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Greens support co-op

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.

Chelverton tell us what we want

(Press release Realplanning for Lancaster, 24/11/02) Chelverton, the property developer interested in the canal corridor site, outlined their thoughts last week for a supermarket and road for the Kingsway and canal corridor sites in Lancaster. They said that it was not relevant to consult the public at this stage, considered the opinions of the public consultation to be irrelevant, and that they were not going to follow the councils own development brief for the site.

Their visit was at the invitation of Hilton Dawson M.P. to a meeting of an invited group of local business representatives (the Dukes Playhouse, The Grand Theatre, Dance Incorporated), organisations (Real Planning for Lancaster, Homeless Action, Musicians Co-op) and councillors after turning down invitations to talk to a public meeting.

Their plans are for a supermarket on the Kingsway site are financially driven, and all other parts of their plans for the canal corridor site would be related to this. This development will not include any large department stores, but may include big box retail units like the Currys, Comet & Halfords that were built by Chelverton. They are undertaking transport and retail surveys with a view to formulating an outline planning application next summer.

Alistair Kirkbride explained that the public consultation which was being carried out by the Real Planning for Lancaster group had not received a single request or mention for another supermarket. People are calling loud and clear for green space near to the town centre, quality affordable housing, recreation spaces for people of all ages, small business units and the development of the cultural quarter. People want the development to be something to be proud of and which attracts people, businesses, investment and attention to Lancaster how will another supermarket achieve this? Getting this vision right from the outset is the key to good planning, whereas tying on these things as extras later seems like tokenism.

Simon Morgan, Chelvertons representative, pointed out that their view was that there is no point meeting the public at this stage in the planning process. They claim that the public will be consulted once they have the drafts of some plans to discuss with them, though those plans will be based around a supermarket and a road. This was met with some disbelief by the meeting, and Phoebe Rates (Grand Theatre) pointed out that the public has justifiable concerns that should be addressed, even if that is only to explain to the public what they had explained to the meeting.

Simon Morgan suggested that their proposals would probably not be in tune with the Councils development brief for the site. Tricia Heath stated at a public meeting on November 12th that the council would not consider as serious proposals that do not follow the brief. Alistair Kirkbride says We have a good development brief for this site, yet there is only one developer in the frame who have stated that they are ignoring the brief. I have yet to hear an answer as to why other developers who have more expertise in this type of development, which is wanted by the council and supported by the public, have not been approached. How do we find the answers to these fundamental questions?

There will be a public meeting about the development at St Thomass Church on December 12th.

Consultation in their own time

(Lancasterukonline 21/11/02): Local representatives have finally met with Chelverton Properties to find out more about their plans for Lancaster's canal corridor and the Bulk Road area.

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 read more.

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 read more .

Council Leader rejects "big box" plans

(lancasterukonline, 13/11/02): 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 read more .