Lancaster & District Green Party

The meeting of the Lancaster Anti-Academies Alliance on the 11th July, attended by 60-70 people, heard from speakers including a teacher at Hornby High School, a researcher who has done a lot of evaluation of the (lack of) success of academies and a Preston City Councillor who has direct experience of trying to fight the proposal for an academy in North Preston which is further down the line that the Lancaster proposal. The Preston’s proposed sponsor is Carphone Warehouse.

Lets us Know your thoughts on the Lancaster Academy proposals

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In a sometimes heated debate full Council at its meeting on 20th June voted to reject the northern route for the Heysham M6 Link.  Lancaster City Council is now formally opposed to this road and will withdraw from the public inquiry due to start in July.The Greens submitted a motion saying that “This Council no longer supports the northern bypass”.  (more…)

At a packed meeting at Lancaster Town Hall, local people had an opportunity to quiz a panel of elected representatives about the proposal from Lancashire County Council to establish a city academy school here in the Lancaster and Morecambe district. The proposal currently involves the  replacement of Hornby, Skerton and Central Lancaster schools with a city academy to educate up to 900 students, including sixth form provision. (more…)

Transport Solutions for Lancaster & Morecambe (TSLM) have appealled to County Councillors to help fund TSLM’s case at the forthcoming Heysham M6 Link Public Inquiry, by asking the Councillors to buy 5 of their £1 funding appeal tickets. (more…)

Centros Miller has now submitted 14 planning applications in support of its plan to build a new Debenhams store, demolish the buildings at Stonewell, build an 800 space multi-storey car park and carry out other work in support of its huge shopping centre development on the canal corridor.The Council has agreed that anyone wanting to object to the proposals can WRITE ONE OBJECTION LETTER WHICH WILL COUNT FOR THE WHOLE GROUP OF CANAL CORRIDOR APPLICATIONS.

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Ashley Toms worked for the Probation Service for 30+ years, before taking early retirement. He lives on Slyne Road and now does voluntary work at schools, including St Luke’s Skerton, teaching children to play board games and other table top games.
Ashley sits on the Juvenile Court Youth Panel in Lancaster. He also works part time as a therapist, His other interests include history, allotments, exercise, cycling and playing Bridge.

Mark Rotherham lives in the centre of Lancaster. He is an independent film maker with a special interest in environmental issues.

Tony Pinkney is a lecturer in English Literature at Lancaster University. He was the councillor for Scotforth West for the Green Party from 1999 to 2003.

A consultation is currently being undertaken by the council on open spaces and recreation in the Lancaster District. 5000 questionnaires are being sent out to random addresses this week, but if anyone else wants to complete one who doesn’t receive it by mail, please email JillPuttnam@pmpconsult.com and she’ll send one to you direct.

There is also an online young person’s survey aimed at 11-18 year olds (so if you have kids please encourage them to respond - a good chance to send a strong message about the lack of provision for young people in this area):

After trying for what seems like forever to get both the Duchy of Lancaster & the City Council to do something about the litter that collects on the riverbank between the Millenium & Carlise bridges - we can announce a success!

On the last sunday in March council workmen turned out and swept along the riverbank picking up litter. They were joined by Green Party members and local residents who helped clear the banks of rubbish. Skerton Green Party member Ashleys Toms Said ” We have been trying to get the authorities to do something about this mess for a long time - lets hope this is the start of a regular clear up along here.”

The number of jobs that will be created by an M6 link road in Lancashire is less than a third of what was originally estimated, it has emerged. New development land opened up by the £137 million bypass linking the M6 and Morecombe-Heysham peninsula is only likely to generate 1,822 jobs, according to a revised economic impact assessment.

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At a meeting of “Lancashire Locals-Lancaster” on 30th January 2007 there was unanimous support for a motion to adopt 20mph speed limits on residential
roads and in front of schools across the District.  The proposal to adopt 20 mph limits was put on the agenda by Green Party councillors Chris Coates and John Whitelegg.

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