Employment

Former leader of Lancaster Council, Ian Barker accused It's Our City of denying local people jobs, because we were opposed to this development. We recognise that there will be macjobs (very low wage, no job security or benefits) created, but many will be at the expense of other existing jobs in the retail sector.

With the potential of the castle as a means of generating local wealth through an enhanced tourist industry, it would be madness to tie Lancaster into a 250 year lease with a developer who has no interest in the city's heritage. If the city can exploit the castle's potential as a major tourist attraction, it would do much to generate growth in the city centre, which could be threatened by a major retail development, close by.

In any case we cannot take claims about the number of jobs generated at face value. A Freedom of Information request reported on the Virtual Lancaster website article 'Northern Route - The rot sets in' reveals that we must take Council claims regarding jobs generated by any development with a pinch of salt.

Given the current stage in the development process, there are no reliable estimates of potential jobs available. Figures quoted by Centros or the council are simply propaganda designed to support their claims that Lancaster needs the development.