Packed Canal Corridor Public Meeting
A packed public meeting organised by residents action group It’s Our City on Tuesday 24th June 2008 in Lancaster Town Hall heard speakers deliver damning criticism of the revised planning application submitted by developers Centros for the shopping centre and carpark on the canal corridor area.
Billy Pye speaking for Its Our City said “This application is to all extents and purposes the same as the last – Centros admit it themselves. If it was not acceptable before, it is not acceptable now.”
The new plans say that the scheme will attract over 8 million visitors a year, but transport consultant and Green Councillor for Bulk Ward, John Whitelegg, speaking at the meeting expressed concerned that figures for the number of new car trips do not add up. He said: “The traffic figures submitted with the plans do not match with either the turnover rates of an 800 space car park or the 8 million visitors claim.” he went on to say “This is still massive; it brings a very high risk of traffic gridlock and is likely to result in more boarded-up shops in the city centre. We want to see this site redeveloped, but this is too big for our city to absorb.”
Further info on the applications can be found on the Its Our City website.