Recent media comment regarding the Crinkley Bottom fiasco is something which the ratepayers of the district will do well to heed and act upon. Of course Cllr Henig simply wants another scenario in which he apologises, the ratepayers forgive, and we all forget, and indeed the dearth of true information which has been made available makes that an easy option. However, since the Labour Group took over the running of Lancaster in 1990 there has been an endless catalogue of financial disasters which has cost the ratepayers of the district millions and all of which have ended up with "sorry, we didn't mean to do it." These include Africar, the Leisure Park, Morecambe Centre (AMEC) Bubbles, the Winter Gardens, Chancery PLC, Mr Blobby, Salt Ayre Pool and market rent arrears, as well as the huge losses incurred supporting various arts events. All these are disasters incurring huge losses - all ending up "under the carpet." Enough is enough surely and has been said "it is high time for a full public inquiry into these public scandals." Those guilty of burdening the ratepayers with the costs, now becoming apparent, should be exposed for their actions and that those councillors who took part in the sorry episode - most of them in ignorance - will learn from it. Equally, as information becomes available I only hope that the Press has the courage to research and present it so that the public are never again duped.

"Nemesis"

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