The controversial ‘Castle View’ shopping development plans for the Canal Corridor have been called-in for a public inquiry by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. Bulk Ward Green Councillor John Whitelegg said “I am absolutely delighted about this news. This development is bad news for Lancaster and bad news for Bulk Ward and we will now get a chance to put all the evidence before an independent inspector at a public inquiry. We have prepared for this inquiry and are ready to go.”
The scheme, put forward by developers Centros, would see the triangle of land bounded by Stonewell, Moor Lane, the Lancaster Canal, Alfred Street and St Leonards Gate become an alternative city centre shopping mall with potentially disastrous consequences for the existing centre.
Councillor Andrew Kay who objected to the proposals at the two day long local planning committee meeting said on hearing the latest news “Centros is bad for our local economy as more shops would close in the city centre Now at last local people will be able to have a real voice – not just our ’3 mins of fame’ at the planning committee.”
No date has yet been set for the inquiry, although it is likely to take place later in 2009.
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