Cllr John Whitelegg heads LGA talk
Monday, March 17th, 2008
Lancaster City Green Councillor John Whitelegg chaired a session on the first day of the Local Government Associations Sustainable Communities conference in Liverpool. John said “My theme was that we need to move as quickly as possible to a low carbon economy and this means reduced car use and reduced flying and lorry activity.” Cllr Whitelegg chaired the session entitled - “Towards a sustainable transport system-tackling climate change and supporting economic growth” as part of his role as the Deputy Chair, LGA Regeneration and Transport Board.
Cllr Maia Whitelegg has been campaigning for the replacement of Lollipop crossing posts. Lancashire County Council has been unable to replace lollipop crossings positions and there have been a number of vacant posts in the district, including 2 in Bulk Ward (Keswick Rd/Kentmere Rd and Derwent Rd outside Christ Church School).
Over recent months, there have been a number of complaints about groups of people gathering in Ridge Square, drinking alcohol and disturbing residents. This has been discussed at PACT and at resident meetings at the Ridge Community Centre resulting in the attempt to get a ‘No Alcohol Zone’ for Ridge Square. Cllr John Whitelegg asked for £3,000 to do work needed to set this up and this was agreed in late February. With funding secured, the consultation process will now go ahead.
At the January meeting of Cabinet, Green Councillors proposed that Council house rent increases should be less than 5% but were defeated by Labour, Conservative and Lib Dem Councillors voted in favour of the above-inflation increase. At full Council on 27th February, Green Councillors again attempted to get future years’ Council rent rises in line with inflation but were defeated. Cllr Jon Barry said: “It is those on low wages who suffer from Council house rent increases. A year on year increase of 5% is far higher than inflation and cannot be justified”.
It is one year since a joint committee of County and City councillors (Lancashire Locals - Lancaster) supported a proposal from Green councillors to adopt a 20mph speed limit on every residential road in Lancaster, Morecambe and Heysham. In that time Lancashire County Council has done precisely – Nothing . Lancaster City councillor John Whitelegg, also an internationally-regarded expert in transport matters Said “The County Council has done nothing to put this idea into practice and nothing to put it out to public consultation. So today I’ve sent a birthday card to County Councillor leader Hazel Harding reminding her that this decision is one year old and that we are still waiting for action”.
Canal corridor developers Centros Miller have admitted that their plans had hit the buffers in Lancaster. In an 
Proposals announced on January 22nd to close sub-post offices across the district have been met with anger and disbelief from residents and local councillors. The closure threat is part of a nationwide plan to axe upto 2500 Post Office from the network. Bulk ward Green Councillor John Whitelegg, who faces closure of the Ridge Post Office in his area, said ““This is a kick in the teeth for Ridge residents. Local post offices are an essential part of the community and do much more than sell stamps.” 
To celebrate National Tree Week (21st Nov. – 2nd Dec.), Green Cllrs in Bulk organised tree planting events with local children in schools across the ward. Events have taken place over ‘Environment Weekend’ on 26th Nov. at Christ Church Primary School and on a ‘Tree Planting Day’ at Ridge County Primary School on 25th Nov.
At a Public ‘Traffic’ Meeting, held on Nov 14th at the