It's Our City Launch Petition Against Canal Corridor Plans!

It's Our City have launched a petition against the proposed development of the Canal Corridor North site by Centros Miller. The petition will be available to sign at the It's Our City information stall to be held in Market Square over the coming months, and at future public meetings.

It's Our City believe that Lancaster City Council has ignored the concerns of local people regarding the effects of these plans. Councillors have decided to press ahead with this scheme, despite the lack of information provided by Centros Miller regarding the impact on traffic congestion, air quality and businesses in existing city centres in Lancaster and Morecambe. It's Our City consider that councillors have failed in their responsibilities to the people of Lancaster and Morecambe, by allowing this development to proceed without adequate information on the massive and far-reaching changes that it will bring to the area.

In addition, It's Our City are hugely disappointed that Centros Miller's so-called 'consultation' of local people regarding this scheme seems to be viewed as perfectly adequate by the majority of councillors. This is despite surveys of both city centre shoppers and residents clearly containing leading questions, and answers being subjected to selective misinterpretation. Furthermore, in making the decision to proceed with this development, councillors have ignored the results of both Centros Miller's consultation and earlier consultation by Real Planning for Lancaster.

Callie Giles of It's Our City says 'This petition will yet again show Lancaster City Council the strength of local opposition to these plans. It is obvious that very few people in Lancaster and Morecambe think that this is a good idea. It's shocking that the Council seem to think that local people have been properly consulted about this. And even if they do think real consultation has taken place, they are ignoring the results which show that Centros Miller's scheme is not what people want!'

Emilie Secker adds 'People feel deeply insulted and angry that certain members of the Council seem to think that local people are not worth listening to. This attitude is absolutely disgraceful. Councillors should remember that local elections are coming up next May and that this will be a major issue.'