Community vision to 'get real'

Report by Paul Wilkinson

Back community ideas planners told

LANCASTER residents are calling on planners to "get real" and back community ideas for the city's canal-side land earmarked for development.

At a packed public meeting local residents called for a cultural quarter with affordable housing, recreational facilities, small business units and green spaces on land which is currently being eyed by big developer, Chelverton.

Another meeting this Saturday (October 26) will be used to help put together an 'alternative' plan which will promote what the residents in the area say they really want to see. The 'Planning For Real' group hope to persuade the authorities to dismiss Chelverton's link road and supermarket plans in favour of a community led scheme.

"The best examples of fantastic developments on brownfield sites are those which have started with the ideas of the local people," said, Alistair Kirkbride, one of the organisers.

'This is what councils and developers like to start from and it makes for much better, appropriate and sustainable communities. We therefore urge as many people as possible to have their say, which is why we are organising these events."

From 10am until 4pm in the King's Centre (on the corner of Phoenix St and St Leonard's Gate), there will be discussion on what stage the planning is at, chances to look at the site, and ample opportunity to add to the ever-lengthening lists of facilities and spaces that people want the site to be used for.

"The first meeting allowed people to air opinions and ideas. Saturday's meeting aims to develop these further so that a co-ordinated plan can he proposed which is based on what local residents want," added Paul Speight.

"It is necessary to oppose bad planning with good planning and that can only happen if the residents of Lancaster are prepared to decide what they really want and need. Bad development comes not only from the pursuit of profit over all else but from people being excluded from the process. This project aims to correct that omission and so it is vital for people to help it achieve its aims by coming along and joining in"

At lunchtime there will be a 'walking picnic' around the site.