Previous stories: 16 - 31 January 2008
Next stories: 16 - 28 February 2008

NEW LOOK FOR THE PARK

14/2/08: Thwaites Brewery have handed the keys of the Park (aka the Park Hotel) opposite Lancaster's Greaves Park to Dr Richard Dow, who (with considerable partnership, support and guidance from most of East Lancaster) brought us the Gregson Centre and the Britannia 101.
Many will fondly remember it for having one of the most sweaty, smoky, airless and popular function rooms they ever danced in.
Following a decline in its popularity over recent years, the pub is currently closed and undergoing a full refubishment under the enlightened supervision of the good Doctor, who tells us that he is looking to make it a core community venue for the area, which covers a diverse mix of student and residential housing.
As well as a large function room the pub will have a sizeable meetings room for clubs and groups with a lift and disabled loo provision on both floors. The bar decor is being upgraded to - 'Welcoming' he says.
In particular he will be welcoming live music to the bar in celebration of Lancaster's particularly wealthy endowment in musical culture.
A Grand Opening is scheduled for Friday 29 February, with sounds by Howard Haigh and his outstanding gypsy jazz band LAVA and we are all invited to see what this fine example of Physics in action has made of the place.
Lancaster?  This city is a Xanadu.

BYPASS GETS GO AHEAD, CAMPAIGNERS TO FIGHT 'ENVIRONMENTAL CRIME'
8/2/08, updated 10/2/08: To the dismay of local campaigners against the plans, Secretary of State Hazel Blears has accepted the recommendations of government planning inspector Christopher Tipping and given planning permission for the Heysham-M6 link road.
A decision on funding the road (which it is estimated will cost around 160 million) will be made separately by the Government, and if given, the road is expected to be completed by 2012.
The decsion flies in the face of opposition to the plans from the district's MP Geraldine Smith, a withdrawal of support by Lancaster City Council, and huge public protest to the road scheme, which will destroy 173 acres of the North Lancashire Green Belt and bring noise, vibration, light and air pollution to at over 1,000 households within 200 metres of the massive HGV dual carriageway.
Campaigners say they will fight on, while both Labour and Conservative councillors have welcomed the news.
"This is a heavy blow for our district and the planet's climate," commented Green councillor Emily Heath, "but the campaign is not over yet!"
The Green Party points out that the go ahead has been given even though both the decision letter and Inspector’s report, which outlines the public inquiry into the motorway link last year, accepts the arguments put forward by objectors that the bypass will add to greenhouse gases and be “an unacceptable development in the green belt.”
“This is a ridiculous decision that flies in the face of common sense, says Councillor John Whitelegg. 'The Inspector has accepted what the objectors said and then says the bypass should go ahead. This is an expensive and damaging road and it will not solve congestion or pollution problems. It will make things worse.'
'We welcome the decision on the M6 link,' commented Councillor Eileen Blamire, Leader of the Labour Group after the The 133-page report was released on Friday. 'It is clear from the Inspector’s report that the Northern Route is the only lawful and viable route that would be considered and so we believe there should be no further delay.
'In spite of opposition from the Green Party, who would do anything not to have a bypass, and the Morecambe Bay Independents who insisted that there was a Western alternative, the inspector has supported our argument that this is the only viable option that could be built.
'The Labour Group has supported the link due to the clear benefits to the area,' Blamire continued. 'However, we will endeavor to continue to press for another bridge over the Lune.'
The news comes as a blow to campaigners trying to bring some sanity into local transport planning and the Green Party responded angrily to Labour's statement, describing the go ahead given as 'an environmental crime'.
'Coun Blamire's statement reveals the deep Labour misunderstanding of what is at stake,' feels Coun John Whitelegg. 'The road will not solve the problems that County claim it will solve. We will get year on year increases in congestion and pollution and the road will wreck the green belt and bring to an end over 50 years of protection for this area.
'The lives of thousands of people will also be made far worse through the noise and pollution from this road.
'The Inspector's report is very simple and deeply offensive,' he told virtual-lancaster. 'It bascially says, the road will cause problems, but claims there is no alterative, so it has to be built.'
Campaign group Transport Solutions for Lancaster and Morecambe say they will fight on despite the setback. 'There is still a long way to go,' argues chair of the transport group David Gate. 'Funding has not been approved by the Government. The fight will certainly continue against this scheme and for sustainable transport measures that people want and that really work.
'We at TSLM are devastated by the news, and we know that the decision will generate shock and anger across the district,” he says. “This destructive road is a link to Heysham ferry port, nothing more. It won’t solve congestion, which is what concerns most people in the area. It won’t bring jobs to the area: those claims were shown to be pie in the sky. But it will bring pollution: 24,000 extra tones of CO2 a year. With the whole world concerned about global warming, that’s exactly the wrong road to go down.
'The Government has sent a confusing message to the public,' he added. 'Last week it gave the go-ahead to two environmentally friendly public transport tram initiatives in nearby Blackpool and Manchester, worth over £187 million. This week it dumps an underperforming lorry attractor on Lancaster and Morecambe at a cost of £118 million and rising.'
“This decision is a planning approval and not a funding approval and the road has not yet been subjected to any serious value for money test,' John Whitelegg explains. 'We will have no difficulty demonstrating that spending £156 million on four miles of road is very poor value for money”
'All those involved in promoting this dreadful road will get their place in history for willfully ignoring climate change and trashing the planet,' he feels, 'at exactly the moment when (a) we know there are many alternatives to this road that will solve problems and (b) we should be doing all in our power to reduce greenhouse gases and here we are increasing them.

'This is an environmental crime.'

Local business and Labour Party politicians have long argued for the road, despite arguing against the route now decided for many years. (Skerton Labour Party, aware at how much traffic this wil generate on Owen Road etc., even has policy against it). Sadly, pro-road campaigners rallied behind the argument of "Northern or Nothing" in desperation, even though local media such as The Citizen and others campaigned in favour of the original "Western Bypass" option which lorry drivers would be more likely to use.
The Conservative Group on Lancaster City Council has welcomed the decision and says it looks forward to the "opportunities" that the new road will provide for the District. Lancaster MP Ben Wallace spoke in favour of the Northern Route at the Public Inquiry.
• Read the Inspector's Report in Full (PDF format)

Previous stories: 16 - 31 January 2008
Next stories: 16 - 28 February 2008