Castle Ward runs from the Millennium Bridge all the way to Aldcliffe and includes: St Georges Quay, the Marsh Estate, Willow Lane, Abraham Heights, Fairfield, Blades St & Dallas Rd, along with the area around the Castle itself.
A debate has broken out in Aldcliffe over the name of a road - Is it Railway Crossing Lane or is it Aldcliffe Hall Lane? The question has arisen after new street signs were erected saying ‘Railway Crossing Lane’. Local Green Cllr Jon Barry Said ” I am trying to get to the bottom of this - we need to know what local people want it to be called and check that the emergency services have the right name on their maps too.”
Developers Centros have been back in town showing the latest version of their plans for the controversial redevelopment of the Canal Corridor area of town to local councillors and interested parties. Planning applications for this version of the scheme are due to be submitted in the 2nd week of June.
The new Centros proposals can be downloaded here:
A pothole at the end of Sunnyside Lane has been filled in double quick time by the council. The hole at the end of Sunnyside Lane, where the path to the Community Orchard leaves the road, was reported to local green councillor Catriona Stamp who made a request for repairs to the Council. Catriona said “ I was very pleased, and a little surprised, to find the potholed filled in within days – and while they were at it the council workmen filled in a couple of others nearby.”
Plans to build a car park at Lancaster Priory have ended up in a legal muddle. Planning permission was granted without the Council being aware that the land was protected by the Open Spaces Act. Local residents who objected to the scheme applied for Town Green status for the area and it was at the hearing that the Open Spaces designation was uncovered. The legal team at the council is now trying to unravel the situation. But, for the time being at least, no work should start on the car park.
Saturday 1st of March saw Lancaster’s Carnival of Culture come off without a hitch. During the day, between 250-350 people joined in a fantastically colourful, creative and vibrant street procession that snaked around the town through the afternoon, stopping in spots that are due to be blighted by car-parks, big box retail shopping and so forth, as well as the town square with it’s Trumpton-style Victoria statue, the City hall and the planners’ offices.
For full report by ‘anarchoteapot’ see Indymedia. For more pics,video etc see the Carnival website.
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”.
SAT 23rd Feb - From 1.30 pm Fairfield play area.
All welcome (children to be accompanied by an adult please).
Please bring spades, trowels & gloves if you have them.
Twelve trees are to be planted in different locations around the play area to: improve the appearance, provide a windbreak, shade, colour and pleasant scents, as well as encourage birds, butterflies & wildlife.
The trees are funded by the Woodland Trust, the Fairfield Association and some have been sponsored by individuals. If you would like to sponsor a tree for £30 and receive a certificate, call Simon Gershon on 542742. www.treeforall.org.uk
The blocked off footpath from Townley close through to the Fairfield community Orchard is to go before the County Council’s Regulatory Committee, which is responsible for determining Rights of Way, in February. If the committee gives permission for the County Council to make a Right of Way Creation Order, the order will be issued/advertised/posted in March and six weeks will be given for objections. Green County Councillor Chris Coates Said ” It has been a long drawn out process trying to get this footpath reopened, but at last we seem to be getting somewhere.”
Following enquiries by Councillor Jon Barry about the state of Old Railton Hotel the site has been inspected by planning officers.They noted the broken windows and Ivy growing across the front of the building and the gardens strewn with litter.
As the site occupies a prominent position by the City’s main railway station and its condition has an adverse affect on the amenities of the area it would pass the legal test for an untidy site notice. The chief planning officer has now said that he will give instructions to the Planning Enforcement Team to start proceedings to have an Untidy site notice served on the property.
The City Council has finally acted against car drivers who have been using the corner of St. George’s Quay and Damside Street as a makeshift car park. After months of complaints from passers by and local businesses, John Foster of Lancashire County Engineers has confirmed to local councillor Jon Barry, who acted on the complaints, that bollards are to be placed on the corner to prevent vehicles parking. City Councillors have long wanted to prevent parking on the corner but according to County staff, identifying who owned the land was one reason for a delay to something being done.
