Anti Chelverton protest grows

RESIDENTS worried about possible plans to turn a key area of the city centre into a retail park took their protests to the Town Hall last Friday.

The demonstrators, many of whom were on bikes and skateboards, called on the council to resist plans by Chelverton to build a city centre access road and supermarket on the old brewery and canal corridor site. The local authority owns large parts of the land, including the building which houses the popular Musician's Co-op, and although the authority says it has no plans at present to sell the land to developers, officers are currently negotiating with Chelverton.

Following  Friday's demonstration the council again reiterated that it currently has no plans to sell the land but protesters remain unconvinced.   Sally Banks of the 'Stop Chelverton Campaign' said: "We welcome that the City Council has responded to the public's concerns, but feel its statement doesn't go far enough. There may be no plans at present to dispose of the land owned by the council - but we're not worried about today. We're worried about the time when Chelverton come and try to get planning permission to build a development that will destroy the heart of our city."

She added: "We're concerned that officers have been instructed to work with Chelverton. What's really needed is for the council to commit to turning down all proposals that are damaging to Lancaster, and to understand that Chelverton's current proposals are unacceptable'"

Alternative residents proposals for the area include the creation of an extended park along the canal including a skating facility as well as creating a community-led cultural quarter. Local resident Janet Greenville said: "If this road and supermarket are built they will represent a lost chance for the improvement of our standard of living in Lancaster.

"We have a wonderful chance to make Lancaster one of the most pleasant cities in Britain to visit and live in. 'The council has to stop caving in to developers and start listening to what local people really want: a pleasant, green and cultural Lancaster, not a sterile 'big box' town centre."  

CR Chelverton's initial ideas are thought to include a new 63,000sq ft supermarket and canal bypass road. Lancaster City Council this week reiterated that it has no plans for disposal of its landholdings - all the car parks and several buildings - within the Brewery area.

A council spokesman said: "Whilst the council is aware CR Chelverton is working on proposals for the Brewery site, and part of Kingsway development which the council doesn't own, the company has not submitted any formal proposals or a planning application.   

Officers have been instructed to work with them to try and ensure any proposals they might put forward do comply with council policies. As a major landowner in the area the Council does have a duty to consider all aspects of future developments, should they be deemed to be in the interests of the district and the public interest in general. However, all proposals would need to go through the due planning process with opportunity for all interested parties to comment. However, as stated earlier, there are no plans for disposal of this particular site."