You're so 'out of tune

RECENT reports of plans to close down the Music Co-op in Lancaster, as part of the 'development' of the canal corridor, have prompted me to write to you in order to express my concern.

The music co-op has provided a very good resource for young people over many years, and is one of the very few places in the city where young people can meet and be involved in creative projects. It would be a great loss if it were to close.

Young people need places to go and opportunities to develop their skills and interests. Otherwise we condemn them to the streets, the shops and the pubs. Lancaster needs more places like the music co- op, rather than less.

It seems to me that Lancaster is failing its young people (and all of us) in this and other ways. Recent and proposed 'developments' appear to provide little in the way of community resources.

The current threat to local cinemas is a case in point. We have not seen any improvement to the area and plans seem undecided. Cinemas are not opened, and the charm of small local amenities, such as the music co-op and the Navigation pub are cast aside in favour of what?

I feel that we need to retain amenities, small ventures, and the unique-ness of Lancaster, rather than sell our souls to corporate development, which only seems to offer shops, and identikit housing.

SM Morris    Freehold Lancaster

How will we ever Co-op?

WHAT can I say that has not been stated already! The sheer thought of Lancaster without the Lancaster Music Co-op is like the sea without water or a guitar without strings. We should be nurturing local talent - not making them feel uneasy with threats to their 'community space'.

In fact, the word 'community should he looked up by all involved with the recent proposals for Alfred Street/Mitchell's Brewery as I don't think you know the meaning of the word.

Come on City Council, I dare you to build another car park on the Mitchell's site, after all that's what you're good at!

Or how about using the site as a skateboard/play-ground space, which would benefit the community

(Sorry! I forgot we only live here don't we! You need to be an out-of-town developer before the council are interested in your ideas.)

Good luck Music Co-op people. "I hope you keep on rocking in the free world."

Married to a drummer (So you can imagine how much I appreciate the Co-op).

Don't waste our facility

COUNCILLOR Barker and Councillor Bryning should know, that as a member of the City Council planning committee, my comments on planning applications have to wait until all information on both sides of the arguments is available and presented to the Committee.

The Committee works very much in a judicial manner and if a member makes premature comments publicly, developers and objectors can consider you to be biased when it comes to the final decision.

I would prefer to be allowed to take part at that important stage when the details are clear. Chelverton's second scheme may have been presented to the Chamber of Commerce, but has not to Council members.

There were many reasons for preferring the Liberty scheme: the main one being that it was more in line with the Development Brief for the site. I had always assumed these Briefs we prepared carefully by officers and councillors alike were in order to have some control over the new developments.

The Lancaster Musicians Co-operative has done a great job in the City for a long time. Some years back I visited their premises in order to learn more of their work so that I could support what they were doing.  I supported them then and our group will do so again. That facility is needed in the centre of Lancaster. Over the last few years the Liberal Democratic Group has worked hard and successfully to support the cultural services in Lancaster. Finally Coun Barker and Bryning are accusing me of wanting to score a political point! I am amazed! Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!

Pat Quinton     Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group,    Chair Regeneration Review Board

Give Co-op some hope

I WAS absolutely astonished to recently hear of the possibility of the Lancaster Music Co-op being closed down. I have been using the Co-op since 1986 and have always been impressed by the friendliness, hard work and dedication of the team who have turned the building from an empty shell into a thriving rehearsal and recording facility

I think that it is increasingly important that places like the Co-op exist which are open to all the community at an easily affordable cost and can be used to channel the energies of younger (and older) people constructively

This is surely something that any intelligent council should support and is undoubtedly a type of project that many other councils seem more than happy to fund themselves.

It is an indisputable fact that the Musicians Co-op provides a unique resource to the entire Lancaster and Morecambe area that, if closed, would seriously undermine the entire local musical community. I look to the Council to realise the positive and valuable contribution that the Co-op continues to provide to the people of Lancaster and Morecambe and not to underestimate the wealth of public support behind their work.

So please, please, please Lancaster City Council, don't take away the only rehearsal space in the entire area and don't squander years of work for some short-term financial gain.

Help the community and support our Musicians Co-op!

Mike Duckles    Clougha Avenue, Lancaster