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COCKLING BAN - CLOSING THE STABLE DOOR
8/4/05: The North Western & North Wales Sea Fisheries Committee (NWNWSFC) have imposed a total ban on cockling in Morecambe Bay which comes into force on midnight of Friday 15 April 2005, in order to protect stocks.
Concerns about the sustainability of the beds expressed by Lib Dem Parliamentary candidate Alex Stone last month were realised as the NWNESFC reported that while juvenile cockles had thrived in the period from 2000-2003, giving rise to the intensive fishery of recent years, mortality in 2004 had been very high, which means that there would be little recruitment to the fishable stock of cockles in 2005. Local fishermen blame irresponsible fishing practices for the high mortality rates in the last year of the juvenile cockles , which by law may not be taken from the bay until they reach a minimum size, and are not only concerned about the potential for recovery, but also that local wildfowl that feed on the cockles could be affected too. The ban has been delayed to allow people working the bay currently time to make alternative arrangements. There are said to be up to 200 Polish gangworkers out on the bay daily, among others. Prolonged efforts by MP Geraldine Smith to bring about tighter regulation of cockling activity in the bay since February 2004 have been resisted by government ministers although since last week gangmasters must now pay for a license. If they had listened to her a year ago the beds would still be healthy and providing a living for local fishermen for the forseeable future. As things stand, no-one can say when, if ever, they will re-open.

COUNCIL SELECTS DEVELOPERS FOR CANAL CORRIDOR
7/4/05: Urban regeneration specialist, Centros Miller, has been granted preferred developer status by Lancaster City Council's Cabinet for a new, traditional (?) city shopping-led scheme. The 10-acre (4-hectare) site, known as the Canal Corridor North, principally in the ownership of Lancaster City Council and Mitchell's Pub Company, has been identified by the council for an extension to the city's retail and leisure amenities. Centros Miller, in conjunction with Commercial Property Consultants Churston Heard and Miller Construction are known for their anytownUK chainstore retail developments. David Lewis of Centros Miller says: 'We envisage a retail-led renaissance to this area and an enhancement to the existing leisure offer provided by the theatres. We very much look forward to working in partnership with Lancaster City Council and Mitchells to progress a vibrant and exciting scheme.'
Council leader, Cllr Ian Barker added: 'This is a key site for the renaissance of Lancaster Centre. We need to get it right. I am therefore particularly pleased that Centros Miller has emphasised its commitment to a high quality mixed-use development as well as its commitment to take a master planning approach to the project which will involve full public consultation." (A similar scheme currently being undertaken by the same company in democratic Bury St Edmunds resulted in overwhelming rejection. On resubmission of modified plans the Parish Council arranging a further referendum - the resubmitted building plan being rejected by over 80% of voters.)
John Donnellon, Lancaster City Council's Corporate Director for Regeneration added: 'It is clear from discussions with Centros Miller that they have the drive, ambition and track record to deliver a quality scheme that will benefit the city. Of course, all local businesses and residents will be consulted in due course as part of a master planning process for the area. Whilst we envisage that the planning processes will start in the near future, any physical works, should the project be agreed, are two to three years away.'
The Lancaster Real Planning Group undertook a consultation involving hundreds of local people in 2003 about the use of this site. Most respondents (83%) did not want to see the land on Lancaster's Canal Corridor to be used for a supermarket - which was the main part of the Chelverton/ Carillion proposals in 2002. Instead 92% of the respondents wanted to see land in the city available for use by small local businesses.
There was strong support (83%) for a music, dance, performance venue and the development of affordable family housing (77%) too. When asked what people liked about Lancaster most respondents named the historic appearance of the existing buildings in the city centre and that they liked being able to walk into town easily.
There was strong support for the idea that the area should become the city's 'cultural quarter', which is how this land is described in the local plan. Residents hoped that there could be increased provision for young people (badly needed since New Planet City was shut down to make room for Sainsbury's) and that amenities like the nearby Dukes, Grand Theatre and Musician's co-op could be extended into a cultural quarter to be enjoyed by all.
These results apparently received a warm reception from councillors at the November 2003 Regeneration Review Board meeting when Real Planning for Lancaster made a presentation of their survey findings.

UNDER THE GREENWOOD TREE...
6/4/05: A local forest of remembrance is being created at the Crook O’ Lune. People will be able to dedicate a tree to someone who has died – each tree will have a dedication plaque saying in whose name the tree is planted and, if wished, ashes can also be scattered with the tree during
planting. St John’s Hospice will receive a donation for each tree planted.
For more info visit www.MemorialForestsAndGardens.org.

ENVIRONMENTAL COMPETITION
6/4/05: Lancaster Sustainability Partnership are running a local competition, with a £100 prize, to highlight environmental and sustainability activities locally. Entries can range from your own work transforming an allotment to more organised groups / projects involved in such things as recycling, conservation, energy and water use, local food production, organics, etc.
Either e-mail brief details about your work/project to: sustainability@lancaster.gov.uk or write (including photos if available) to Joy Grayson, c/o Town Hall, Dalton Square, Lancaster. Closing date for entries: Monday, 16 May 2005.

POLICE CONDEMN CONSERVATIVE SCAREMONGERING
6/4/05: The Association of Chief Police Officers of England, Wales and Northern Ireland (ACPO) has condemned Conservative Party leaflets such as the one recently distributed door-to-door in Lancaster. It states that 'in Lancaster & Wyre violent crime is up by 200%'.
ACPO emphasised that in fact the risk of being of a victim is still at its lowest for 23 years. The British Crime Survey shows that crime has reduced over the last 10 years and that violent crime has remained stable. Notwithstanding the continued impact of the national recording changes that were implemented in 2002, their analysis of the rise in police recorded violent crime has shown that much of it represents low-level thuggery and alcohol fuelled violence. These offences, although taken seriously by the police and a priority for the future, result in minor or no physical injury but have inflated the recorded violent crime figures.
“If we want to increase the fear of crime, the selective use of statistics can help in doing that. However, we feel that it is important that all crime statistics – which forces publish regularly - should be put into context and communicated in a responsible way to the public.” In other words, stop trying to scare pensioners who've never been safer and try to find something useful to do. A search of the Conservative Party website reveals no policies at all on binge-drinking or licensing laws.
Update 13/4/05: Labour parliamentary candidate for Lancaster & Wyre Anne Sacks said: “Burglaries have fallen 30% in Lancaster with Labour. We have 29 extra police officers, 32 police community support officers and 14 community wardens fighting crime in Lancaster & Wyre.
“Labour legislation has enabled the police to take a firm line against anti-social behaviour and drug-related crime, such as closing crack dens.”
She added: “This Tory leaflet is an absolute disgrace. It is clearly intended to frighten people by presenting information in a totally misleading way. What’s even worse is that it amounts to an attack on our dedicated, hard-working local police force.
“And this comes under a Tory leader in Michael Howard who cut police numbers and presided over an explosion in crime during the 80s and 90s.
“The fact is that we are working with the police, and the Tories are working against them.”

A CONSTITUTIONAL NO TO THE NORTHERN BYPASS

5/4/05: About 250 determined people packed into the Vale of Lune Rugby Club this Tuesday evening to vote on the constitution of a new campaign group 'Transport Solutions for Lancaster & Morecambe' (TSLM) to oppose the construction of the Heysham-M6 Link via the proposed Northern route. David Gate (pictured above addressing the meeting) was appointed Chairman / Co-ordinator of the new organisation and the other members of the committee were also introduced and their roles as co-ordinators of the different operational teams explained. A fairly vociferous handful of die-hards found it difficult to accept that the Western route was no longer an option. However with petrol prices currently rising at a rate of approximately 1p per litre per week (no wonder the general election is coming now) such issues may shortly become academic.
There was general regret that apart from the Green Party no representatives from the other parties had attended and it was agreed that the campaign would make the bypass an election issue.
The need for a freight haulage solution for Heysham traffic was addressed. David Gate said the group was looking at a number of solutions - one potential idea being a model successfully adopted in Germany - in which lorries drive onto trains to be piggybacked to motorway connections. Such a link could be created from Carnforth M6 to Heysham at a cost of approx £12 million.
Lancashire County Council will be staging exhibitions showing the route and related information at the following venues from 3-8.30pm:
9 May: Furness & Midland Hall, Carnforth Station
10 May: Halton United Reformed Church
11 May: Torrisholme Methodist Church
12 May: Skerton Community Centre
13 May: Slyne-With-Hest Memorial Hall
All are encouraged to attend these exhibitions and to make known their views.
Visit the TSLM website for a great deal more information at www.heyshamm6link.info/.

LIB DEMS STAND FIRM AGAINST WYRE GAS STORAGE
5/4/05: In 2003 the chief executive left Wyre Borough council with a severance package believed to be in the region of £100,000. Prior to his going he instigated the Canatxx Gas Storage proposal and now appears to be employed by - you’ve guessed it - Canatxx. Since then Wyre Borough Council and Lancashire County Council have rejected the plan, which leaves the final decision to a Public Enquiry in the hands of John Prescott (or his successor).
Stuart Langhorn Lib Dem Candidate for Lancaster and Wyre, met with North West MEP Chris Davies, the Liberal Democrat spokesman on the environment in the European Parliament on the issue.
Mr Davies said: "The arguments being put forward by the Protect Wyre Group are convincing and raise very serious concerns. The case that that has been put together amounts to one of the most impressive presentations I have ever seen, and it would be impossible to have confidence in the application unless each of the many points being made is addressed in full.
The MEP said that he was concerned about the possible effects on the ecology of Morecambe Bay posed by the proposed discharge of large quantities of salt, and would be seeking assurances from the European Commission that the plans would be monitored.
He said: "The importance of Morecambe Bay has been reinforced by its recent declaration as a European special area of conservation. It is a unique wildlife habitat and any disturbance in the natural balance must be resisted.
"While it is up to the UK Government to ensure that the ecology of the Bay is protected, I am tabling a parliamentary question to ask the EU environment commissioner whether he is confident that concerns about the possible damage are being taken fully into account."
North West Liberal Democrats adopted the motion opposing the gas storage facility proposed by former conservative MP for Blackpool North Dr Harold Elletson (now a Liberal Democrat) and seconded by Stuart Langhorn.
Protect Wyre Group Website
Download the Anti-Cantxx campaign video from
Indymedia UK (You will need QuickTime to view this)
Cantxx website
Update 14/4/05: A decision is expected to be made today (14/4/05) on how much Wyre Council will spend on its fight to oppose plans to build an underground gas store. The full council is being asked to approve £40,000 on legal fees plus £20,000 on expert witnesses.

PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATES: THE LIST SO FAR
5/4/05: Big surprise, there's going to be general election on 5 May. We're sending out a questionnaire to all the candidates on the issues of the day and hope to have their answers for you soon. In the meantime you can see their contact details and weblinks here.

LOCAL LESBIANS LAUNCH SOCIAL GROUP
5/4/05: A new social group for lesbians is being launched at the Gregson Centre, Lancasteron Wednesday 20 April at 7pm. All lesbians are welcome to come along for a chat and scope out the scene. More info email: lunettes@btinternet.com.

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