Candle lit vigil to save the respite care centres.

Tuesday 1st March,
6pm - 7.30pm.
Dalton Square,
Lancaster.

Called by LMATC, faith groups, local charities and SORE (Save our respite establishments).


From The Lancaster Guardian:

PARENTS fighting to save a respite centre for disabled children are warning its closure would be “devastating” for families.

Alexandra House is one of eight centres across the county under threat of closure as Lancashire County Council seeks savings of £179m over the next three years.

The centre in Westbourne Drive, which opened 25 years ago, provides short breaks for young people with severe learning and physical disabilities and can accommodate up to five children overnight, giving parents much-needed respite.

Lancaster people occupy bailed out bank (RBS) and turn it into a public library!

Reposted report from 'Indymedia' of local action in Lancaster on Sat 26th Feb, 2011. This was part of a nationwide 'UKuncut'day of occupations. 

"A group of 20 - 30 activists and kids bailed in to the Lancaster branch of the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and turned the bank into a libray for the morning. Entering the bank mid morning the space was quickly given a make over with books to browse, anti cuts leaflets to read, and a couple of large placards drawing attention to the fact that banking bosses at RBS got £950 million in bonuses despite the business operating at a loss of £1.1 billion in 2010. If the banking bail out means our libraries and services are to close, then the banks will be used to facilitate such services! The local Cops were caught completely off guard. They took almost an hour to respond to events. Then when they demanded to speak to whoever was in charge they were met with shrugs, blank looks, and "we're not protesting this is the library". With kids making good use of the available books and games, an adult reading revolutionary poetry, and a group of quiet readers the Cops seemed too embarrassed to attempt a forced eviction! They claimed taking pictures in the building was illegal but were then pointed towards the CCTV cameras on the walls! Eventually they just stood there helpless and the bank (or rather library) was put to good use until closing time".

Inspiring LMATC public meeting at Town Hall.

Bob Crow, General Secretary of the RMT (Rail, Maritime and Transport workers union) addresses the meeting at Lancaster Town Hall.

Around 150 people filled Lancaster Town Hall on the Evening of Thursday 23rd Feb 2011, to hear a series of inspiring speakers and discuss the way forward and future actions for the campaign. First to speak was Trade Union leader Bob Crow, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport workers union. Crow castigated the governments cuts, arguing the Con-Dem coalition was being soft on the billionaire elites and tax-dodgers, who owe the country hundreds of billions in tax cheats. These rich elites should be made to pay for the crisis - rather than hurting the poor and vulnerable. Gina Dowding spoke for the Green Party outlining her vision of an alternative to cuts. Chris Bambery, national secretary of the Right To Work Campaign gave a rousing speech, which drew rounds of applause in its call for determined resistance to defend the welfare state. He also agreed with the other speakers that society should make the rich pay for the crisis that was after all caused by their crazy financial system. 
Next came speakers from the audience. These included an activist from the campaign to defend local respite care centres from the cuts, who spoke movingly of the need for respite centres to ease the lives of those caring for family members with a severe disability. Another campaign group speaking from the floor was the new 'keep the NHS public' group, who are resisting the Con-Dem plans which threaten to privatise and destroy the NHS. Other campaigners from 'women against the cuts' spoke out against how the cuts will affect working class women, who make up the majority of public service workers - and users - and who also shoulder the burden of care work domestically when services are cut. Students and local workers also spoke about their campaigns. 
The meeting agreed on several future actions, including next weeks candle lit vigil to save the respite centres and transport to this months major Trade Union led demo in London on March 26th.

Public Meeting, 23rd Feb, Lancaster Town Hall

Lancaster and Morecambe 
Against the Cuts

Public Meeting:

Cuts are wrecking our society …

…while the billionaires and bankers get richer.

Build the Alternative!

Wed 23^rd Feb

 7:30pm

Lancaster Town Hall.

Speakers include:

Bob Crow, RMT

General Secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers.

Chris Bambery, RTW

National Secretary of the Right to Work Campaign.

Gina Dowding

Lancaster Green Party

Not to be Flyposted.

www.LMATC.org.uk