Previous stories: 16 - 31 May 2007
Next stories: 16 - 30 June 2007

YET MORE RETAIL DEVELOPMENT PLANNED FOR LANCASTER
15/6/07: Lancaster Property Network (LPN) has secured land between Caton Road and Parliament Street with the intention of building: a 200-bedroom hotel, with swimming pool and penthouse restaurant on the corner of Parliament Street and Caton Road; a large retail unit; a mini supermarket; 250 apartments, office and shop space built on top of an underground car park and a pedestrian walkway crossing the entire development and linking, via a bridge across Parliament Street, to the park next to the River Lune.
According to today’s Lancaster Gurdian (www.lancasterguardian.co.uk) LPN has acquired all the land and buildings on the site, except for the former Nawaab Indian restaurant building, which is listed.
Farm Foods, the former K Gardener's TV House and Solway Kitchens premises, Parkinson's Garage, Avis Rent-a-Car, Hunters and the Sunlight laundry would all be demolished to make way for the new scheme.
Mr Sanderson of LPN hopes to submit a planning application for the scheme, to be known as Lawson's Quay (after the merchant who built a wharf on the Lune in 1680). If planning permission is granted the scheme could be completed by 2010.
"By pure coincidence the timing of the proposed development is precisely when the Centros Miller proposals are being discussed for the canal corridor site, which couldn't be better for all concerned," Mr Sanderson told the Guardian.
LPN also built and runs the 250 student bedroom development on the corner of St George’s Quay and Cable Street, and another student residence building in Damside Street, plus an office building in Fleet Square.

LOVE PARKS!
15/6/07: Happy Mount Park will be celebrating its 80th birthday party next week with a party in the park on Sunday June 17 from 11.30-4pm with a DJ, brass band, face painting, Stunt school and RSPB workshops.
The day also marks the beginning of ‘Love Parks Week’, a national campaign to encourage everyone to enjoy the green spaces in their local community.
Sharon Wilson, Promenade/Outdoor Facilities Manager, said: “Most people will remember a time when they visited a park or green space, the smell of the freshly cut grass, the sound of the wind through the trees, sounds of children laughing and having fun. If you haven’t been to your local park for a while give it a go this week whether it be for a walk, sport or for a picnic.”
Other free activities in Lancaster & Morecambe parks during the week can be found in our events listings or at www.lancaster.gov.uk/happymountpark or see www.loveparksweek.org.uk.
A nationwide photography competition, entitled ‘Postcards from the Park’, is being launched to celebrate what we all love most about the UK’s public parks. ‘Postcards from the Park’ runs from 1st June until 1st August 2007. The national winner of the competition will win the money-can’t buy prize of a one-to-one photo class with the celebrated photographer, Mike McCartney and the best entries from all over the UK will be featured in an exhibition in London in September and turned into postcards to be available in Lottery-funded venues across the UK. Participants need to register at www.loveparksweek.org.uk where they will also find hints and tips on how to take that perfect picture. The website also details the events taking place during Love Parks Week.

THE SPECTRUM
15/6/07: The Spectrum is a sequence of songs written by Andy Whitfield in conjunction with students at Beaumont College - performed by choir, world music big band, and strings, and accompanied by newly-created films. Veer crazily with us through the forbidden world of the Tango, the Metaphor Calypso, a salsa of Obsessions, and arrive breathlessly at the Powerful Voice of Beaumont's own anthem. If you enjoyed ‘For Every Child’, you will love this.
The Spectrum explores the worlds of autism – worlds surprisingly familiar to many of us.
Essential rehearsals during June will be held with the Millennium Choir at Beaumont College (on the left just past the canal bridge on the A6 north out of Lancaster - Slyne Road), on Mondays at 7 pm 4th June, 11th June, 18th June and 25th June and Andy tells us “you are welcome to join us as a performer, please ring me on 388248, or e-mail whitfieldesque@hotmail.com to register your interest.
The Premiere of The Spectrum is happening on Monday 2 July 2007 at Beaumont College, and again on Saturday 7 July at St John's North Road. Tickets £6 / £5 are on sale now. See www.andywhitfieldmusic.com for more info.

CENTROS OBJECTIONS DEADLINE: 18 JUNE…
15/6/07: We hear from the Town Hall in regard to the Centros Miller planning application that no date has been set yet for the special committee meeting to consider the applications so any letters received after the formal deadline (now this Monday, 18 June) may still be considered. Letters received up to a week before the committee date will be reported verbally.
For help and even an objection letter template go to www.itsourcity.org.uk/planning/HowToObject.html.
There is a body of opinion that says, "we have to have something there, it's no use objecting to progress". Which feels a bit like when people who objected to the one-party system in communist Russia were accused of objecting to freedom.
Communist or capitalist, there are always going to be people who will obstruct fair competition in favour of private interests and the town hall 'champions' of the Centros Miller plan, (which is generally typical of town centre shopping precincts since the 1960's, without any concessions to real progress or advances in our understanding of environmental and cultural stress), seem sadly unable to be the exception to this rule.
You can also find the planning applications and details on how to send in your comments on the council website at www.lancaster.gov.uk/General.asp?id=SX9452-A780AD38.

….AIR QUALITY
15/6/07: In the meantime the council is inviting comment on its scientific assessment of local air quality in central Lancaster and public suggestions as to how local air quality can be improved.
In parts of central Lancaster air quality is worse than one of the national air quality objectives due to exhaust emissions from road traffic. This is the annual average concentration of nitrogen dioxide. This affects everyone using the city centre but homes along the city centre one-way system are most likely to be affected. These residents are being contacted individually and offered advice.
Peter Loker, Corporate Director said:
“Our air quality problem, like those in many other parts of the country, is closely associated with road traffic. The concentration of traffic on city centre roads and the road congestion we experience regularly are key factors in localised concentrations of air pollution.
“We are preparing an Air Quality Action Plan with partner organisations and looking for achievable ways of improving air quality in the most affected areas. This has implications not only for city centre residents but also for motorists and others travelling in Lancaster.
“Every suggestion for improving air quality is welcome. Once we have a list of the possible measures that are viable we will consult again on the content of an Air Quality Action Plan before it is finalised.”
The council’s “Further Assessment” local air quality report subject to consultation is available in libraries across the Lancaster district including Lancaster Central Library and Morecambe library, also on the council’s website at www.lancaster.gov.uk/airquality. The website also contains a range of information about air quality.
Please send your comments by July 1, 2007 to:
Environmental Health Services, Lancaster City Council, Town Hall, Marine Road East, Morecambe LA4 5AF or email: airquality@lancaster.gov.uk.
The council plans further consultation on a list of possible air quality actions beginning in July. It is too early to say what those actions will be. Here's one suggestion: Don't approve a canal corridor development plan that can only break even if it succeeds in attracting thousands more vehicles into the city centre.

CORE STRATEGY
15/6/07: Today (Friday 15, 5.15pm) is the deadline for comments / objections on the Core Strategy of the Local Development Framework. It’s easy to do with an online form.
You have to relate objections to the "tests of soundness". Test 7 "The strategies/ policies/ allocations fail to represent the most appropriate in all the circumstances, having considered the relevant alternatives, and they are not founded on a robust and credible evidence base" may be the one you need.
Click here for the consultation website.
If people are going to object to just one thing then para 4.7 which says that 60% of all the retail development should go to Lancaster (as opposed to Morecambe) might be the one to go for - although there is also controvery surrounding Policy ER1 (chapter 5) on the Lancaster Science Park (a massive, out of the way, greenbelt development with a weakness for military funding proposed for Bailrigg) and the section in chapter 3 supporting the bypass (regardless of the imminent Public Enquiry).
You have until 5.15pm today to do this!

CUTTING LOOSE FROM THE OLD ECONOMY
15/6/07: Does money have to rule our lives? That’s one subject of a series of talks being organised by Andy Baxter called ‘Cutting Loose’ on alternate Thursdays from 7.30 to 9.30 at the Friends' Meeting House, Lancaster. The series aims to look at concrete examples of how people can do something in their personal and working lives which goes against the values imposed by the mainstream economy, while still working within it to a degree. Also to look at the tensions and pressures this brings up, and how people have found ways of resolving these in practice. The dates are as follows:
28 June: Speakers from the Kendal Local Economic Trading scheme (LETS) & Morecambe Bay Credit Union
12 July: 'Online Gift Economies' - various speakers to be arranged, including one on 'open source software'.
26 July: Andrew Sayer from Lancaster University on 'Moral Economy' and
Pat Devine from Manchester University on 'Participatory Planning'.
For more details about the series as a whole, see:
http://knowledgelab.org.uk/wiki/AUL/CuttingLoose
A bulletin board has also been set up at: http://lofty.dyndns.info/phpbb/
for people to continue online any discussions which come out of the talks.

LIVING TOGETHER THE COHOUSING WAY
15/6/07: Lancaster Cohousing is pioneering one of the first UK cohousing communities here in central Lancaster and Saturday 16 June (tomorrow) sees a free half-day about the project at the Dukes. At 3.30pm in the gallery there will be a public meeting where members from the current 24 households will present the group's history and vision for an ecological, carbon neutral development that facilitates a strong neighbourly community and shares the joys and burdens of raising families in today's society. Prospective membership of the group will be available after the talk.
At 5.45pm there will be a screening of the Swedish film ‘Together’ which tells of mother of two Elisabeth and her move to the strange new world of her brother's commune, the ‘Together’ of the title. “Set almost entirely within the house, the humour ranges from the gentle to the bawdy, with the alternative lifestyle of the housemates prone to some gentle but affectionate lampooning. The effect on all parties is clear - not least Elisabeth's two children, her violent ex-partner and her relaxed brother Göran - and the simple final scene brings the piece to a joyous crescendo.”
At 7:45pm will be a Film Talk: Cohousing - A Modern Answer to Communal Living?
Cohousing has emerged as a way of addressing our contemporary needs for community. In light of tonight's film, Diggers and Dreamers editor Chris Coates will introduce the ideas of Cohousing and lead a discussion of why Cohousing has been so successful internationally.
See www.lancastercohousing.org.uk
www.diggersanddreamers.org.uk
www.cohousing.org.uk

PLASTIC M6 BRIDGE WINS AWARD
15/6/07: An innovative £2 million Highways Agency scheme to install a super-strength plastic bridge over the M6 in Lancashire has won a national technical award.
The Mount Pleasant Bridge, between Junction 32 and 33 of the motorway, won the National Institution of Highways and Transportation award for Innovation on 7 June. The bridge, which is constructed out of a special plastic known as
fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP), became the first ever plastic bridge on the motorway network in England when it was installed in April 2006.
It is two-thirds the weight of the old concrete bridge it replaced but almost twice as strong meaning it could be installed faster, significantly reducing disruption to drivers.
FRP is the first major new construction material since the introduction of reinforced concrete 100 years ago.
The M6 scheme was the first time the Highways Agency used FRP for road bridge construction on the motorway network, although the technique had been used on footbridges before.

CITY ACADEMY MEETING
15/6/07: The news that several local schools may close to make way for a new City Academy has led to a Public Meeting being called for this Monday 18 June, 7pm at Lancaster Town Hall. County Cllr Alan Whittaker will be discussing the proposal and MPs Geraldine Smith and Ben Wallace will be on the panel. Cllr Jim Blakely, who is organising the meeting said, “It's difficult to object to investment in education in this district, however I am concerned about how these new City Academies are funded and controlled. Parents and children should have been consulted before any steps taken and this should be the priority now.
“I've organised this meeting as there are many questions left unanswered. I hope people will be able to find out more about the proposal and have some important questions answered, such as the possible location(s) for the Academy, funding and how travel will be managed. There will be a question time!”
The proposed academy would be funded in part from local backers, in partnership with central government and the local education authority. Concerns have arisen in the past about City Academies being funded by private individuals who might then have an undue influence on how and what children were taught. One example was the King’s Academy in Middlesborough, sponsored by christian car dealer Sir Peter Vardy, where it was widely alleged that children were being encouraged to accept the idea of creationism – the belief that that all the species of life on earth were created individually in their current forms, as described in the first book of the Bible, as opposed to evolutionary theory based on natural selection, originally developed by Charles Darwin, which deduces an inherant relationship between all forms of life.
The multi-million pound 950 place academy, which, if approved, could be open by September, would replace Central Lancaster High School (CLHS); Skerton Community High School, and Hornby High School, which have faced concerns over falling rolls.

LOCAL HEROES ‘HOW’S MY POP?’ ON AT GLASTONBURY
15/6/07: You read it right! Brilliant local band ‘How’s My Pop’ WILL be playing at Glastonbury this year. They’re playing on the 'BBC Introducing Stage' on the Saturday of the festival! ‘Hows My Pop’ are one of 24 bands out of hundreds from around the country who entered to be part of the festival.
It will be filmed and recorded so some may be up on Youtube afterwards and they may get played on BBC Radio 1 as part of the highlights. As its on Saturday the band’s gig at The Yorkshire House this Thursday 21 June is unaffected, so you can see them without the benefit of mud, hurray! Turn up and give them a good send-off. You can hear their music at www.myspace.com/howsmypop.

MIDLAND HOTEL ON TELLY THIS SUNDAY
15/6/07: The Midland Hotel, Morecambe, will feature on BBC2’s popular show Coast’ on Sunday June 17 at 8pm in an episode focussing on the stretch of coast from Southport to Whitehaven.
Filming took place at the Midland in August 2006. The feature will look at Urban Splash’s seven million pound redevelopment of the historic hotel.
Work commenced on the restoration of the Art Deco hotel in summer 2005. It is anticipated that the restoration will be completed in early 2008 with the hotel doors to be opened in mid 2008.
Funding for the grade II listed building has been secured by contributions of £4.5m from the North West Development Agency and £600,000 through Lancaster City Council’s managed 'Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI)' programme, with Urban Splash providing the balance.
The Morecambe THI itself is a partnership project receiving £1.565m from the Heritage Lottery Fund for conservation-led regeneration schemes. Through the THI, the Council has given grants to over 80 schemes within the Morecambe Conservation Area.

COUNCIL’S ANTI-FRAUD SCHEME BUSTED
15/6/07: Positive Action Network (PAN) campaigners have welcomed the Data Protection Watchdog’s criticisms that last year’s Council Tax fraud clampdown, funded by the County Council and carried out by a group of local authorities, ran foul of the first principle of the Data Protection Law: a requirement for fairness. Over one hundred Lancaster residents in receipt of a S11(1) 25% discount complained last August about letters threatening them with backdated bills for the full amount of Council Tax.
The Information Commissioner has disagreed with both Experian Ltd of Nottingham and Lancaster City Council. If the Council fails to comply with IC requirements in future, enforcement action will follow.
Pan say ‘This victory may open the doors to compensation claims under Data Protection Law by False Positives (people who were wrongly identified and dunned by the council as owing Council Tax). It may also indirectly support complaints to the Local Government Ombudsman about the injustice and distress caused by maladministration.”
However, PAN feel that there may be more to do. For example, they believe that local authorities must observe the principles of natural justice, which require that people ought to know what the evidence against them is when local authorities are acting in quasi judicial capacities.
A PAN spokesperson said, “False positives faced almost insuperable barriers to finding out simple things like just how many people Experain thought might be living at their address. This added to the upset of the whole thing. Asking Experian was, in most cases, a complete waste of time, and sometimes resulted in accusatory communications.”
“We completely agree with the Commissioner that uses of data should be fair and transparent in future. To this end, we call on local Councillors to take three immediate steps:
1 Adopt our simple and fair 12-point ‘Charter for False Positives’;
2 Ensure that all householders are sent valid Council Tax demand notices for this financial year that comply with the content required by law, before next year’s notices are issued;
3 Stamp out future misunderstanding by ceasing to use misleading terms such as ‘single occupier discount’ and ‘single person discount’.
In particular, all residents of local communities should be given the required information about their right of appeal to a Valuation Tribunal, and accurate explanations of the limited situations in which the Council can penalise members of the community for not supplying personal information.”
Virtual-Lancaster emailed the council for comment on 5 June but has not received any reply.

DIVERSITY FM COMMUNITY RADIO
15/6/07: The Diversity FM group based at Lancaster YMCA ‘Heart of the City’ are now going through the commissioning process (getting a license approved) with Ofcom and once their building and soundproofing work is finished followed by the installation of equipment over the next couple of weeks Ofcom will pay a site visit and begin to monitor the signal for strength and to make sure they are not interfering with any other broadcasters.
Once they’re happy it’s turn on, tune in and away we go!
They have given Diversity FM a provisional frequency of 103.5 FM, but it is possible this could change at anytime in the run up to broadcasting, (which has happened to a number of stations) so we will keep you posted.
The group are still broadcasting a mix of live and pre-recorded shows on their website at www.diversityfm.co.uk and hope to be ready for the live, on-air launch sometime in July. In the meantime you will see them at the Morecambe Kite Festival (oh yes, that’s coming too!-) on Sunday 8 July where they will be setting up their kit outside the Platform offering a mix of music and providing an announcement service.
If you are interested in participating in the project contact Angela & Duncan on diversityfm@gmail.com or 01524 383394.

BIKE WEEK
14/6/07: Following a high-profile nationwide campaign from CTC, the Cycle Touring Club, the Government has agreed to amend the Highway Code to improve cyclists' safety and to encourage drivers to take more care around vulnerable road users.
In total over 40 rules have been changed to the benefit of cyclists.
The new version makes clear that cyclists have every right to cycle on the road. Rules 61 and 63 state that cycle lanes and cycle facilities, are "not compulsory" and the decision to use them "will depend on your experience and skills".
The news comes in time for Bike Week, a week of bike activities, with loads of outings, a roadshow in Market Square today, an evening of free cycling shorts (that's short films, ha ha) at the Dukes this Tuesday from 7pm and the ever-popular Bike2Work day this Wednesday where cycle commuters will get a Bikers' Breakfast (croissants and coffee), served in Dalton Square (0815 - 0945) plus free bike postcoding. Lots of other stuff too and it's all at www.celebratingcycling.org.
Lancaster Grammar School boys are looking forward with breathless anticipation to the opening of their new bike shelter this Wednesday. A school of many proud traditions, pupils have for too long suffered the lack of the traditional 'behind the bike sheds' experience, celebrated throughout the literary classics. Although now that the smoking ban is about to come into force, they may have to share it with some of the staff.

ECO-BUILDERS WIN NATIONAL AWARD
10/6/07: Two local people have won a national award for a project which transformed a former council house on Lancaster's Marsh Estate. Paul Speight and Jon Sear were part of a team which worked to renovate the end-terraced house in the most environmentally friendly way possible. Last Thursday, at the Observer ethical awards ceremony in London, they were named DIY project of the year.

The house on Willow Lane has been super-insulated and the hot water is heated using solar panels. Recycled or reused materials were used throughout the house. The kitchen flooring was made using waste from a factory making soles for trainers. Where new materials were needed, natural products were chosen, such as wooden windows, sheep's wool insulation and citrus-based paints.

Jon Sear said: "We learned a lot from the project and managed to show that a very different approach to home renovation is viable. The key is recognising that every home is different and being prepared to spend a bit of time looking into the right solutions, and on restoring things rather than ripping everything out and starting again."

Paul Speight said: " I am very much encouraged by winning this national award and delighted for our project and for Lancaster!"

Since completing the project Jon has been heavily involved in setting up Lancaster Co-housing Company which plans to build around 20 eco-homes in central Lancaster. He is also setting up a business to provide Energy Performance Certificates and other environmental services.

Paul is currently developing a green conversion project that will hopefully benefit from the prestige of winning the award. This would make property available to first time buyers whilst releasing funds for older owner occupiers. He would very much like to hear from retired people with relevant skills such as legal and accounting – do get in touch if you are interested in this project.
Read more about the awards at the Observer website

'GIMME FIVE' PUTS COUNCILLORS ON THE SPOT!

Road protesters present letter to Green County Councillor Chris Coates outside Morecambe Town Hall

5/6/07: Enterprising Transport Solutions for Lancaster and Morecambe (TSLM) are making a tongue in cheek appeal to County Councillors. “It’s only fair," said David Gate, chair of the group opposed to the building of the massive Northern route, "we as tax payers are paying for the Council's high powered lawyers and experts. It seems only right that we should ask them for a contribution to our campaign to stop the road wrecking our district.”
They want the Councillors to help fund TSLM's case at the forthcoming Heysham M6 Link Public Inquiry, by asking the Councillors to buy 5 of their £1 funding appeal tickets.
“We will be writing to every County Councillor asking them to 'gimme five'," said David, "we will give them five good reasons why the road is a bad idea. If the dual carriageway goes ahead we as tax payers have to stump up £156 million to build it, and it only adds more HGVs to the local traffic chaos. We then have to pay yet more for congestion busting measures.”
“Our appeal to them will come as less of a shock than their decision to build the monster road was to us; we got no chance of a consultation on their plan to turn the Green Belt into tarmac and concrete. The Councillors stand a chance of winning five worthwhile prizes, that’s more benefit than we will get from their road."
For more information about TSLM visit their website www.heyshamm6link.info.

GET FESTIVE THIS SUNDAY!

1/6/07: This Sunday sees the 3 Annual Lancaster Community Festival in Williamson Park from 12 noon to 5.30pm. Hundreds turned out last year to enjoy the fun and find out what our neighbours get up to in their spare time!
Phil McGrath of the organizing committee tells us to expect a Vintage Car Rally, Paintballing Range, Smoke Tents and Fire Appliances, Music Groups, Children’s Entertainers and much more! Plus activities from parachute games to Cricket.
The Festival gives a perfect opportunity for community groups to advertise Summer Activity Programmes, recruit new members, showcase their project, recruit volunteers etc. etc, and for the community to sample the amazingly diverse activities and interests going on in our city, while having fun, listening to live music, meeting (and making) friends and picnicking on the grass.
There will be the Second RACE OF THE MASCOTS during the day with representatives of local sports teams, Local Groups etc. The race will follow a route through Williamson Park and the winner will be presented with a trophy. Last years champion was the SureStart Sunflower, followed by the Recycling Mole in 2nd and Fireman Sam 3rd!!
Bicycology will be there too, checking and repairing bikes and offering two bike maintenance workshops (1-2pm and 2.30-3.30pm). You can also make ‘spokey dokeys’, reflective bands, recycled puncture repair kits and bracelets from old bike parts.
For more info contact Phil McGrath, General Secretary, Lancaster and District YMCA, Heart of the City, Fleet Square, LA1 1HA. email: ymcalancaster@btconnect.com. Tel. 01524 32737. fax 01524 389184. www.lancasterymca.co.uk. Enjoy!

ARCHBISHOP NEW UNIVERSITY CHANCELLOR
1/6/07: The Rt Hon Dr John Sentamu, Archbishop of York, has been appointed as the first Chancellor of the University of Cumbria (now incorporating St Martin’s College).
John Sentamu was born in 1949 in a village near Kampala, Uganda, the sixth of thirteen children. He read law at Makerere University, Kampala, and practised as an advocate of the High Court of Uganda. Sentamu was appointed a High Court judge in 1973 at the age of 24 by the newly-ascendent Idi Amin; his refusal to bow to the dictator’s demands resulted in his being locked up for ninety days, three weeks after his marriage.
In a speech in 2007 he described how during that time he had been "kicked around like a football and beaten terribly", saying "the temptation to give up hope of release was always present". In 1974 he fled to the United Kingdom after being involved in a case that led to the imprisonment of one of Amin's cousins.

Dr Sentamu has been Archbishop of York since 2005  Prior to York, the Archbishop served as Bishop of Birmingham from 2002, having previously been Bishop of Stepney and also served as a parish priest, having graduated in theology from Cambridge. He has been a member of the Stephen Lawrence Judicial Enquiry, the Police Liaison Group, NACRO, the Family Welfare Association and the Health Advisory Committee on HM Prisons. He was Chairman of the General Synod's Committee for Minority Ethnic Anglican Concerns between 1990 and 1999.  He was an adviser to the judicial inquiry into the murder of Stephen Lawrence and also chaired the review into the murder investigation of Damilola Taylor.
He has indicated that he would be happy to ordain women bishops if the Church was to change its rules, and has also criticised the way some members of the Church have spoken about gay people, but was a prominent opponent of the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007. However he has made it clear that homosexuality is not a "dividing issue" for him. He defended the Church of England against accusations that it had been too tolerant, saying: "We are Christians first and foremost by our common purpose in Christ and our life in the spirit." He added: "I want to treat every human personality as loved by God.”
Archbishop Sentamu is married to Margaret with whom he has two grown up children, Grace and Geoffrey. His interests include music, cooking, reading, athletics, rugby and football.
Speaking about becoming Chancellor, Archbishop Sentamu said: “I am deeply honoured and to have been appointed to the University of Cumbria. To be part of a University which will reflect the Christian values and the creative traditions on which it was founded is an exciting prospect.
“I am looking forward to witnessing the flourishing of an academic environment where generosity, inventiveness and inclusivity combine with aspiration to produce a community of hope and learning.”
There will be a formal inauguration ceremony for the Chancellor in November. For more information about the University of Cumbria, visit either www.cumbria.ac.uk or www.university4cumbria.ac.uk.
The Archbishop of York’s appointment to the new University of Cumbria was surely not intended as a Roses challenge but it may well presage a potential contrast to the established Lancaster University, where Vice-Chancellor Paul Wellings has become infamous for inviting companies involved in arms dealing and human rights abuses onto the campus, and prosecuting students for peaceful protest.

CENTROS MILLER & THE CANAL CORRIDOR
1/6/07: Centros Miller’s ‘public consultations’ were shown up as the spin they were by the Bulk Ward election result. Originally a safe seat for Labour, their councillors, who campaigned on a stridently anti-Green, pro-Centros Miller Plan platform, were replaced in a landslide victory by Green councillors who campaigned on a Green Plan platform. The public turnout was unprecedented and the message sent by the public to the Town Hall could not have been clearer.

And ‘So what?’ say Centros. Having paid, literally, 10s of £1000s for ‘consultation’ results skewed in their favour and wooed the local newspapers with expensive centrefold and cover advertising spreads, with the promise of more, Centros still remain confident of their ability to buy their way into this lucrative development opportunity and have finally submitted their planning applications – 14 are so far available to view online here.

You can read CM’s Design and Access Statement here.
A range of supporting documents, such as the Transport Assessment and Retail Assessment, are also available to download. However the Appendices for both the Environmental Statement and the Transport Assessment are huge documents and the file sizes make them unsuitable for publication on the Internet. If you wish to view these, or any of the other documents, they are available in Palatine Hall Reception.
You can also view the applications at the Planning Services’ Reception at Palatine Hall, Dalton Square, Lancaster from 8:45am to 5.15pm. Please quote the planning application number on any correspondence.

Despite assurances, there is still no solution to problems of greatly increased traffic congestion, the predicted loss of trade to existing businesses and local retailers when the Town Centre moves, the pressing local need for social housing and the refusal on the part of the Planning Department to follow proper tendering procedures or recognise the results of the independent public consultation carried out by Real Planning for Lancaster.

Nor does the application observe the ‘carbon neutral’ construction and maintenance policies that will come into effect over the next few years – and almost certainly before construction could be completed. The massive retail expansion incorporated into the scheme fails to face up to the coming economic recession being precipitated by spiralling energy costs (another vital reason for a sustainably carbon neutral development) and which is likely to leave the town holding a white elephant of unprecedented proportions – on a site which, wisely used, could be the key to the city’s future economic and environmental health and strength.

Furthermore we hear that the Musician’s Coop has still not received any formal written offer of a rent fixed to enable them to continue to offer their facilities at affordable rates.

The deadline for objections is 12 June 2007 (28 days from 15 May, when the planning applications were announced). The town hall website has suffered some problems since then in keeping the plans available, but they can also be viewed on the It’s Our City website, the main one being 07/00672/OUT.
You may submit either one single letter incorporating your views on the redevelopment as a whole, or comment individually on each application if you wish. All written comments will be reported to the Planning Committee regardless of how they have been submitted.
If you decide to submit one single letter concerning the whole development, then this letter will be recorded on the committee reports of all of the applications submitted.

Please send your comments within the 28 day deadline (by 12 June), although given the exceptional nature of this major application the City Council will accept late comments. To submit comments by email please send them to dcconsultation@lancaster.gov.uk.
Or write to: Planning Services, Lancaster City Council, Palatine Hall, Dalton Square, Lancaster LA1 1PW.
The date for the decision on these applications is not yet known, although provisional arrangements have been made for the Planning Committee to consider them in early/mid-September 2007.

Help & Advice Drop in Session
Confused? – Don’t worry, there are two evenings planned by It’s Our City to help people with any difficulties they might face and simplify the paperwork: on Tuesday 5 June at 7.30pm at the Gregson Centre there will be a drop in advice evening offering help and advice for people who wish to object to the Centros Miller planning applications for the Canal Corridor North site. (NB This is aimed at people who do wish to object but are wary of any possible bureaucracy, to make it easier.)
Local Independent Traders Session
And also an invitiation to independent traders on Wednesday 6 June at 7.30pm at the Gregson Centre to come along and talk about their concerns about the development proposals. (NB At the moment our local traders are a disparate group who almost always never get together. Many of them are not members of the Chamber of Commerce and It’s Our City would like to get a more coherent view of their concerns).

BIKE NEWS
1/6/07: In partnership with local cycling clubs, a new club tailored for young people aged from 8 to 16, will meet weekly at Salt Ayre cycle racing circuit. Sessions will be run by qualified British Cycling coaches.
Go-Ride will give young people the opportunity to learn the essentials in bike handling techniques, specific skills training as well as the chance to progress to racing both on and off road.
Sessions run every Saturday between 10am - 12 pm at Salt Ayre Cycle Racing Circuit and cost just £1.
For more information contact Paul Andrews on 01524 36777 or go to the Celebrating Cycling website.
Pedal Power are running lots of afternoon and evening cycling skills classses for adults and chidren. Be safe on the road and know exactly how to get safely thru those complicated junctions and roundabouts. Tel: 01524 65328.

RIGHT TO RIDE ON THE ROAD IN JEOPARDY
1/7/06: The revised Highway Code says cyclists should "use cycle facilities where possible". If this Code is approved, cyclists will effectively lose the right to ride on the road where there are alternative routes or adjacent facilities.
This would mean, for example, that if you enter the King Street one way system from Spring Garden St (by the cinema) with the intention of turning off by the Market onto Common Garden St, you would be forced to cross two lanes of traffic to reach the cycle lane, and then cross two lanes back again at the lights to make the right turn to be covered by insurance. Similarly on Thurnham St, even if you want to go left, you would be forced to cross over two lanes of traffic to the right hand cycle lane and then cross back.
The implications of this are too bad to contemplate. First, there is increased risk to cyclists and second, cyclists are likely to suffer more abuse and intimidating driving, from drivers who believe cyclist have no right to be outside the cycle lanes, as recently suffered by a local Cycle Touring Club member. Third, if a cyclist is involved in an accident and tries to claim damages, the insurance companies are likely to argue that the rider contributed to the accident by not using the cycle facility.
The Highway Code has been laid before parliament. It will automatically be approved unless it is referred to a House of Commons Committee which cannot amend it and can only recommend the whole document be rejected. It will take an unprecedented amount of adverse publicity to persuade the government to reject the Highway Code in its entirety.
The CTC HQ Campaign team are working hard to find some way of achieving this and will obviously require national support. Meanwhile please support the petition which is at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/roads4bikes/.
The CTC would like to hear about incidents where a cyclist has been injured while using a cycle facility, or has suffered verbal or physical abuse from others, or criticism from the police, as a result of using the road rather than a nearby cycle facility. Please email adam.coffman@ctc.org.uk.

VOTE FOR LANCASTER WETLANDS RESTORATION
1/6/07: The wetlands at Cranwell Avenue, Lancaster, could be set for a clean up thanks to BBC Radio Lancashire’s Swat Team - if you vote for it.
Radio Lancashire, as part of the Breathing Places campaign, has asked local councils to nominate an area that is currently a neglected open space. Lancaster City Council nominated the wetlands at Cranwell Avenue, Newlands, Lancaster, to try and restore it to a place that people can enjoy.
Cranwell Avenue wetlands are in need of restoration after a few years of neglect. The pond has now silted up and no longer sustains a small population of wild mallard ducks that it once did. The low branches and overgrown shrubs make it difficult to walk around the area, which attracts litter such as polystyrene, beer cans and bottles. Despite this neglect the area is a haven for wildlife, supporting numerous birds such as the tit family, chaffinch, goldfinch and wren.
Work that needs doing includes digging up the silted areas of the pond, planting moisture loving trees and plants as well as constructing a new path way leading up to and round the pond. Litter also needs picking up and trimming low branches will make the area accessible again.
Emma Coopland-Lee, Cleansing Improvement Officer for Lancaster City Council, said: “One day’s work would make all the difference to this little oasis in suburban Lancaster. If the woodland wins the vote, Radio Lancashire's swat team promise to restore it to its former beauty by picking up litter, repairing the pond, cutting back nettles and bushes, planting wildflowers or trees to make it a great place for both you and our wildlife again. So please vote for it and let's help make it happen.”
The Cranwell Avenue site is up against neglected pieces of land in Hyndburn, Rossendale, South Ribble and Pendle districts. The BBC team will make over one of the nominated open spaces depending on which wins the most votes. To make sure the wetlands get the clear up they deserve please vote on the BBC Lancashire website. Voting closes at 11am on Tuesday 12 June 2007.

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