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More details about Eden Project Morecambe could be known soon after the leader of Lancaster City Council visited the original Eden site in Cornwall and held conversations with a leading director.

Green Coun Caroline Jackson spoke about Eden at the latest full city council meeting, where she also highlighted Morecambe Football Club's importance to the region, following a summer of uncertainty and changing ownership.

Coun Jackson also provided updates about recent developments with Lancaster's historic Ryelands House and Williamson Park.

Regarding Eden Project Morecambe, Coun Jackson said: "There has been some significant progress recently. Recruitment has commenced for five posts to work with Eden's project director, John Pye, out of Morecambe Town Hall.

"There were diggers on the Morecambe site drilling exploratory holes to ascertain the circumstances for the foundations. And the latest Eden Project community conversation at Lancaster and Morecambe College attracted a good audience with plenty of searching questions."

She added: "I had the opportunity to visit Eden in Cornwall and meet some of those who work there. After Cornwall, I came back with lots of questions about what it will be like here. I met John Pye and he answered a lot of questions and will prepare a briefing. Hopefully, we're going to get a better sense of the project with slides and a briefing."

Mr Pye is project director for Eden in Morecambe. In June, he and others, including Coun Jackson were among speakers at a community conversation event held at Morecambe Football Club. That was before the summer's uncertainty about the club's future, which resulted in the Shrimps being bought by the Panjab Warriors in August.

Coun Jackson said: "Anxiety over the future of Morecambe Football Club was palpable over the summer across the district. It was with huge relief, and hope, that we heard the news that the takeover by Panjab Warriors had been approved in mid-August."

In questions, Labour Coun David Whitaker asked: "Regarding Morecambe Football Club, would you join me in congratulating Lizzi Collinge, the MP for Morecambe, and Lisa Nandy MP, the government's sport and culture secretary, for their interventions?"

Coun Jackson replied: "I met various people during the Eden event at Morecambe FC's stadium just before it all went wrong. I'm glad things have gone well and I thank all the people involved."

Another part of Coun Jackson's update was about the city council-owned Ryelands House in Lancaster. The historic building was used by a local NHS trust for years until last year, when the trust said it no longer met health and safety standards.

Since then, Labour Coun Sandra Thornberry has raised concerns about damage to the building by vandals, while North Lancashire Community Land Trust had a vision to redevelop the house. The property was recently advertised for rent or sale by an estate agent. Coun Jackson apologised for a delay in the process but said various statutory organisations were involved and things were progressing,

Elsewhere, following the closure of the Williamson Park Cafe, the situation there had improved, she said, with the opening of cabins to serve drinks and a covered seating area. Planning permission to demolish the old cafe is in progress and a replacement building will be considered. Coun Jackson said she would try to get some cafe images for councillors.

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