Co-op's plea to save space

THE musician's co-op in Lancaster is to arrange a meeting with other arts groups in the city's so-called 'cultural quarter' in a bid to stave any redevelopments which may see their premises bulldozed.

The meeting, details of which are yet to be finalised, was announced this week as fears rose following the city council's admission that they could not, guarantee the co-op's future.

Although there is no clear indication yet whether developer CR Chelverton's proposals would definitely include the council-owned site in Lodge Street, it is hoped the meeting will raise the profile of the neglected corner of the city centre.

Tom Myall, one of the partners at the co-op, said: "The local plan says it should be a cultural quarter and I hope we stick to that."

The co-op has been running for 17 years as a non-profit organisation.

A spokesman for the city council said: "We can never guarantee that buildings that we own and lease out would not become part of a future redevelopment."

Chelverton were contacted but had not replied as the paper went to press.