Stand up or stand still (From Lancaster And Morecambe Citizen)

Your Say

Have your say on what's happening in the district Click here... »

Your Citizen

Text your news, pictures and videos to 80360 start your message LM Citizen or click here to contact us »

News RSS Feed

Stand up or stand still

6:15am Thursday 15th May 2008

comment Comments (4) Have your say »

By Rachel Ryan »

THE people of Lancaster need to embrace change for the good of the city or else it will get left behind.

That's the view of local Labour Party chairman Gareth Webb - and he is urging locals to get right behind development plans for the city. If they do not, Lancaster will become stagnant'.

Says Mr Webb (pictured): "It's important that the people in Lancaster support the plans put forward by Centros Miller otherwise we are going to become a city stuck in the 19th Century. We have to be realistic - we need this for future economic prosperity.

"An extension to the shopping area will be great for Lancaster because locals will not have to get in their cars and leave, they can shop on their own doorstep."

Mr Webb's comments come only two weeks after city councillor Jim Blakely called on locals to stop criticising plans to redevelop the Canal Corridor North site following the unveiling of a new blueprint.

It aims to bring independent shops, arts and housing to the area - but the plan has far from impressed the It's Our City' lobby group.

Print article » Email to a friend »

Your Say YourCitizen

jrc, lancaster says...
1:22pm Thu 15 May 08

I think it is easy for people to say back the new development when they and their lifelong business are not directly affected by the changes.
If the development goes ahead although I do think ultimately good for Lancaster, our long established business will be detrimentally affected through the loss of our shop, which is the mainstay of our business in probably the most prominent part of Lancaster.
Times for small businesses are hard enough as it is without having to worry about losing it's main business getter.

Report this post »

Lancman, Lancaster says...
1:29pm Thu 15 May 08

Of course it won't impress It's Our City. They want Lancaster to be a 19th Century backwater. Much better to have a few art & craft workshops than shops that people will come into Lancaster to visit!

Report this post »

JCN, Torrisholme says...
9:47am Sat 17 May 08

Times may well be hard for local businesses, but when aren't they? This plan is not going to have a significant detrimental effect on local businesses because in its design it incorporates space for new premises specifically for local businesses. The people of Lancaster need to back this plan because it will ultimately lead to a increase in jobs and generate revenue for the area. Let's be proud of Lancaster and back this plan, so we can compete with the likes of Preston and have wider range of products and services on our doorstep.

Report this post »

Julian, Morecambe says...
3:07pm Sun 18 May 08

Totally agree with the above comment, and I personally feel this whole Carnival of Culture thing is very badly researched, and relies on completely unfounded facts and reminds me slightly of the upper class twunts that are campaigning against the building of wind turbines in the countryside hills, because they don't want it to spoil the view next to their big converted farmhouse mansion and 4x4 or SUV or whatever environmentally damaging jeep they are driving this week.
Anyway back to the point, one of carnival of culture's main points is how the music Co-op will be affected by the development. Well I know for a fact that they have not approached the co-op to talk about this at any point at all.
The truth is, if they had done, they would find out that this development will only be a great thing for the Music Co-op, due to the fact Centros will be providing a brand new building for the co-op, (something badly needed as the current building is severely dilapidated and beyond affordable repair) with an entrance onto St Leonard's Gate next to the Grand Theatre which would make things much easier for access and greatly improve business. As well as this, Centros would be charging the Co-op a considerably lower rental fee than the council currently are.
Overall, this is perfect for the Music Co-op and Centros are doing the same thing for other local businesses by relocating them so no-one loses out here.
on top of this, the area that they are developing is practically a waste ground! it is mostly covered by empty warehouses and an overly large car park. The expansion of the city centre to this area will also improve business for the smaller shops and amenities in the surrounding area.

Report this post »

Your sayYourCitizen

comment Add your comment

Register for a FREE Lancaster And Morecambe Citizen account and you can have your say on today's news and sport by adding comments on articles we publish. The best comments may even get published in the paper.

Please register now or sign in below to continue.