IT was, in most people's opinion, a pretty impressive document. The planning development brief for Lancaster set out an exciting, thought-provoking, carefully considered vision for the long-term future of the city centre.

It was a study worked on by planning and economic development professionals over many long hours, people who know Lancaster's potential, who recognise its strengths and how best it should move forward in the new century.

So we had some obvious areas requiring attention, notably the Kingsway gateway to the city centre, but then, linked in with that, there were some clever suggestions for some of the other grot spots dotted around the city to ensure a sustainable, vibrant city.

One of the most interesting of these was the idea that the area around the old Mitchell's brewery should be redeveloped to take advantage of the cultural assets already in the vicinity.

Playing to its existing strengths to develop a distinct 'arty' feel, the vision was create a 'cultural quarter', with artist workshops, small businesses and no doubt the odd cafe and restaurant encouraged to set up in a quiet corner of the city centre bounded by the Dukes and Grand theatres, with a dance workshop and musician's co-op already in situ.

Lancaster has always been proud of its artistic and cultural heritage, this was a way to tap into that and celebrate it - to ensure that the city's reputation was enhanced as the county's beating heart for the arts.

It was also welcomed by those existing arts businesses in the area, currently a little cut-off from the main centre this would link them nicely and for some who had been keeping a deliberately low profile as they went about their business, it was a chance to legitimise their activities and develop for the future.

The Music Co-Op on Lodge Street has been quietly doing its own thing for 17 years.

Their building, a sprawling former factory, is not in the best state of repair but they lease it for very reasonable money from the council who own it and they have raised enough funds over that time to add extra rehearsal rooms, buy new equipment and give it the odd coat of paint.

And it's thriving. Up to 600 people a week wander through its doors dreaming of stardom - or perhaps more realistically, a gig at the Bobbin - as they plug their guitars and make noise with their mates they are convinced will make them the next big thing. The co-op is unique in this country in that it is genuinely run on co-operative principles, it is not for profit and is therefore cheap and accessible - which is why it is so popar and why it is so loved by so many people who would otherwise not be able to afford decent rehearsal space.

It is one of those artistic gems Lancaster should be celebrating, helping to develop and patting heartily on the back.

Instead we find a situation where they are fearing for their futures, the long shadow of the developer hanging over them as the development brief for a cultural quarter is ignored and a rather less inspired plan for big box retail units and new road is put forward.

These arts organisations now find themselves, rather than being at the hub of an exciting, vibrant new dawn for this corner of the city centre, feeling in the way, a potential nuisance that sometime in the not too distant future may be swallowed up by an expanding redevelopment.

Nothing is yet decided, the cultural quarter vision is still there on paper and still very much alive if the council has the will to pursue the vision.

Turning down massive investment from a major developer won't he easy, but grasping at the first opportunity to line the coffers won't help Lancaster's long-term future, which surely would be far better served by sticking with the vision and helping to develop businesses like the Music Co-op.  

Below the fold - Richard Machin