A LANCASTER man is considering visiting every home in the city with a petition to keep Lancaster's Town Hall.

Jim Capstick, a member of one of the area's oldest families, says the central administration building of the area must not be moved.

He is astounded at plans to take the city council's headquarters to a purpose built civic centre in Morecambe - a move which would see the Town hall become a museum.

And he says: "We now have a tail wagging the dog situation with council officers making grandiose plans for a super town hall in Morecambe, of all places.

"They quote a figure of £10 million but shy away from the fact it will be part of a private finance initiative which will probably end up between 60 to £70 million.

"All this when they freely admit three-quarters of the existing Town Hall is unused. What a scandal."

He goes on: "It's the 21st century with computers that can be located anywhere without the need for new buildings. We already have an excellent building which we the inhabitants of the city own and treasure.

"Lord Ashton gave us it as a wonderful gift and its far too fine a building to be used as a museum at this stage of its life. We must kill off this stupid idea before some deluded individual believes his own propaganda.

"No sane person would give away one building and sell another to throw cash at a project with a glorified money lender."

He says what is needed now is for the full council, not just the inner cabinet, to demand to look at the situation in detail and not be rushed into something the so-called experts' believe is best for us, however slickly it is packaged.

And Mr Capstick adds: "It may well be a good idea when cost cutting to consider closing the entire legal department and negotiating a retainer with the county council to handle our interests as and when we need advice or action.

"They appear to have a good track record and experienced legal officers. That would then give us even more room in the Town Hall."

Jim's uncle, the late Charles Capstick, was a long serving Lancaster councillor and former Mayor of Lancaster.

Jim has a long interest and concern in the city and its council. He is a well known amateur historian on the local area who lives in Skerton.