The public inquiry into absent-from-proceedings developer Centros plans for Lancaster’s canal corridor is nearly finished, with supplementary evidence and closing submissions due to be submitted in writing over the next few weeks.
Campaign group It’s Our City have played a full part in the inquiry process and have provided the Inspector with detailed evidence on consultation, traffic and air quality, the retail impact and economic tourism. The group also reports they were also hugely pleased to see so many local people come to the inquiry to tell the inspector why they opposed Centros’s plans.
A final decision is due in the next few months, and now It’s Our City is turning its attention to what it describes as “serious problems” concerning Lancaster City Council’s role regarding these plans – especially its decision to withdraw from the Inquiry after it had begun. In particular: who was responsible for the council’s decision to defend the plans?
“It seems strange that the council only realised that there were major problems with this scheme, leading them to withdraw from the inquiry, at a late stage,” says It’s Our City spokesperson Emilie Secker. “Surely the planning team should have been asking questions about these issues from the outset?
“It was clear at the inquiry that it is very important to the people of Lancaster that there is proper accountability for the poor decision to continue with the Centros scheme despite the clear failures of the plans”.
Despite the furore over the Inquiry’s proceedings, It’s Our City say they are now looking forward to working with both local and national bodies to further community-led development in Lancaster.
“There are clearly some major problems with the way in which the planning team in the council dealt with this whole process,” feels Billy Pye. “However, it’s also clear that there are people within the council prepared to act with honesty and integrity and who have a different way of doing things.
“English Heritage and Save Britain’s Heritage are keen to work with local people in Lancaster in the future, and of course there are many local citizens who would love to get properly involved in deciding how Lancaster should move forward. We see this as an incredibly positive thing for the future of our city”.
Responding to It’s Our City’s concerns, Mark Cullinan, Lancaster City Council’s chief executive, told virtual-lancaster: “I remain satisfied that the council has met its responsibilities appropriately and that its officers have acted properly at each stage of the process.”
I recall that at the public meeting called by It's Our City at the Gregson in April 2007 Cllr Mace was asked "if he thought that the proposed development would be of benefit or a disaster in the long term".
Showing his unique understanding of the concept of 'planning' he answered "Only time will tell.
See http://tinyurl.com/36ly49.
Following the election held a month later Cllr Mace, who voted for the Centros development, became Leader of the Council – until quite recently when he left under a cloud.
Well, time has told.