Archive for the ‘Morecambe’ Category

Morecambe is set to host its first ever sandcastle festival next month. The Morecambe Bay Sandcastle Festival will take place on Sunday 19 August on the beach just south of the Midland Hotel.

Lancaster City Council has recently imported thousands of tons of sand onto Morecambe’s beaches as part of a sea defence project.

There will be separate competitions for teams of adults and children, with a maximum of 4 members in each team. The winning adult team will win a cash prize of £100, while the victorious children’s team will receive gift vouchers.

For further details, an entry form and competition rules, contact Lancaster City Council on 01524 582872 or 582810.

Morecambe Football Club has unveiled plans for a new multi-million pound football stadium. Chairman Peter McGuigan announced that the club will submit a planning application to Lancaster City council in the next few months for a 6,000-seat stadium in the Westgate area of town. If successful, the club could move into its new home by the start of the 2009/10 season.

The scheme will also include a community area, hotel, and fast food franchises.

Mr McGuigan said, ‘The proposal will deliver a stadium worthy of a Football League side and will give an enormous boost to the club and people of Morecambe alike. The stadium will provide top class facilities for players, fans and sponsors and will be a historic development in the life of Morecambe Football Club.’

The club’s existing ground, Christie Park, will be sold to help fund the move.

Morecambe’s Happy Mount Park will celebrate its 80th birthday with a party on Sunday June 17. Coinciding with the national ‘Love Parks Week’ the event will feature a brass band, DJ’s, face painting and other activities for children.

Dogs will be banned from Morecambe’s North Beach from May to September in a bid to make the beaches cleaner and safer for visitors. A similar ban was imposed in April 2004 on the town’s South Beach.

Ancient byelaws banning cycling on Morecambe’s Promenade will be lifted on April 8. In 2005 Morecambe was designated a Cycling Demonstration town by the Department of Transport and received £1.5m of funding to encourage people to cycle.

The public inquiry into the Heysham M6 road link announced in February will begin on July 3 and will last approximately 24 days. The exact venue has yet to be announced but will be in Morecambe or Lancaster.

For more than thirty years, the Cumbria Steam & Vintage Vehicle Society has been bringing together vintage and steam vehicles from across the world for one massive summer event, just outside Grange over Sands. This year the 2007 Cumbria Steam Gathering is as huge as ever with more than 1,200 classic exhibits, a traditional fair, displays, specialist caterers and crafts.

Held on 28th and 29th July 2007 on Cark Airfield, Flookburgh, the Cumbria Steam Gathering is a colourful and noisy weekend summer event that has a whole host of entertainment, with majestic steam ploughing engines and commercial vehicles of yesterday, as well as hundreds of classic transport favourites like motorcycles, bicycles and stationary engines. This family day out also has plenty to keep the children entertained with a Punch and Judy show, magic shows and the traditional fairground (which boasts a huge 60 year old wooden helter skelter).

A popular highlight are the arena displays. Two arena areas bring a constant parade of vintage treasures and brilliant shows along with fantastic commentary. Witness wrestling from the Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling team, ploughing demonstrations and amazing kite flying displays. For the more adventurous, there’s the opportunity to drive a traction engine and even have a ride in a helicopter!

This year’s headlining entertainment is the Kangaroos Gymnastic Display Team. These gymnasts are recognised as one of the leading gymnastic teams in Europe and hold many world records. Elsewhere, crowds of families will be enjoying the wonderful sheep display from charismatic New Zealander, Richard Savory, exciting chain saw carving displays and this year sees the return of the only travelling Wall of Death.

Tim Holt from Hutton Roof near Carnforth was one of the club’s founding members. He was chief steward at the very first Cumbria Steam Gathering and is now the event’s main organiser heading a team of 10 which themselves lead almost 500 volunteers.

Tim said “My enthusiasm for this wonderful event has never waned, even after all these years. I am very excited to welcome the French Market, which will be here for the first time this year. It promises to be a fantastic weekend with marquees full of working models, fascinating automobilia enthusiasts who are happy to be sharing their collections with other enthusiasts, and regular favourites like the huge craft tent with demonstrations throughout the weekend.”

With full facilities for the disabled and many different catering outlets, including cuisines from around the world, healthy offers, Made in Cumbria food stands and fully licensed bar areas, the Cumbria Steam Gathering is the perfect way to taste the sights, sounds and smells of a nostalgic family day in Cumbria.

Cumbria Steam Gathering takes place from 9.30am – 6pm on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th July 2006, at Cark Airfield, Flookburgh. Car parking is free.

Admission prices are: Adults £10, Senior Citizens £7 and accompanied children under 16 are free. For further information call 015242 71584.

Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, has announced that a public inquiry will be held to examine the proposed Heysham M6 link road. Lancaster County Council granted planning permission for the controversial scheme last year. The inquiry is expected to be held in late 2007. All parties involved will be able to put their arguments to an inspector, who will then advise the Secretary of State on the recommended course of action.

Councillor Ian Barker, Leader of Lancaster City Council said, ‘I welcome the news that there is to be a public inquiry. While I support, with some reservations, the County Council’s Plans for a Northern Link, I recognise that there important issues that need to be tested in public and an Inquiry is the best way to do this. It is my view that the district needs a Heysham M6 Link and that the Western Route is ruled out on environmental grounds. The Northern Link needs to be accompanied by sustainable transport measures such as improved public transport and park and ride measures. The County has made a start with the announcement of park and ride at Junction 34 but I would like to see more.’

Morecambe’s Hart’s Restaurant has closed after more than 100 years of trading. The popular seafront eatery had an illustrious history and was even featured in the 1960 film The Entertainer, starring Laurence Olivier.

Morecambe’s Tourist Information Centre reopens today after a £48,000 refurbishment. It’s situated in the Old Station Buildings, next to The Platform centre. Throughout the 2 month closure, its services were handled by the Lancaster Tourist Information Centre.