OPEN letter to Mr Dawson.

Firstly Hilton, you are right... "we all have a part to play"... and you, being the elected Member of Parliament for the area, have one of the biggest parts to play. If, though, you really think that saving the Musician's Co-op current premises is the only challenge we face, then you are either sadly naive or being divisive. So, let's get constructive shall we and suggest how you might live up to your position? There's a large and growing movement in Lancaster who wish to put forward an alternative plan to Chelverton - or any other developer who views Lancaster as just a place to make money. A plan which will come from local people and serves their needs and greatly enhances the city. It is ambitious and needs all the help it can get. So get on board and use, your position to help it flourish. Start thinking big... start thinking about all the money that a visionary proposal could attract. Big box retail space are not winning awards. Nor drawing in the kind of funding that helps an area, rather than merely setting up a cash conduit to head office of Cashdev Ltd! This is okay for the bigger picture... in the meantime, use you influence to persuade Labour Councillors to take their allocated spaces in the cabinet. They may not like the current system but people did not vote so they can sit back and moan without taking responsibility. Then, even if there is what lan Barker calls a 'right wing majority', cabinet will vote against selling any land in such a way. It's that simple. Then we can relax and start planning for real!

Sam Haynes Lancaster