Wiping out our culture

THE 'radical' plans to build a supermarket and 'big box' retail units on the Mitchell's Brewery site (Lancaster Guardian, July 5 edition) fill me full of horror. It seems that some people are willing to destroy any interesting old buildings and areas of the city as long as money can be made out of it. Whatever happened to the city council's Idea of turning this attractive and historic area into a 'cultural quarter' for arts work-shops and music venues? The site for the supermarket proposed by developers CR Chelverton includes Lancaster's thriving Musicians Co-op which is a key part of the city's cultural life. I suppose the council won't think twice about sacrificing the Co-op. For a time I lived in Edinburgh where they know the true value of historic buildings. With a bit of Imagination, unusual and important building such as Mitchell's Brewery could be converted into trendy flats, The romance and fun of living in one of England's last independent breweries would no doubt attract plenty of buyers. They've done it with old warehouses on St George's Quay, so why not with Mitchell's Brewery? I also wonder if Mitchell's Brewery might deserve Listed Building status. Perhaps Lancaster Civic Society could enlighten the public, the council and the developers? Similarly, the Musicians o-op is in need of renovation, but with the correct building work the upstairs could be turned into a fantastic nightclub, while local bands and musicians could contiue making great music in the rehearsal rooms. The city council is constantly trying to attract tourists to Lancaster so I hope they don't allow the building of a featureless, American-style retail park in an area of such charm. What we need is innovative building design ideas that will complement the area, not detract from it. A new supermarket would also add to the dreadful traffic congestion in the Bulk/Caton Road area. The proposed development would supposedly include a new 'inner relief road'. I'd like the developers and council to show the public any evidence that this would actually ease congestion. I fear it would simply attract more cars and lorries. What possible justification could there be for saying Lancaster needs another super-market? We already have Sainsbury's, an enormous ASDA, Booths, Aldi and only a short distance away in Morecambe, we have Morrison's, Tesco and Netto. What impact will another super-market have on Lancaster's indoor and outdoor markets and smaller city centre food shops? A devastating one, I believe. Lancaster needs a large department store, but not another super-market. I hope the council will not go forward with this ill thought-out scheme. My worst fears are that the council will jump at the chance to make money, that the city will lose yet more historic buildings and that a pleasant area will be turned into a nondescript, car-congested and polluted dump. Concerned Bulk resident. Name and address supplied