a copy, please contact Catriona Stamp on 01524 840530. To find out more about Beach Care activities ring Helen Annan on 01539 740430 or 07875 845693.

TORIES: WE NEED SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES
2/3/07: Lancaster City Council voted at its 28 February meeting to approve a Conservative motion to support the Sustainable Communities Bill.
Cllr Roger Mace, Leader of the Conservative Group on the City Council confirmed after the meeting that the Bill addresses problems that are important issues for Conservatives, namely the community decline that arises from the loss of key local services – such as post offices, bank branches and community retailers – and the resulting social cost in terms of quality of life, particularly for elderly people, the impact on small local businesses and their suppliers, and the damage to the environment as a result of people having to drive more.
"The Bill would devolve more power from Whitehall to councils and communities by giving councils more power over money spent by national agencies on local matters in their areas. It would also give councils and their communities the power to drive government policy to assist them in promoting sustainable communities.
Implementation of the proposals in the Bill would help councils to protect the wellbeing of their communities and citizens, and the Council has resolved to write to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, urging her to support the Bill and to inform the leading MPs of this decision. Conservatives have said it is their intention to implement this Bill when they are in government."

LANCASTER ANTI-TRIDENT CAMPAIGN
1/3/07: A coachload of about 50 Lancastrians attended the 100,000 strong demonstration in London last Saturday. Organised by the Stop the War Campaign and National CND, they were protesting about the government's plans to initiate a further massive round of spending on the Trident Nuclear programme and also to call for the withdrawal of troops from their illegal and catastrophic occupation of Iraq.
As a participant explained; "It is ironic that the extreme difficulties experienced by Coalition forces in both Afghanistan and Iraq are largely due to the government's insistance on spending billions on nuclear arms contracts for weapons systems of mass destruction that we cannot, indeed must not, use - while sacrificing troops who are inadequately equipped to secure the situation on the ground."
There will be a Public Meeting tonight Thursday 1 March at the Polish Centre in Nelson St, Lancaster, organised by the Lancaster Coalition against the War to discuss "how we can build imaginative and vibrant anti-war, anti-Trident campaigning in Lancaster."
7/3/07: We have edited the above article to reflect the fact that the Stop the War Campaign is opposed to the war being pursued in Iraq and Afghanistan and also to the commissioning of of Trident nuclear weapons systems.
7/3/07: The parliamentary vote on Trident takes place on 14 March. Write to your MP and tell them to vote for a nuclear-free future.
You can contact them with a personal message at:
Geraldine Smith:
House of Commons (tel): 020 7219 5816
Constituency (tel): 01524 411367 
smithg@parliament.uk
Ben Wallace's are
Commons Personal Asst: 0207 219 5804
Local Office: 01995 672977
wallaceb@parliament.uk

Previous stories: 16 - 28 February 2007