MORE LANCASTER UNIVERSITY EXPANSION
More horrors follow after the planning defeat for Galgate locals. The university expansion is now looking to build on the slope to the south of the existing periphery road, down to Hazelrigg Lane. Lancaster City Council have sent out letters to local residents inviting them to study plans for this latest proposal [ no 02/01128/FUL]

previous reports:
16th June 2002

 http://www.uk.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=33957&group=webcast

21st August
 http://www.uk.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=39063&group=webcast

'Local Democracy in Action', Freedom magazine, 7th September 2002, page 3

A NAFF NEO BRUTALIST GIANT GERBIL SHOEBOX
The Infolab design confirms all our worst fears. It is a large, ultra modernistic slab which will clearly dominate the landscape to the east of Green Lane. Part of the building will be faced with huge white blocks, and some parts clad with pale green plastic sheeting. Huge windows light an internal concourse, and seem set to look down disdainfully on the beleaguered residents of Ellel. All things considered, with reverse sloped sides set to catch the wind, creating wide, dark cold areas around it, and with its sloping access walkways, the Infolab looks like nothing more than an oversized shoebox modernist gerbil exerciser. The design plumbs new depths of naffness and hi-tech neo-brutalist bad taste. It is a white / green monstrosity to set alongside the infamous pink monstrosity.

V SIGN TO LOCALS
As if this wasn't enough of a V sign to locals, the plans also show that more buildings are planned for lower down the slope. Admitting the sight of all this will be appalling, an earth bank will be put up as a screen to try to cut off the Chapel Lane residents' view. Until the trees they want to plant mature in 30 or 40 years, this will only emphasise the development. There is also going to be a pond to allegedly try to store the rainwater and all the extra run-off from new roads and buildings, prior to their deluging it down from the university into the raging waters of the Mighty River Conder. Few of the locals have any faith in their promises to control the flood waters.

FORCES OF MORDOR MASSING
As yet, not many people seem to be aware of these new proposals, people are still reeling from the council's decision to go ahead with the first monster expansion scheme. Emboldened by their initial planning victory, the Forces of Mordor feel confident they can ride roughshod over everybody and are now piling it on. Unrepresentative of students, speaking only for himself in their absence, Scan student newspaper editor Matt King described previous reports about this as 'one sided'. Of course, building on green field sites is also 'one sided', but not on the side of the planet, the animals, trees and plants, nor ultimately of the people, nor even in the university's best interests. Everybody knows the planning system and appeals to bureaucracies are stacked against ordinary people. There is no surprise that elected representatives and the parish council have completely failed people here.

Failing the ground opening up and swallowing the Mordor City Council, or Jarvis plc going bust, perhaps further protests and a camp are the only ways this might be stopped, now.