News for August, 2009

Lancashire Green New Deal

Green County Councillor Chris Coates has called for ‘Green Jobs’ to be a priority for Lancashire. The call came as North Lancashire Green Party launched a report on what a Green New Deal for the County could look like.

The report includes suggestions for a County wide Green Skills Network, help to improve energy efficiency in the areas housing stock and help for those in fuel poverty as well as measures to support local business.

The local report is based on the national document published last year by the New Economic Foundation.

Posted on August 19th, 2009 |


One Planet Festival – 2009

one-planet-festival-2009

Following last years highly succesful festival there will again be a feast of enviromentally friendly events taking place in various venues across Lancaster in the first week of October.

See: www.oneplanetfestival.com for further info.

Posted on August 16th, 2009 |


More Mental Health Consultation

royal-albert.jpgRoyal Albert Fields are no longer the NHS’s stated preferred site for a mental health hospital – but many residents suspect that they still intend to pursue this site ‘by the back door’. Lancashire Care NHS Trust is currently consulting the public on 3 options:
Option 1: Refurbish the existing hospital at Ridge Lea (Lancaster).
Option 2: Close Ridge Lea in 2012 and send patients to Blackpool.
Option 3: Close Ridge Lea and re-use existing buildings on Ashton Road.

Green Cllr Chris Coates (pictured) said: “The NHS prefers Option 3, but concentrating more services on Ashton Road could make it easier for them to develop Royal Albert fields later on. I will push for Option 1, and I urge residents to do the same.”

For more info, see: http://www.lancashirecare.nhs.uk/consultations.php . The deadline for responses is 21 Sept.  A consultation event will take place at the Trust’s Lancaster HQ (Moor Lane Mill) on Monday 7th Sept, 6-8pm.

Posted on August 16th, 2009 |


Ashton Road to get safer

The County Council is consulting residents on a £20,000 Local Safety Scheme for Ashton Road, including pedestrian refuges by Bridge Road and Pointer Court, the relocation and upgrade of bus facilities, and cycle lane markings near Thornfield.  Residents of Ashton Road should have received a copy of the plans.
Cllr Chris Coates said “In the last 5 years, 19 collisions have caused injuries here. We’ve been pushing for action for many years, so I welcome these proposals.”
See here for details of the scheme:
scheme-extents.PDF
bridge-road-refuge-crossing.PDF
pointer-court-refuge-crossing2.PDF
ashton-road-bridge-road-markings-signs.PDF

Posted on August 16th, 2009 |