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GREENS BACK CO-OP PLAN

(Virtual-Lancaster 27/11/02: After council leader Tricia Heath publicly rejected plans for "big box" retail development at a recent meeting (news story here), Green councillors have proposed a motion to the full council meeting of Lancaster City Council on development in the vital canal corridor part of Lancaster.

If passed, the motion will give backing to the Musicians Co-op plans for improvements to their premises (see below) and their wishes to remain in their current location.

Lancaster City Council recently published a Development Brief for the area bordered by Moor Lane, the Canal and St Leonard Gate. This includes the site of the former brewery, the two theatres, the musicians co-op, and the site of cleared terraced housing that is currently used for car parking.

The site has attracted interest from Cheleverton/Carillion, the developers of the adjacent Comet, Curries and Halfords 'big-box' retail units and from a local residents group Real Planning for Lancaster.

"It's vital that the Council creates the right development on the canal corridor," commented Cllr Jon Barry. "This is a wonderful opportunity to create a mix of housing, small businesses and green space that the city can be proud of. It's also an opportunity to recognise the cultural importance to our city of organisations such as the Musicians co-op and to allow the co-op to flourish and expand."

CONSULTATION IN THEIR OWN TIME

(Virtual-Lancaster 21/11/02): Local representatives have finally met with Chleverton Properties to find out more about their plans for Lancaster's canal corridor and the Bulk Road area. The company has proposed a new supermarket and a link road that has already been rejected by the local community in the past. Councillor Jonathan Sear (Green Party) was among the local representatives who met Chelverton's Simon Morgan, along with Lancaster MP Hilton Dawson, ward councillors and local business people. "Chelverton were slightly more open about the land and properties they already own," Jonathan Sear told Virtual-Lancaster, "and those they have an option on, for example they own the Old Crown pub. However they don't want to meet with the public or go into consultation until they have a firmer plan. This is obviously completely the wrong way round to do things. "They are set on a big food store on the Kingsway site."

Outside the meeting around 20 people from the Stop Chelverton and Real Planning for Lancaster campaign groups congregated outside Lancaster Town Hall to greet CR Chelverton executive Simon Morgan, and present him with a petition and a certificate of Refusal of the Freedom of the City and notice to quit. He shot past in a blur and a teflon smile. Demonstrators dressed as cripples (Don't cripple our town) and fish (Save our canal) then gathered under the meeting room window to leaflet, drum, chant, dance and let off an extremely loud klaxon. According to Cllr Sear they could hear them in the meeting. They could probably hear them at County Hall in Preston.In relalted news, Wednesday's Real Planning for Lancaster benefit gig at the Gregson Centre raised another Ł250 for the campaign.

CHELVERTON - DON'T CRIPPLE OUR TOWN!

(lancasterukonline,20/11/02): Delegates and representatives from the Lancaster community will arrange their own welcoming committee to meet Simon Morgan of CR Chelverton on Thursday 21 November when he comes to meet Lancaster MP, Ward Councillors, County Councillor and local businesses. The delegates will present Mr Morgan with with a photo album of the things that will be lost if Chelverton's plans get the go-ahead. Pictures include the Music Co-op, the two dance studios, The Dukes and local businesses on the site.

Another group of residents will be wearing bandages, arms in slings and using crutches to make the point that Lancaster will be socially and economically crippled if the new road, big box retail units and superstore are built.

"Simon didn't want us at this meeting, not even sitting at the back of the room listening, " says local resident Ms Westphal."So we've decided to arrange our own welcoming committee for him. We want to show him how attached we are to our town, and that we don't take kindly to profit-driven developments destroying Lancaster." "The photo album that we want to present to Simon Morgan shows that it's not just car parks he wants to destroy," added Mrs S. Banks, "but thriving businesses and cultural venues."

Council Leader rejects "big box" plans

Council leader Tricia Heath has told campaigners that the city council's cabinet will not agree to city centre, council-owned land being sold for "big box retail" the development.

Heath made the announcement at a packed Real Planning for Lancaster (RPfL) meeting at the Gregson this week, reports Sue Paylor. Along with Coun Geoff Wilson she said she wanted developers to stick to a 'design brief' for Lancaster's canal side and Mitchells Brewery area, a plan agreed by full council which includes an Arts Quarter for the city. This is in stark contrast to retail plans by Chelverton Properties which include a giant supermarket and a new road which will cut the city in two.

Andrew Dobson was delighted to learn more about Real Planning for Lancaster's community plan for the area. He believes the way forward is through co-operation between community and council and that antagonism is divisive. Coun Geoff Wilson also indicated the Council is in good financial shape - it currently has a cash surplus of some Ł200 - 300,000 in its reserves -- and as a result is in no rush to sell any more land.

Real Planning for Lancaster continues to consult, fundraise and plan against Chelverton's proposals. They are networking with business, organisations, City Councillors/Officers and MPs to promote and get support for the community's plan.

The group are holding a fund raising cabaret on 20 November at the Gregson to raise funds for their planning application, which will cost some Ł5,500 to submit. That event starts at 8.00pm. The next full meeting of RPfL is on Thursday 21 November at the Gregson at 8.00pm, the same day Chelverton are scheduled to meet with a small group of councillors, Hilton Dawson MP and the Real Planning group.

Every Saturday in November the group will have a stall outside British Home Stores in Market Street - join the campaign, donate money and give us your ideas for the plan.

Any donations for the campaign can also be posted to Sue Paylor at 14 Ambleside Road, Lancaster. LA1,3HY. Tel. 01524 65167. Cheques made payable to Real Planning for Lancaster.