Lancaster & District Green Party » Uncategorized

Caroline Lucas’ maiden speech

Chris Coates — Sun, 30 May 2010 11:24:16 +0000

Caroline Lucas makes her maiden speach in Parliament. Click here for full speech made on May 27th durning the debate on Energy and Climate Change.

” I have an additional responsibility, which is to speak not only as the new Member of Parliament for Brighton Pavilion, but also as the first representative of the Green Party to be elected to Westminster.

You have to go back several decades, to the election of the first Nationalist MPs in Scotland and Wales, to find the last maiden speech from a new national political party.

And perhaps a better comparison would be those first Socialist and Independent Labour MPs, over a century ago, whose arrival was seen as a sign of coming revolution. When Keir Hardie made his maiden speech to this House, after winning the seat of West Ham South in 1892, there was an outcry. Because instead of frock coat and top hat, he wore a tweed suit and deerstalker.

It’s hard to decide which of these choices would seem more inappropriate today. But what Keir Hardie stood for now seems much more mainstream…………………”

Elections June 4th

Chris Coates — Tue, 19 May 2009 10:50:46 +0000

Elections for Lancashire County Council and the European Parliament take place on Thursday June 4th.

For information on the Green Party campaign in the North West see: http://northwest.greenparty.org.uk or http://petercranie.blogspot.com

St Georges Day – Opening of Quay

Chris Coates — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 16:12:41 +0000

The Flood defence wall and new quayside pathway on St Georges Quay will be opened by the Mayor of Lancaster on Thursday April 23rd – at 2pm. Everyone is welcome. (Meet at the Millennium Bridge end of the Quay at 1.45.)

This is part of wider St Georges Day celebrations taking place on the Quay on the day and over the weekend. In the evening on April 23rd there will be a talk in the Maritime museum by Dr Sam Riches entitled “An English Saint for English People? – The reinvention of St George.”

At the weekend there will be Family Craft workshops in the Maritime Museum on sunday afternoon 26th April 11am -1pm & 2-4pm.
And in the evening on the Sunday there is Live folk music in the Quayside pubs.

Caroline Lucas Public Meeting

Chris Coates — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 11:36:10 +0000

Caroline Lucas, Green Party Leader and MEP for the South East will speak at a meeting in Lancaster in March just prior to the Green Party spring conference in Blackpool.

The meeting titled – Future Bleak or Future Green? – will take place in the Hugh Pollard lecture theatre on the University of Cumbria campus on Bowerham Road, Lancaster. (Formerly St Martins College.) on Thursday 19th of March – starting at 7pm.

Admission Free.

Canatxx Set to Submit New Plans

Chris Coates — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 11:08:26 +0000

The American energy company Canatxx has said that it intends to submit its new planning application this week to store gas in a huge underground storage facility in salt caverns beneath the River Wyre at Preesall.

Gina Dowding, the prospective Green parliamentary candidate for Lancaster & Fleetwood said “If the area was not suitable for gas storage in 2007 I don’t see what has changed to make it safe to store gas here now.”

In October 2007 the company’s original plans were thrown out by a government planning inspector who raised questions over the suitability of the geology of the area for such a plant and criticised the firm’s health and safety planning.

For further information see the Thornton Action Groups website

Lancaster Complementary Health Fair 09

Chris Coates — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 08:00:00 +0000

Immerse yourself in a healing day at the Lancaster Complementary Health Fair

Enjoy taster sessions and free talks, experience workshops, meet practitioners, try products, plus raffle and delicious food Learn about Acupuncture, Alexander Technique, Angel Painting, Aromatherapy, Aura Photography, Belly Dancing, Bowen Technique, Counselling, Colonic Hydrotherapy, Crystal Reflexology, Emotional Freedom Technique, Flower Essences, Herbal Medicine, Homeopathy, Indian Head Massage, Iridology, Kudalini Yoga, Metamorphic Technique, Past Life Regression, Reiki, Shiatsu, Sound Essences, Sound Healing, Tai Chi, Traditional Chinese Medicine,and much more……

Saturday, 14th March 2009 10am – 5pm
Ashton Hall, Lancaster Town Hall, Lancaster
Admission £1.50 (£1 concessions)

See here for more info.

Its Our City – Benefits

Chris Coates — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 11:04:48 +0000

ITS OUR CITY FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE PRESESENTS
Two great nights to raise money for the public enquiry

FRIDAY 20 ,THE GREGSON ,DISCO. a Dance NITE DJ,S FUNK Music and more

SATURDAY MARCH 7 — HOWARD HAIG –plus support.
Howard is a fantastic -accoustic spanish guitarist – and performs latinos rhythms plus disco .

University of Cumbria attend PACT

Chris Coates — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 17:16:05 +0000

The University of Cumbria’s Head of Estates and new Travel Plan Coordinator attended the December PACT meeting to talk to residents about ongoing traffic and parking issues in the ward. The new travel coordinator has only been in post two weeks, so has yet to get to grips with the problems, but after attending the meeting now understands the extend of local residents’ frustrations. He has agree to attend the March 2009 PACT meeting (3rd, 7.30pm, University of Cumbria) to update residents on the progress he is making to help address the issues.

The University’s Head of Estates also gave out a local telephone number for resdients to call if that have any issues regarding the University. The number goes through to Estates and if they are unable to help directly, they have promised to forward calls to the most appropriate person within the University. That telephone number is: 01524 384564

Major re-vamp for Ridge Lane Bridge

Chris Coates — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:58:08 +0000

Ridge Lane Bridge has been given a new lease of life through a design carried out by young people from Lancaster Central High School (LCHS) and the Ridge Community Centre. The underside of the bridge now sports a large public art mural which has transformed the local environment. The project, which was funded by Lancaster Central High School, has been brought together through a team effort involving the Ridge Community Centre, LCHS and Bulk Green Party, as well as British Water Board, County Highways and the City Council.

Fifteen young people were engaged in workshops with an experienced graffiti artist to create the design for the mural. Councillor Maia Whitelegg who was heavily involved in the project said: “This is a fantastic piece of work which has transformed the local area and is a real example of community cohesion”. The mural has been coated with an anti-graffiti glaze in order to protect the artwork from damage.

A Lament for Lancaster

Chris Coates — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 10:07:26 +0000

SAVE Britain’s Heritage, the national group that campaigns to protect buildings at risk, have weighed in to the debate over the redevelopment of Lancasters Canal Corridor. They say “SAVE challenges Lancaster City Council not to put short-term economic gain ahead of long-term sustainability. If the city’s aspirations as the ‘Bath of the north’ are to be met then a sensitive, conservation led approach to new development must be adopted. This insensitive scheme would blight the city, damage its special character and endanger its long-term economic future. It must be abandoned.”

The group have created a slideshow – A Lament for Lancaster.
That can be viewed on the SAVE Britain’s Heritage website.

SAVE have put in an official objection to the scheme which will be heard by the local planning committee at a special two day hearing on the 13th & 14th of October.