Green View Marsh, Fairfield, Westfield, Autumn 2017 Quay, Abraham Heights News and Views from the Green Party in Marsh Ward: No 73 FLORA Path Funding Success Following a £30,000 grant from the Lancashire Environment Fund, the Fairfield Association has now raised enough money to build a new path through the newer part of the reserve (FLORA). The path will link Ald- Pony Wood from the ‘pads’ path cliffe Road with the footpath to the Millennium Orchard. Art at the Triangle The first art exhibition is to take place Calling walkers, at the Aldcliffe Road Triangle from cyclists and runners Sat 2nd to Sun 3rd Sept (10-4). The Have you walked, run or cycled exhibitors are Cromwell Road artists up Aldcliffe Hall Drive (road Gill Aitken and Phil Ferguson Jones. leading up from the canal) for Much of the work is inspired by the the last twenty years or more? canal and the FAUNA nature re- Aldcliffe-with-Stodday parish serve—indeed, 20% of the sales go to council is gathering evidence the Fairfield Association. to establish this quarter of a The Triangle was formerly used as a mile of private road as a public paving stone depot and boat- right of way. Contact builder’s yard. It has been regenerat- [email protected] ed by a local community group since (07570946583). 2012—see aldclifferdtriangle.org.uk Electric Vehicle Charging Points A Scotforth resident wants to create a network of electric vehicle charging points in Lancaster in order to help make electric vehicles a viable alterna- tive to petrol and diesel. The County Council is planning to install 6 charge points at on-street sites in Lancaster and the City Council hopes to install two in car parks during this fi- nancial year. But as more charging points are clearly needed, Dan Heery is setting up a -co operative to raise funds to install overnight charging points. He is currently looking for community sites in Lancaster that would allow charging points on their land. To get involved contact [email protected]. Long Marsh Lane Flooding Long Marsh Lane suffered surface water flooding after the deluge of rain in mid July. Residents say that this is because gullies have not been cleared. Simi- lar issues have been reported on Abraham Heights. Councillors are pushing the County Council to take action. Fracking too Close for Comfort County Cllr Gina Dowding took part in a peaceful protest at the Preston New Road fracking site in July and ‘locked-on’ to a barrier to demonstrate the strength of feel- ing of opposition to the shale gas industry setting up in Lancashire. After lying for 15 hours on the Gina and colleagues at the Preston New ground, Gina was arrested along Road site with 12 other people Gina said: “I have never been arrested before but I am outraged that the Government is intent on turning Lancashire into a gas field despite the original planning appli- cation at New Road being turned down. What is happening a few miles down the road today will soon happen in north Lancashire too. Much of this area has been licensed for fracking and the industry will need to drill hundreds of gas wells to be financially viable.” Greens want 400 County Elec- Local Jobs tion Results In July, Green councillor Tim Hamil- May’s election ton-Cox led on a motion which results for the sought to commit Lancaster City County Council’s Council to source more of its goods Central Division and services from locally-based (Marsh, Castle, businesses. Preston City Council has Scotforth, been doing this since 2013. Even Glasson & Cocker- Gina Dowding more importantly, Preston has en- ham) were: couraged 12 other public sector or- Gina Dowding (Green) 2206 ganisations to do the same. They Mark Cutter (Lab) 1121 claim that this has led to over £10m Kieran Cooke (Con) 858 of procurement spend by the an- Robert Watson (UKIP) 75 chor institutions being re-directed to local businesses, equivalent to Gina said “Thank you to all those who creating 400 jobs. Tim said supported me. I’ll continue to work “Despite the original motion being hard for all residents in Central Divi- watered down by Labour council- sion.” Seats on the County Council lors, an officer report on increasing are now Con 46, Lab 30, Lib Dem 4, local procurement should come be- Ind 3, UKIP 1, Green 1. fore councillors by January 2018.” Could you support an- County Leader in Trouble Conservative councillors elected other family? Home Start is an organisation that Geoff Driver as County Council lead- supports families with at least one er, despite his arrest a few days be- child under 5 years old. They are fore on suspicion of conspiracy to looking for local volunteers who pervert the course of justice. would help for up to 3 hours a week This relates to an investigation into in providing a range of support for a financial irregularities in a contract family in need. Training is provided, which usually runs one morning a that was set up when he previously week for 6 weeks. Contact Michelle led the County Council, before McMeeking on 01524 414871. 2013. Milking Stile Phone Box running up Long Marsh Lane. They After complaints from residents, Cllr intend to introduce bollards near to Jon Barry has asked BT to remove the railway bridge plus a turning cir- the phone box at the end of Milking cle. This solution was the most pop- Stile Lane. The phone hadn’t ular in a consultation of residents worked for a long time and was carried out last Autumn by Green filthy. BT has started a 90 day con- councillors. sultation for the removal of the ki- Green Gym osk with the City Council. Following Work on the green gym on Corona- this, the box could be removed in tion Field is set to start in August. early 2018. Nine pieces of equipment are to be B & Q leaving introduced in a line behind the play The B&Q store on Aldcliffe Road area. looks set to be replaced by an Aldi Marsh Community Centre shop in early 2019, after Aldi bought The Adult College will run English the freehold of the site. Cllr Dave (starting Wed 13th Sept, 10-12.30) Brookes said: “I share residents’ and maths (Thur 14th Sept, 12.30- concern about the traffic impact of a 3.00) lessons at the Marsh Commu- food store—though it will be difficult nity Centre. Contact the community to oppose in planning terms.” centre on 843300 if interested. Cars on Cycle Path Dallas Road Resurfacing The County Council’s new plans are Work on Dallas Road is taking place to put a lockable gate at the St during August. Cllr Jon Barry said: “I George’s Quay end of the cycle was very pleased that the City Coun- path to prevent cars accessing the cil’s tree officer was clear that the path. They say that this will happen trees needed to remain and that in the 2017/18 financial year (I’m care should be taken of them whilst not counting my chickens, ed). the work is in progress.” Fairfield Association Friend You can contribute financially by How to contact us becoming a Friend of the Fairfield Cllr Jon Barry 01524 844113 Association. See [email protected] fairfieldassociation.org/support Cllr Rebecca Novell 07743 997648 Long Marsh Lane Bollards [email protected] County Council officials think they County Cllr Gina Dowding 841645 [email protected] have come up with a solution to rat-.