Lancaster's first Freewomen of the City to be admitted this Saturday.

For the first time, women will be admitted as Freewomen to the Roll of Freemen of the City of Lancaster. This Saturday, 9 July, the Court of Admission sits from 10am in the Council Chamber at Lancaster Town Hall and the public are welcome to attend if they can be in their seats by 9.45am.

In June, Lancaster City Council invited people who met the criteria to apply to join the roll. But their invitation specified that all applicants be male. Following a challenge by a local woman (see previous report), the criteria were re-examined and it was discovered that the council were legally obliged to admit applications from women under just one category - that of being the daughter of a Freeman. Ms Simpson was informed of this discovery. It didn't apply to her but, after a few days of her reminding them, the council was kind enough to issue an amended Press Release, inviting those women that it did apply to.

Applications have indeed been received from women and it now remains with the Court of Admission to determine their validity.

Gender discriminatory (ie sexist)conditions remain in the criteria however, in defiance of the Equality Act 2010. Men who have been resident in the city for seven years, or who were born here, or who have served a 7-year apprenticeship under a Freeman are eligible. Women who satisfy the same conditions are still not.

The council say that these criteria can only be changed if 3 Freemen from the Roll propose it and a ballot of the Roll members passes it. However one Freeman anonymously commented on our blog that he knew nothing about this.

Ms Simpson asked the City Council to promise that the Freemen would be informed of their rights in this regard and that any requested ballot would come in time for the 2012 intake.

Sarah Taylor, Lancaster City Council's Head of Governance replied on 1 June:

"It is my intention to ensure that staff resources within Democratic Services are provided during the next 6-9 months to support the arrangements for a ballot. This is of course subject to resource availability and other demands on the Service. If the result of such a ballot is that a qualifying resolution is passed, then, in accordance with Schedule 28A of the Local Government Act 1972, an order of the Secretary of State will be required to amend the County of Lancashire Act 1984, in order to implement the resolution. Clearly, the timing of such an order is outside the Council's control, but the Council will use its best endeavours to arrange the ballot with a view to implementation of any resolution in 2012."

Women have, infrequently, been admitted as Honorary Freewomen of the City. The title Honorary Freeman is the highest honour a council can bestow on an individual or a group of individuals 'who have in the opinion of the council, rendered eminent services to the Borough or City'. It requires a resolution to be passed, at a Special Council Meeting. Out of 28 recorded since the first recipient in 1887 there are just four women on the list: The Lady Ashton, CBE, Sister Aine Cox, MBE, SRN, SCM, MTD,
H.R.H. Princess Alexandra and Alderman Cecilia Mabel Pickard, MBE, CA, the former two now deceased.

An Honorary Freeman is not eligible for the rights and benefits reserved for actual Freemen.

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Spotlight Club returns with horror, poetry and music

(Updated 17th July with line up changes) Spotlight Club is back next week (Friday 15th July) at the Storey Auditorium in Meeting House Lane, Lancaster, offering a night of poetry, horror, comedy and very good music.

Compered by virtual-lancaster's very own John Freeman, the event kicks off with an Open Mic session, open to brave souls drawn to perform and offering them five minutes of fame; and the following acts...

Poet Norman Hadley, whose works hop from tragic to comic to sentimental weird in the flick of a metaphor aspiring to the pigeonhole marked 'un-pigeon-hole-able'.

Author and World Fantasy Award nominee Simon Unsworth, whose collection ‘Quiet Houses’ was published by Dark Continents last year.

Comedian Christopher Kay - a tiny man spouting rambling nonsense as he leads you through his exceptionally eccentric thoughts about life.

Poet Mihkel Hassan offers a powerhouse of hard-hitting real-life experiences.

Plus there's music from The Low Countries - Nigel Parrington and Els D'hooge, whose third album, A brown cafe at 3am, was nominated for a 'best contemporary folk' Grammy - and the ever wonderful Mollie Baxter makes a welcome return to the Club with a set of some of her more recent songs.

• Doors will be open from 8.00 pm; Open Mic 8.30 - 9pm. Admission £4 / £2 (conc.). More info: www.spotlightlancaster.co.uk


• Lancaster Spotlight is funded by Arts Council England and works in close association with litfest.

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Council to mark London 2012 Open Weekend

Lancaster City Council and more than 20 local sports clubs, societies and venues are joining forces to celebrate the London 2012 Open Weekend by offering a wide range of activities and taster sessions to mark one year to go until the Olympics.

The weekend takes place on 22-24 July 2011 and with more than 40 activities to choose from promises to offer something that everyone can enjoy. The majority of activities are free and others can be enjoyed at discounted rates.

Taking place at a variety of locations across the district, taster sessions range from water polo, cycle racing, rowing, archery, tennis and boxing to tea dances at the Platform, arts and crafts and indoor bowls.

Lancaster City Council will be also be putting on many of its own events including family swim sessions at all of its pools for a price befitting the occasion of just 20 pence adults and 12 pence children.

• For more information and a programme of events visit www.lancaster.gov.uk/openweekend

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Responsible Journalism?

As the growing controversy continues about phone hacking allegations by the News of the World, we bring you this screenshot of a letter sent to NOTW staff by editor Coin Myler which we thought included some rather peculiar advertising under the circumstances...

 

The original article is here on the News of the World web site.  We'd love to know if it's still visible to some visitors.

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Lancashire Police consultation addresses published

Lancashire Police have had a number of queries about how those who do not have access to the internet can express their views on the previously reported proposals surrounding the potential closure of front counters and the sale of some police buildings.

Members of the public can let officers know their opinions at their local PACT meetings or they can also write to their divisional commanders or their local Police Authority representatives.

The addresses for the divisional commanders are as follows:

Northern Division (Lancaster, Morecambe and Wyre):


Chief Superintendent Richard Bayly, Lancaster Police Station, Thurnham Street, Lancaster LA1 1YB

Western Division (Blackpool and Fylde)


Chief Superintendent Richard Debicki, Blackpool Police Station, Bonny Street, Blackpool FY1 5RL

Central Division (Preston)


Chief Superintendent James Lee, Preston Ops Centre, Lancaster Road North, Preston PR1 2SA

Southern Division (Chorley, South Ribble and West Lancashire)


Chief Superintendent Stuart Williams, Leyland Police Station, Lancastergate, Leyland PR25 2EX

Eastern Division (Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley)


Chief Superintendent Bob Eastwood, Greenbank Police Station, Greenbank Business Park off Whitebirk Drive, Blackburn BB1 3HT

Pennine Division (Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale)


Chief Superintendent Clive Tattum, Burnley Police Station, Parker Lane, Burnley BB11 2BT

You can also write to the Lancashire Police Authority office at PO BOX 653, Preston PR2 2WB

• To comment online, email with your views via LPA.Information@lancashire.gov.uk; Tweet via @LancsPA; FaceBook - www.Facebook.com/LancsLOOP or post your views via the web site at www.getintheloop.co.uk

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Heroin and cannabis seized during Morecambe raids

Police seized 36 bags of heroin and over 40 cannabis plants during a series of drugs raids on properties in Morecambe, Heysham and Bolton-le-Sands last week - in a crack down on drug dealing activity.

Warrants were executed at properties in Sefton Road, Heysham, where 36 bags of heroin worth £360 were seized; in Monkwell Avenue, Bolton-le-Sands, where 40 cannabis plants were seized and in Meldon Road, Heysham, where six cannabis plants were seized.

Warrants were also executed at Yorkshire Street, Aldingham Walk and Delamere Avenue.

A 25-year-old male was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply heroin, a 38-year-old female was arrested on suspicion of possessing amphetamine and a 25-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply cannabis.

Sergeant Adie Knowles, West End and Heysham neighbourhood police team said: “Drugs have a negative impact on our communities and where we have information that drug dealing is taking place we will take action.

“It is important that residents come to us with any concerns that they may have about drugs in their area so they we can work together to tackle the problem.”

• Anyone with information about drug dealing should contact police on 0845 1 25 35 45 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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Gillow Folk Line Up for July features Roger Wilson and John Harper

Roger Wilson - at the Gillow this week

Folk is back at the Robert Gillow, Lancaster, throughout July - and once again, the venue has some amazing artists lined up, including the rare musical talent of Roger Wilson this week and the talented John Harper later in the month.

Roger Wilson (Thursday 7th July) is a unique and extraordinary guitar and fiddle player, with a wonderful voice and immense capacity for original and inspired songwriting.  He has gained enviable international acclaim for his musicianship with such artists as Sarah Grey, John Tams, the USA-based House Band, Chris Wood and Martin Carthy.

He has three solo albums to his credit - The Palm of Your Hand (1988), Stark Naked (1994) and You Look Familiar (2007) and featured on countless others - and spent two years as the mainstay of the orchestra in the award-winning theatrical milestone “War Horse” in London’s Drury Lane and recently toured with a revitalised “Lark Rise To Candleford”.

Ace Local band Moorgate (appearing Thursday 14th July) comprise Simon Booth playing melodeon and harmonica; Richard Robinson playing clarinet; and Tony Cooke on guitar.

All three have been playing folk dance music for years (with The Ran Tan Band, Free Reed Band, Shake A Leg, One Foot In The Gutter, Slur et al.) so this is one belting-good ceilidh band!

The music comes from all over Great Britain and other parts of Europe and has strong melodies, subtle harmonies and traditional dance rhythms.

John Harper makes another welcome visit to the Gillow on Thursday 21st July - an exceptionally talented guitarist and singer. 

John is a regular Lancaster entertainer who always dazzles everyone with his powerful renditions of British and American contemporary songs, his own compositions and traditional folksong.  He's the kind of performer who delivers music to make you sing!

A month of great folk music closes out with Keith Davis (Thursday 28th July), a firm favourite of  at The Robert Gillow. He comes all the way from Bristol to play in Lancaster - a classic blues singer and a simply amazing guitarist and technically the most accomplished bluesman in the country. 

He performs a mixture of “straight” blues, ragtime/hokum styles and slide/Dobro guitar and is widely regarded as one of the great British acoustic entertainers.

• More information on music and other events at the Robert Gillow on their official web site: www.pubfoodlancaster.co.uk

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Food hygiene to go - local companies clean up their act

Min Yi Che of the Lucky Inn Takeaway on
Noel Road, Skerton  - pleased with the new scheme

The launch of a national food hygiene inspection scheme in the district has seen more than 80 local food businesses clean up their act since coming into force in November last year.

The results have netted good scores for businesses such as Ali Baba Kebab Takeaway in North Road, Hodgson's Chippy (Prospect Street),  Shelleys, Shengs Chinese Takeaway and many others, but based on the scores published, there is still room for improvement from some of our local takeaways.

This national scheme, developed by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in partnership with local authorities, provides at-a-glance information on food hygiene standards to help people make informed choices about where to eat or shop for food.

Once local food outlets have been inspected by food safety officers, to check that hygiene standards meet legal requirements, they are given a rating from 0 to 5.
The owner is informed of how the rating was achieved, together with advice on what to do to improve the score if necessary.

Since being launched, more than 1,042 businesses, including hotels, restaurants, pubs and takeaways are now able to display their rating in the form of a window sticker and a certificate to display inside the premises.

The score remains in force until the next inspection.  Those that wish to make early improvements to raise their score, can apply for a re-inspection once they are confident they have complied with all the requirements.

A rescoring visit, like all inspections, can be made at any time without warning so it is possible for a score to stay the same or even reduce if problems are found.

“The scheme has proved to be a real incentive for many businesses to make improvements and reach and maintain a good level of compliance with legal requirements," says Lancaster City Council Food Safety Officer Julie Grieve. “All businesses should be capable of achieving a 5, irrespective of size or nature of business which in the long term will encourage more customers through their doors.”

Businesses rated 1 - indicating major improvement is required - include Delhicious and M T Belly in Lancaster and a number of Morecambe takeaways, including Bodrum, the Happy Palace, Pizza Cottage and Pizza King Express and Rehmans, both on Queen Street.

But one business which has seen its rating improve from 0 to 5 is the Lucky Inn Takeaway on Noel Road, Skerton, which has just had its inspection in the last fortnight.

“When my takeaway was visited by a food inspection officer three months ago, I was very new to the trade," explains Min Yi Che, owner of the business. "Although my premises were very clean, there were lots of things I needed to learn and do to ensure I met the relevant standards.

“At that time, I was given a score of 0 but using the help and advice given by the inspector and after attending a food hygiene course, my business was re-inspected and awarded a rating of 5.  I was really pleased and can now reassure customers that I intend to maintain high standards in order to retain the highest rating.”

• Scores for local food outlets are published nationally online at www.food.gov.uk/ratings or via the city council's website at www.lancaster.gov.uk/foodratings


Specific Searches: you can fine tune results to see who is scoring best (and worst)

• Lancaster Food Hygiene Ratings Search: http://ratings.food.gov.uk/AdvancedSearch.aspx?st=1&las=168


• Morecambe Food Hygiene Ratings Search: http://ratings.food.gov.uk/QuickSearch.aspx?q=Morecambe

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Another new wind farm for Heysham?

Plans for a proposed new wind farm in Lancaster are set to go on show to the public at two exhibitions being held later this month.

Banks Renewables, part of the Banks Group based in County Durham, is putting forward plans for the proposed Heysham South development, which would be situated on agricultural land to the south of the A683, around 1km to the south east of Heysham itself.

The scheme will consist of three turbines with a maximum tip height of 125m, and would have an installed capacity of up to 7.5MW, which is enough to meet the annual power requirements of around 4,200 homes.

The scheme would see an investment of approximately £7.5 million by Banks Renewables to build the wind farm, and during construction between 10 and fifty people would be employed on the site at any one time.

The proposed site falls within an area that has previously been identified by Lancaster City Council as somewhere where wind farm development should be promoted and encouraged, and Banks will now be showing residents the finalised design of the scheme.

The exhibitions will both take place between 3pm and 7.00pm on Wednesday 13th July at Middleton Parish Hall on Low Road in Middleton, and at Overton & District Memorial Hall on Middleton Road, Overton.

Representatives of Banks Renewables will be on hand at both events to answer any questions visitors have about the scheme and to gather feedback from them.

Exhibition visitors will be able to see accurate photomontages of how the wind turbines would look from different vantage points around the area, and they will also be able to make suggestions about the sorts of new local facilities that could be funded through the dedicated community benefits scheme that would be introduced if the scheme is approved.

Banks is one of the UK’s leading developers in the wind farm sector, and has a number of similar completed and ongoing projects at various stages of development across the north of England and Scotland.

“The Heysham South project has the potential to make a significant contribution to low carbon energy generation in Lancaster," argues

Phil Dyke, development director at Banks Renewables, says:, "and to also have a very positive impact on local residents.
“Working closely with local communities is central to the development process for all our proposals, and we’re keen to hear local people’s ideas about how they would like to see the wind farm, should it be approved, provide support and funding for local community groups and initiatives, in order to help ensure that our presence in the area has a tangible positive long-term impact.

“If planning permission is granted Banks will provide funding to enable the establishment of a Warm Zone," he continues. "This would help alleviate fuel poverty in the area and would have the potential to create up to 50 jobs in the area to deliver the scheme. In addition there will be a community benefits fund of at least £10,000 per annum to support local groups and projects.

“The site we’re proposing to develop is not subject to any landscape, cultural or heritage restrictions, and our professional planning opinion is that this is an excellent location for a wind farm of this type.

“The forthcoming exhibitions are a key part of the public consultation process that we are carrying out around this scheme, and we hope as many people as possible will come along to find out more for themselves about our plans, so they can then make up their minds about them based on accurate information.”

This proposal from Banks Renewables comes hot on the heels of plans for three wind turbines from Peel Energy at Heysham Port, which would be located on the sea front near Heysham Power Station.

The Port of Heysham Wind Farm is a proposal to install up to three turbines on the dock wall in the Port of Heysham. The scheme, with a capacity of up to 9MW, would be designed to have an operational life of at least 25 years and Peel Energy say they could generate enough electricity to meet the average needs of approximately 4, 600 homes – 50 per cent of the households in Heysham.

• View a a ten page document about the Banks Renewables Heysham South proposal here (PDF) via the Heysham Online web site.

• A planning application for the Banks Renewables plan is expected to be submitted to Lancaster City Council before the end of the summer. Anyone who is unable to attend the exhibitions, but who would like more information on the Heysham South proposals or to express an opinion about them, can contact Banks’ community relations team on 0191 378 6100 or email heyshamsouth@banksgroup.co.uk

• View the Proposed Peel Energy Harbour Turbine Development Site here or read a summary of their recent presentation via Heysham Online. (Be aware, this is a sizeable file, approximately 13mb, and takes a few seconds to download).

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Monday Mirth by Pete Scott

Cartoon by Pete Scott. We make no claim that such activities happen in any local council meeting, of course.

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Scouting never stops for "Silver Acorns"

Derek Holt, Helen Plumb, Pat Griffin and Jim Holland

Lonsdale District Scout Council holds its 37th Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 6th July 2011 at Lancaster Town Hall. It's a time to reflect on a very successful centenary year for the organisation, and to celebrate the award of three Silver Acorns and 2 Bars to the Silver Acorn in this year’s St George’s Day Awards.

District Chairman Terry Bond MBE, District Commissioner Pat Griffin and Jim Holland, Assistant Group Scout Leader at 16th Lancaster (St Paul’s), were all awarded the Silver Acorn, which “is awarded after a period of no less than 20 years of specially distinguished service while holding an adult appointment.”

Derek Holt, Group President at 34th Lancaster (St Chad’s) and Helen Plumb, Group Scout Leader at Caton Church, were both awarded the Bar to the Silver Acorn, which “may be awarded after not less than five years of further especially distinguished service while holding an adult appointment.”

Pat, Helen, Jim and Derek traveled to St George’s Chapel Windsor on St George’s Day to the Queen’s Scout celebrations where they received their awards.

These five richly deserve the awards and show that the fun, challenge and adventure offered by Scouting really never does stop.

Scouting in Lonsdale is a modern, forward looking, co-educational youth movement for the 21st Century.  With around 1200 members across the District led by a dedicated team of adults, Scouting continues to offer a progressive programme of  interesting, exciting and challenging activities to young people in the 6 - 25 year old age range.

Approximately 80 per cent of young people across the District live less than 15 minutes drive from their nearest Scout Group.

• Lonsdale Scouts online: www.lonsdalescouts.org.uk

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Local butchers and restaurant larders checked for poached venison

Visits have been made to check that meat being sold by butchers, restaurants and game dealers across Lancashire does not include poached venison.

Over 80 premises which stock the product have received letters explaining the regulations surrounding the sale of the meat, which are designed to ensure the venison is safe for human consumption and that animals are not subjected to unnecessary suffering during the hunting period.

Lancashire Police’s wildlife officer Mark Thomas is now visiting the identified premises along with staff from the Food Standards Agency to check that larders do not contain any poached meat.

Mark Thomas said: “Premises should be able to provide a clear paper trail to show where they have sourced their venison from and the idea of these checks is to prevent poachers from offloading their illegally gained meat via the back doors of shops and restaurants.

“If the venison has been obtained illegally then there is a chance that the deer suffered horrific injuries at the hands of a poacher before it was killed. Poachers do not care about killing an animal humanely and they do not care about the standard of meat they are selling on – which means that there is also a danger to the consumer who ends up eating it.”

He added: “Where poached meat is found to have been bought by vendors hoping to take advantage of the cheaper price of illegal meat we will be seeking to bring a prosecution against them.”

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MP plays the fool at NHS Question Time

Lancashire LINk played host to a 'Question Time' styled debate on NHS privatisation plans last Thursday evening at the University of Cumbria in Lancaster. On the panel were Eric Ollerenshaw MP for Lancaster & Fleetwood, Dr David Wrigley, Carnforth GP and elected BMA board member, Caroline Collins of Lancashire LINk and Brian Rhodes, Senior Consultant in Trauma Orthopoedics at the RLI and Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons.

Eric Ollerenshaw seems a strange man. While people asked their questions and panel members debated issues, they did so over the visual noise of Mr Ollerenshaw playing with his papers, vigorously shaking his head, pulling faces, rolling his eyes, clapping his hands over his head, his eyes, his ears and studiously doodling whenever anyone tried to speak to him. He bounced about so much I just couldn't get a still photo of him.
It was a bit like having a sign language interpreter gesticulating from the sidelines - but, in his case, a deaf one reading from a panto script. In fact it is, of course, what parliamentary hacks do all day in Westminster. He did deliver four arguments, in repeated rotation:

1. NHS cancer care is worse than any other European country.
2. The government has increased NHS spending and services are improving
3. There are more old people than we can afford to care for.
4. Everyone here is against me.

It was pointed out to him by Dr Wrigley (and others), that the cancer care study Mr Ollerenshaw quoted had said, in fact, that in Europe only France had better outcomes than the UK in cancer treatment. It had been published over two years ago. Intervening studies showed rapid improvement since then which pointed to even those misquoted statistics no longer being accurate. A German doctor present stated his opinion that the NHS was better organised for patient outcomes than German healthcare. Mr Ollerenshaw kept shaking his head, regardless.

The fact that the government has called for £20billion in savings from the NHS - almost one-fifth of its total budget, sat uncomfortably alongside Mr Ollerenshaw's assertion that the government had increased NHS spending. Wards have been cut and a host of medical procedures can no longer be offered to patients. Local mental health facilities, set up after the closure of the big regional asylums, have been closed and sold off - in favour of inaccessible regional treatment centres. Children and adolescents with mental health problems are routinely admitted to adult acute psychiatric wards, for lack of any suitable pediatric facilities. Clinics, accident and emergency centres and outpatients facilities have been closed and centralised. Waiting lists are growing and some have been lapsed entirely. Existing contracts with private healthcare companies under PFI have saddled the regional health authorities forced into them with crippling costs for decades.

The burden of meeting increasingly expensive healthcare costs for elderly people falls more heavily on the poor and their families. As do insurance costs that rise with age. US healthcare costs are triple those of the UK, per capita, with significantly poorer public health outcomes. More people out of every hundred get sicker, and stay sicker for longer in the US. This costs them three times as much, thanks to their private healthcare structure, than is currently paid by us in the UK.

In one unlucky day, in the US, you can lose your job, your savings and your home, to pay for one round of surgery, which may not be covered by standard insurance. Or you simply may not get the treatment you need to survive. Privatisation will draw a hard line between communities. Between the rich and the vulnerable.

It was pointed out that GPs are self-employed, working under contract to the NHS. The Bill would make them managers of all local commissioning of medical services to their patients. This means private businesses being given control of determining how public funds should be allocated to buy the treatments their patients need. GP advice has enormous influence on patient choice. It should be trustworthy, but some GPs consortia have already set up private operating theatres where they perform simple procedures. So they are in a position to direct NHS customers to their own business, which they can then pay out of their NHS budget and make a profit.

One audience member noted, to much agreement, that dentistry had been badly affected by privatisation, with most NHS patients now unable to access basic NHS dental procedures because of budgetary constraints and being routinely obliged to take up private options and insurance.

Certain medical procedures are done routinely, are simple and don't require very expensive equipment and aftercare. These can be done profitably. Others are complex, require specialist staff, expensive equipment and resources, and intensive follow-up. These cost, but every simple procedure was complex once. If private hospitals and clinics can cherrypick the profitable commissions and leave the expensive and pioneering work to the NHS, the NHS will not have the funds to do it. That money will have been paid in dividends to shareholders of private companies, not invested in patient care and the quality of the service will plummet even faster than it already is with the cuts.

Mr Ollerenshaw was largely correct in his fourth point, if confused on his others. The audience seemed packed with healthcare professionals and patients, potential and actual, expressing alarm and concern at the dangers the proposed bill presents. Dr Maggie Mort, chairing the meeting on behalf of Lancashire LINk, asked him if, having listened to the views of local constituents and health professional, he would take their views back to parliament. I couldn't make out his response but his attention seemed alsewhere and his body language seemed to say, 'yeah, whatever...'.

Tomorrow (Tuesday 5 July 2011) is the 63rd Birthday of the NHS, founded in 1948 at a time when thousands of war-injured ex-servicemen, ex-POWs and civilians needed care and when the national debt was proportionately three times what it is now.

From 5.30 - 7pm there will be a birthday celebration for the NHS in Lancaster's Dalton Square. All are invited to bring sandwiches, tea, cakes etc. Let's make sure that this isn't the last birthday of the most cost-effective national healthcare service in the developed world.

Join Lancashire LINk online at http://www.lancashirelink.org.uk/

Keep Our NHS Public

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Spoil your garden rotten with free compost

Local residents can reap the rewards of food and green waste recycling by collecting free compost made from the waste collected from green bins.

Lancaster City Council will be giving away the compost at Sainsbury’s, Morecambe on Tuesday 12th July.  Everyone is welcome to come along from 9.00am to fill up their bags.

Bring your own bags if possible and arrive early to avoid disappointment.

The compost is made from the food and garden waste that people recycle in their green bins, and is suitable for all types of plants.

• To find out what food waste can and can’t be recycled visit www.lancaster.gov.uk/bins 

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First Gay Secretary for local Police Union

Maureen Le Marinel, Branch Secretary for UNISON’s Lancashire Police Branch, was elected Vice President of the Union at its national conference in June 2011 and is the first gay woman to hold this office in the union.

Maureen’s long-term commitment to trade unions started in 1984. After being discharged from the Army for being gay, she took a job in Lancashire Constabulary’s control room. After her six-month review, she ‘came out’ at work.

“After coming out in the workplace I was targeted for bullying by senior members of the force," recalls Maureen of how she became involved in Trade Unionism. "But after one phone call to my union, NALGO at the time, which later merged to form UNISON, the matter was dealt with in very positive and progressive way for the time and it inspired me to get more involved.

"I soon became a steward, and my role grew as the equality laws were taking shape, and the force used me as an unofficial policy person.”

She was an assistant branch secretary for about ten years, and when Lancashire Police’s own branch was founded in 2006, she became its Branch Secretary. Maureen has been sitting on regional committees since the early 90’s. She became the police staff representative on the national police service group in 2000, and joined the National Executive Council, the union’s highest lay body, in 2003.

Through her time on the Presidential team, Maureen will be focussing on pushing the union’s agenda of fairness forward.

“Throughout my life, fairness has always been key," she says. "UNISON is not a banging on the table type of union – we want to find a fair and reasonable solution that is best for everyone. This is a guiding principle that will take me through my presidential term, as I help the union, and public services, face head on some of the biggest challenges that we have faced in my lifetime.”

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No free lunch for some local businesses on rates, says Council

Lancaster City Council is reminding local businesses that new rules to reduce business rates only apply to those with a rateable value below £12,000.

In March, the Government announced that it was extending a temporary increase in Small Business Rate Relief for a further year for the period 1st October 2011 to 30th September 2012.

The measure doubles the usual rate of relief so that businesses with rateable values below £6,000 pay no rates at all for the period, while those with rateable values between £6,000 and £12,000 receive tapered relief from 100% – 0%.

However, the amended legislation is not yet in place so businesses must continue to pay their current instalments, if they have any. Current collection and enforcement procedures will continue to apply to ratepayers who miss scheduled instalments.

Anyone currently entitled to Small Business Rate Relief and affected by the changes will be issued with an amended bill automatically once the new legislation has been passed.

It is also essential that Lancaster City Council is informed of all changes regarding vacations and occupations of property to ensure ratepayers that are potentially entitled to relief continue to receive the necessary application forms.

• Any businesses that have not applied for Small Business Rate relief but believe they may be eligible can contact 01524 582920 or visit  www.lancaster.gov.uk/business-rates for more information.

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Police Authority probes public on planned changes

Police Authority Chair,
County Councillor Malcolm Doherty

(Updated 1635, 1/7/11): Lancashire Police Authority, Lancashire Constabulary and police unions are making a determined effort to secure people's views on the proposed closures of police front counter services and stations in the region.

The public consultation starts today (1st July) for 12 weeks and, in an effort to encourage comments, they're urging people to leave their thoughts and ideas on the Lancashire Options On Policing website: www.getintheloop.co.uk

"Some people may be put off including messages on an official police site," explains Sarah Steele, the Community Engagement Administration Officer for the Authority, "so this is an alternative."

UNISON is concerned about both job cuts and fears that closing police stations would alienate community members.

"The review has suggested closing 21 ‘front counters’ and several police stations on the basis that the numbers of people actually using them are very low," outlines County Councillor Malcolm Doherty, who is Police Authority Chair.

"Most importantly, we are absolutely not moving out of communities, or becoming more remote from people, if anything it’s the opposite.  We want to explore alternative options with people so that we can create a police estate that is fit for the future – a future that includes increasing usage of mobile technology (keeping officers out on the beat for longer) and shared premises with other organisations for greater visibility.

"Equally, even without the reductions in funding, we would be looking closely at all the police premises, to ensure that they remain viable and necessary," he continues. "We totally understand that people place great importance on their local police station, but do they actually need or use it?

"We believe that residents would prefer us to invest our resources in people rather than property, to help us maintain the level of service provided.  Before we make any decisions though we need to know what you think."

There is a host of information on the Authority’s Website (http://www.lancspa.gov.uk/moneymatters/) telling taxpayers what is proposed for which area.

"We know that one size doesn’t fit all," acknowledged Councillor Doherty, "but we do believe that together we can develop solutions that are effective, affordable and practical."

UNISON’s Lancashire Police Branch takes a different view to the cuts and is urging members of the public to send a clear message to this government that cuts to policing and other public services that impact on the policing of our communities are unnecessary, uncalled for and will cause lasting damage.

“These police stations are staffed by members of police staff," notes Branch Secretary and UNISON’s newly elected Vice President Maureen Le Marinel, "who perform a very important and profession role and are a vital face to face link with the communities of Lancashire.

"If these stations are to close and this link is lost some of our most vulnerable people will feel isolated and lost. It also means that given the closure of stations there is a significant possibility that jobs will be lost.

"Whilst UNISON fully understands that the Constabulary needs to find savings due to the Condem Government imposed cuts this should not be at the risk to Public Safety."

• To comment, email with your views via LPA.Information@lancashire.gov.uk; Tweet via @LancsPA; FaceBook - www.Facebook.com/LancsLOOP or post your views via the web site at www.getintheloop.co.uk

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Ambleside Allotments 'Incredible Edibles' Awards date set

The presntation of the 'Incredible Edibles' awards will take place on Sunday 10th July, 2.00 until 5.00pm at Ambleside Road allotments.

As well as awards in a number of pre-judged categories there will also be prizes on offer for the best 'miniature garden' and 'wobbly vegetables and funny fruit' brought along on the day.

Also during the day you will be able to take a look round Lancaster's newest allotment site and talk to a number of stall holders about growing projects across the district. There will be free edible plants for the first 100 people through the gate - and free refreshments.

There will also be a plant swap and a jam and chutney swap, so please bring along any surplus to swap on the day.

Plenty of cycle parking available on site and car parking available nearby at Central High School, just a few minutes walk from the allotment site.

• Ambleside Road Allotments are at opposite 176 - 196 Ambleside Road, Lancaster.

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In Review: 'Shifting Registers' by Ian Seed

Ian Seed is lecturer for Creative Writing at Cumbria University and editor of the webzine Shadowtrain. Shifting Registers is his second collection of poetry.

You know there’s something admirable about poetry attempting to ascertain the truth: the truth about the world, the truth about reality, the truth about art, the truth about language – even if that truth happens to be that there is no truth.

All this sounds like thirsty work, and work is the word for this collection; the incessant labour of interpretation is simultaneously enlightening and infuriating.
If you’re a fastidious reader whose page flutters at the prospect of a challenge, or a disillusioned soul wishing to be plucked out of your comfort zone and shaken into a new mode of thought, then perhaps this Seed should be planted in your life.

What we have here is difficult poetry. No literal route is provided and meaning comes in slow drops like ‘rain’. So we must be active readers bravely braced for the semantic storm, not lounging in luxury, with poetry as sweet liquor resting in our glass. Each poem is like a closed flower, opening only when lit by our questions. Each word often points to more than its various dictionary definitions, reminding us with its sound of yet another. Each resonates with an emotional echo.

There’s no escape after we’ve put the book down either, and fragmentary shapes still haunt our most vulnerable moments of passivity and sleep: a steam train rushing through a landscape of snow, barely discernible beneath a plume of white steam. Disembodied. Unfathomable. Often the image received is contrary to what we would expect, for ‘there’s nothing/ literal about watching [a]…weightless/ train’. But patience, there’s method in the madness since the overall effect is one of reconciling otherwise disparate elements into a holistic image, albeit an image founded upon uncertainty, as when he writes that ‘the fusion of the face / with its shadow is total in verisimilitude’.

Seed’s work may be criticised on the grounds that it has little to offer the casual reader. Every poem keeps its cards close to its chest, insisting upon the reader’s sociable dialogue before revealing its hand. When all's said and done there’s a label for this kind of literature – postmodernism. Shifting Registers typifies postmodernism because it rejects structure and regimen in favour of a far more slippery kind of meaning. From the offing ‘Note-taking’ and ‘Theory’ give the impression of the academic nature of these pieces, even if the end result is to reject the absolutism of critical analysis and theoretical schools. There’re some more accessible moments in the prose poems of the collection but the vast majority aren’t so forgiving.

Sometimes we encounter a poem more like an obdurate stone than a proud flower. Words smugly resist interpretation, or jar dissonantly with the rest of the line, simply lying there looking increasingly worn, like those coins in the pavement inside Marketgate. What for instance does an ‘olive warning of destruction’ have to do with ‘moths and flying’? Yet one of the clever effects of these poems is their ability to provoke thought, even when we think we’ve got it sussed.

There’s no doubt time and energy has been invested in these poems, and to truly appreciate them we must commit time and energy too. Shifting Registers is ideal for those who want to be challenged by their reading, or better yet, to be the challengers themselves. The crucial point seems to be that there’s literature of value here, ideas worth rolling around in the tired grey matter upstairs; bringing both light and shadow, blending them, making you nervous.

Joe Downes
01/07/11

Ride the Shadowtrain here: http://www.shadowtrain.com/
Ian Seed is a regular face at Lancaster’s literature festival: http://www.litfest.org/

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Lancaster Teachers on the Picket Lines

Picket lines stood outside Lancaster schools yesterday, probably the most courteous and kindly pickets in history. 'Good Morning' was the most revolutionary chant to be heard, as they handed out explanatory leaflets to the odd parent who turned up with children.
Supportive workers with slower unions, who supported the strike but weren't yet allowed to join it, brought out cups of tea.

I saw 3 members of Unison come up to strikers to apolgise for not being out on strike as well, and promising that their own union would be striking by the Autumn. I heard promises that the NUT would join them. One woman said her pay was cut by £800 a year, her pension contributions increased and her pension, that she had contributed to and worked for on a low wage, starting at 6am daily, over 20 years, cut to shreds.

Others were less friendly, the lollipop lady disgusted at their dereliction. 'I've never been on strike in my life! It's letting the children down.'

Fleetwood couple Anne & Nick Beenham were so unhappy at having to bring their children into work with them at Lancaster's Local Linkup marketing office that they appeared on BBC North West Tonight. Anne said, 'Things are hard for us in the private sector. I have no pension. My wages haven't been raised in the last few years.'

Anne worries me. The average Public sector pension is £6000pa. It's not much if your roof needs fixing or you need a stairlift, but it's better than nothing, which is where Anne sees herself. A private sector pension is an opt-in thing. You shop around, sign up and settle to making your monthly payments. You contribute to a pot. It's a bonded savings agreement for an annuity that will provide an income when/if you reach a certain age. But only if you have made the payments. Unlike Anne. Unlike most women in the private sector in fact, whose careers are often broken up by having children.

So when you lose your pension, you are losing your own savings. It's like a bank going broke and you losing your savings. Except the teachers' scheme is an opt-out scheme with a pot originally set up before the welfare state by a union of women teachers, who were not allowed to marry, so devised the scheme independently to avoid destitution in old age. It's unlikely they were better off then than Ann is now. They were desperate. As schools were taken over by the state their scheme and its pot was eventually passed over to be run by the employers as part of the state scheme, for the benefit of all teachers. It is designed for the welfare of the members, not a profit-making corporation. It has been audited, adjusted, contributions by the teachers were increased some years ago, and it is sound. The heritage of those diligent, careful women.

As one of the few remaining such pots, it is being raided, by the government, to fund tax avoidance and fiscal irresponsibility. Just as private interests already raided the less-guarded pension pots of their own companies. Employers took 'holidays' from making their contributions during the rich times and paid themselves dividends, instead of laying by for the hard times to follow. They invested the funds unsoundly with their own interests. This was tax-avoidance in another form.

At 11am the strike's supporters rallied in Market Square and bacame an unscheduled march by about 400 people around Lancaster City Centre, led by a marching band.

It wound around the town centre, with the assistance of just two competent police officers who happened to be on hand to complement the stewards.

Speeches followed in Market Square, not only from teachers but also other services under threat, most notably about the NHS privatisation. The most memorable came from schoolgirl Molly Pye, who said "Putting private business in charge of health is like putting Dr Frankenstein in charge of transplants'.

Others pointed out that half the UK's private wealth is owned by just the richest 10% of the people, who are getting even richer out of the recession, and set to get richer still through privatisation, while the rest of us are told we must make sacrifices.

I'd say this strike day was just a taste. Public sector workers haven't had a fight like this in a generation, and like all new things in the public sector, it will be long in getting started, with many meetings. But now the millwheels have begun to grind, there will be no stopping them until the whole loaf is sliced out.

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