HOW to create a continuous series of speculative failures (Africar, Crinkley Bottom, Lancaster Market etc.) resulting in a dying local economy lacking in quality economic opportunities for present and future generations:

First obtain a majority of irresponsible and unsuitably qualified, experienced councillors and pour them into a non-transparent bowl. Add to this a lack of quality investigative and factual local journalism, uncommitted in seeking out the truth (resulting in a badly informed local public). Enhance the flavour with a majority of apathetic local council tax payers.

Finally add the catalytic and most important ingredient which comprises of arrogant, high ranking council officers who do not seem to recognise what is good professional business practice.

Does anyone know of similar cocktails or is this Unique? Now the most important question... how can this deadly local economic cocktail be assigned to an unpleasant part of our history?

Quality and up front factual local journalism would certainly be a major contributor. As would a majority of accountable councillors who are prepared to:

act in a governing, rather than rubber stamping role, with managing officers of the council

be up front, open and honest with the local public rather than economical with the truth

Mr O Hardy

Palatine Avenue

Lancaster

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.