Lancaster Castle - should it remain as a Prison?

Although Parliament may be in recess, that doesn’t mean that local MP Eric Ollerenshaw is off on his holidays! This week Eric has been out and about across Lancaster and Fleetwood, from Lifeboat Day at Fleetwood, Pilling Coffee Feast and the Maiden Bridge Arts Centre in Tatham up in the Lune Valley. Eric has also had meetings with local businesses in Lancaster, English Nature, the Federation of Small Businesses and the Department of Work and Pensions.

On Tuesday Eric, along with his Morecambe & Lunesdale colleague David Morris MP visited HMP Lancaster Castle. With the recent announcement from the Ministry of Justice regarding the potential closure of the Castle as a working Prison, Eric was keen to speak to the staff who work there.

Eric commented, “Although the prison may be deemed as unfit for the 21^st Century, it is actually an extremely high performing prison, graded 4th overall and the highest rated Category C Prison in the country.

The fact that the Castle performs so well despite it’s medieval conditions, is a credit to the staff who work there. There is a real community atmosphere and this helps with the rehabilitation of the prisoners, many of whom specifically request to come to Lancaster because of the successful rehabilitation programme.”

The opportunity to turn HMP Lancaster Castle into a visitor attraction would certainly place Lancaster on the international tourist trail and bring many more visitors to the City as well as being a major boost to the city’s economy. However there would be a substantial cost running into many millions of pounds to return the Castle to it’s original state as well as extremely high running costs required to simply maintain the Castle.

Eric will be meeting with the Prison’s Minister and the Duchy of Lancaster in the next few weeks to discuss the future plans for Lancaster Castle to hopefully be able to answer more fully, the many questions that we all have over Lancaster Castle’s future.

Eric at Pisces Fish and Chip Shop in Fleetwood

Eric was delighted to be invited to present a 5 Star Fish Friers Quality Award to Charlie Cummins and Pisces Fish & Chip Restaurant on Poulton Road, Fleetwood.

The award is only given to shops that have extremely high standards. Shops holding the Seafish Friers Quality Award are nationally recognised for producing first class fish and chips in a first class environment.

An approved inspector checks the shop’s image, design and condition, selection of raw materials (fish, potatoes, oils, etc.), storage, hygiene and cleaning, product care, handling and temperature control, packaging, quality of the final product, management systems, training and skills.

Eric commented “Pisces has a really good reputation, Charlie has obviously worked very hard to build up his business, and the restaurant was full of satisfied customers, I wish him and his staff all the best for the future.”

Eric Ollerenshaw

Eric Ollerenshaw, the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Lancaster and Fleetwood, has welcomed a report released today on new railways.

The report from the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) has called for an expansion of the existing rail network, with a proposal for over 40 new stations and 14 extra lines.  This includes a new station at Fleetwood along with one at Cleveleys.

Eric said: “This provides much needed backing for re-opening the railway line from Fleetwood to Poulton.  Out of the 20 national schemes recommended, the Fleetwood proposal was the 4th cheapest while also being the 4th highest in terms of cost benefit.

“I just hope the Government will listen to this strong evidence in support of what everybody in Fleetwood already knows: the loss of the railway led to the decline of the town and a restored railway is vital to its regeneration”.

The report is available from the ATOC website.

Stan Leadbetter with David Cameron

David Cameron MP, the Leader of the Opposition, paid a recent visit to Fleetwood and took questions from local residents in a ‘town hall’ style meeting.

David came to Fleetwood at the invitation of the Conservatives’ Prospective Parliamentary Candidate, Eric Ollerenshaw.

In a packed Marine Hall, he was questioned on the possibility of a return of the rail link to Fleetwood, and the Wyre tidal barrage scheme. He said he was supportive of tidal energy in general and couldn’t understand why the scheme had been on the back burner for so long.

On the rail link, he said the Beeching cuts had been a big mistake and he understood how Fleetwood felt cut off with no rail link.

People who couldn’t get their questions in during the evening were asked to fill in cards at the end so they could be given answers by post.

Stan Leadbetter, the Prospective Conservative Candidate in the forthcoming County Council elections, said: “This was a real first for Fleetwood and shows that even though the Labour Government and Labour County seem to have forgotten us, David Cameron has not.”

Dock Street Rubbish: Rosemary Timmerman and Eric Ollerenshaw

Fleetwood residents have been voicing their concerns over the parked lorries and the amount of litter on Dock Street.

The state of the road is a disgrace with queues of parked-up lorries and rubbish strewn all over the grassed areas.

Time and time again, residents have been quite rightly complaining about the area, and yet nothing seems to get done.

Rosemary Timmerman, who was last year selected as the prospective Conservative Candidate for the County Council elections, said:

“Residents should not have to put up with this on their doorsteps. We need some pressure on Labour’s controlling group at County Hall to start on the parking problems now.

“And what an impression the rubbish must give visitors to Fleetwood – it makes you wonder what your local councillors have been doing all this time!”

David Cameron and Eric Ollerenshaw

At the invitation of Eric Ollerenshaw, the Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Lancaster and Fleetwood, the Rt Hon David Cameron MP, Leader of the Opposition, will be taking questions in Fleetwood’s Marine Hall, between 6 and 7pm on the 26th March.

This is part of a programme of visits to towns and cities across the country, at which David is prepared to take unscripted questions from members of the public.

Politicians can too easily become cut off from the public and their everyday concerns. And they can too easily revert to sound-bite politics, offering short, snappy quotes on the issues of the day without ever taking the time to dig deeper.

Cameron Direct is the antidote to all of this.

It’s a return to the old-style town hall meetings, where politicians stand up in front of a crowd and answer questions from local residents rather than national journalists.

There are no scripts or planted questions, and the events, which are taking place throughout Britain, are open to everyone who lives in the local area, no matter what their political persuasion.

If you would like to attend, please ring 01995 672977 or use our application form.

Cameron Direct gives David the chance to discover the local and national issues that people are concerned about. And it gives the people of Britain the chance to meet David and ask him about the issues that matter most to them.

Entrance to the event is free and open to all local residents, but tickets must be obtained in advance. If you would like to attend, please ring 01995 672977 or use our application form.

Attending members of the public are asked arrive at the Marine Hall at 5.40pm for a prompt start. Spaces are limited, so please book as early as possible.

Eric Ollerenshaw said, “Many people on the doorstep have told me they feel Fleetwood has been forgotten by the Government and by County Hall.  This event proves that it has not been forgotten by the Conservative Party.”

George Osborne at the Fleetwood Fish Processors

The Shadow Chancellor, George Osborne M.P., visited Fleetwood recently and stopped off at the fish processors.

Mr Osborne, who was in Fleetwood with Eric Ollerenshaw, saw the plans for a new fish park and heard first hand the problems of this vital industry and the potential for expansion.  

Even in the recession an expansion could take place provided more modern facilities can be made available.  

The Leader of Wyre Council, Russ Forsythe, explained the hopes the Council has for new investment, but also frustration at the lack of a joined up Government approach, especially when it comes to the transport needs of Fleetwood.

Figures obtained by the Conservatives reveal fishermen are forced to throw away millions of tonnes of dead fish back in the sea every year.

Eric Ollerenshaw, prospective Conservative MP for Lancaster & Fleetwood, said: “It is staggering that Labour have failed to deal with this total scandal of fishermen forced to throw back parts of their catch.  You would have thought they could at least pull this one nail out of the coffin they have created for what is left of Fleetwood’s fishing industry.”

Between 2001 and 2006, the number of fishermen at Fleetwood fell from 206 to 127.

End Fish Discards

Shadow Fisheries Minister Bill Wiggin has met with EU Fishing Commissioner Joe Borg this week to discuss Conservatives proposals to end fish discards.  In the North Sea, English and Welsh fishing vessels have thrown back five million cod in the last three years.   In 2007, they were forced to throw back three out of every four plaice caught.

For every cod we buy in our local fish and chip shop another fish is being chucked back into the sea dead.

Bill Wiggin, Shadow Fisheries

Commenting, Shadow Fisheries Minister, Bill Wiggin said: “For every cod we buy in our local fish and chip shop another fish is being chucked back into the sea dead.  Our fish stocks are in a perilous state and most people will be shocked at the amount of fish wasted each year due to a system that is immoral and environmentally wrong.

“We want fishermen to land all their catch so that we can build a true picture of our fish stocks and make informed decisions based on scientific evidence.

“This will means better quota allocations and marine conservation measures.   Funds raised from over-quota fish will be used to help the fishing industry invest in targeted and sustainable gear.  Unless we urgently change our fishing practices our marine biodiversity faces further serious decline along with our fishing communities.”

Eric Ollerenshaw, the Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Lancaster and Fleetwood, has questioned Labour’s links to Canatxx.

While campaigning to Stop Canatxx Again, Eric commented: “First we had a Labour Peer, Lord Taylor, speaking on the issue in the House of Lords, but not declaring his links as an advisor to Canatxx until forced to apologise.

“Now, thanks to Ben Wallace MP, we find that Jack Straw took a donation from Canatxx to fund a party!  This is now to be investigated by the Standards Watchdog.

It is now time for the local Labour Party to come clean and explain to local residents Labour’s links to Canatxx

Eric Ollerenshaw

“Given the speed with which Canatxx are putting in their second application to store gas under the Wyre coast, it is beginning to look like another stitch up regardless of the views of residents of Fleetwood, Preesall and Knott End.”

Help us to Stop Canatxx Again and sign our petition online now.

The once proud Fleetwood Pier, built in the golden age of pier construction, fell earlier this week in a torrent of flames.

The fire began in the early hours of Tuesday and took 10 fire crews to dampen down.  The blaze reduced the pier and its associated buildings to their steel girders.

Huge flames could be seen rising into the sky as a large cloud of smoke billowed across the sea.  By 9am, much of the pier had been severely damaged.

Local Conservative Councillor, Mike Sanderson, said:

Local residents have been saying for some time that it will go up in smoke because it’s been empty and in disrepair for years.

Cllr Mike Sanderson

“In my view the inevitable has happened to Fleetwood Pier.  Local residents have been saying for some time that it will go up in smoke because it’s been empty and in disrepair for years.

“It’s too early to say how the blaze started but I am sure that speculation will be rife.”

The fire is thought to have started near the front of the pier and an investigation is now under way to try and determine the cause of the blaze.

ITN Report

Photographs of the Aftermath

For photographs of the aftermath from the Fleetwood pier fire, there are a selection on flickr, and on BBC News.

Further Links

For further information about the fire and the history of the pier, please see these following links:

• The Blackpool Gazette
• The Heritage Trail
• Wikipedia
• BBC News (video report)
• Councillor Mike Sanderson’s report (Wyre Council)