Where is Hyndburn going?

[Eric]

Originally Posted by hyndburner

the name of a stream nobody has ever heard of or used.

Could have been worse ... could have been "Stinkburn."

[Neil]

Originally Posted by bogtrotter

We have recently had the sad news that several major retailers are moving out of town.....

I'm glad you have popped up on here because it just reminded me I need to email you about something

[Eric]

Originally Posted by bogtrotter

We have recently had the sad news that several major retailers are moving out of town - including Marks and Spencers, Homebase and Morrisons. I constantly here people saying that the town centre is run down and in decline. True - maybe it has seen better times but one thing the area has goy is a proud heritage and great people. I sometimes think we are too quick to put our town down. We have some great buildings and great country side and many green spaces are being made more accessible to the general public. We are also a multiracial community which, on the whole gets on well and shows a lot of mutual respect.

So lets try and look at some of the positives and try and reduce some of the negatives and maybe we can help take out great town forward.

I think, in general, you are right. I can't speak to Hyndburn's situation in particular as I don't live there. Never did. I'm from Clayton, bottom end. There are positives in every community ... ok, most communities ... Damascus isn't doing all that well. And it is a good strategy to work to accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative ... wait! I feel a song coming on.

I also like to believe that most municipal politicians do attempt to do the best for their communities. One might not agree with them, but I don't see them as folks who work long, hard hours merely to screw things up.

I don't subscribe to the "Field of Dreams" strategy ... build it; and they will come. One has to work first with the folks who are already there. And if the inhabitants of Hyndburn don't actively support and participate in their own community, nothing ... or "nowt" ... will improve.

In Kingston, we have idiots who complain about the slow pace of snow removal (it's actually pretty damn good; throughout the worst February in recorded history, things slowed from time to time, but never shut down). These same clowns are the ones who complain about tax increases so that Public Works can invest in snow plows.

As Pogo said: "We have met the enemy, and he is us."

[Margaret Pilkington]

Eric, things were screwed up by some municipal politicians a long time ago.....that might not have been their aim, but it is what happened.
Talking up a town which is dying on its legs does nothing constructive.
Going out to towns that are succeeding in difficult economic times might be a start.....asking them what the secret is to their business model......and yes you are right about accentuating the positives.....eliminating the negatives. Those things that make the town a poor shopping experience.
But firstly and most importantly you have to accept that there is a problem....not talk about the town as if it is well on the road to Utopia.......and certainly you need to listen to those who live, work,and shop(by necessity) in this town.
There are some municipal politicians that do not want to hear our views because they are perceived as negative....perceived as talking the town down.
This is unhelpful because it means that there cannot be a meaningful dialogue about what is wrong, and no opportunities for sharing ideas as to how to make it better.

[Eric]

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

shopping experience.

Help me out on this one, hon. What exactly is a "shopping experience" Is it something like what Walmart promises: And the underpaid greeter says, "Welcome to Walmart. We hope you enjoy your shopping experience. And we also have a McDonalds restaurant on site." ("McDonalds" and "restaurant" in the same sentence Trust me guys, if you take your date to a "restaurant" where the Maitre D' is wearing a clown suit, you ain't gonna get lucky.)

And I don't think the politicians should get involved in developing a "business model." Leave that to the merchants who have more of a vested interest in it. As a socialist, I believe that governments should control things like railways, road construction and maintenance, snow removal (if you ever get any), policing, garbage pick up, power generation and distribution ... you know, the big things. The little stuff, like what kind of stores there should be downtown is best left to some body like a Chamber of Commerce, or a Downtown Business Improvement Association ... working, of course, with council. Bottom line is, a "business model" is common sense in fancy clothes.

Subtract the things Accy is never going to be. It won't ever be a major tourist destination. There is no lake front or sea front. The climate sucks. There are some nice buildings; but you ain't going to have a World Heritage Site ... well, not since the bog at the bus stop near the Forts has been demolished. Once you take away the stuff that you will never be, work with what's left. Think local. One doesn't need a degree in Urban Planning to see the obvious.

The municipal politicians should provide clean, well-maintained streets, adequate and convenient parking, a safe, well-policed environment, and tax breaks and other incentives for business ... you can't force stores to open or to stay open; but you can make the town "business friendly." And try to encourage folks to shop at home, and buy local products.

[Margaret Pilkington]

Originally Posted by Eric

Help me out on this one, hon. What exactly is a "shopping experience" Is it something like what Walmart promises: And the underpaid greeter says, "Welcome to Walmart. We hope you enjoy your shopping experience. And we also have a McDonalds restaurant on site." ("McDonalds" and "restaurant" in the same sentence Trust me guys, if you take your date to a "restaurant" where the Maitre D' is wearing a clown suit, you ain't gonna get lucky.)

And I don't think the politicians should get involved in developing a "business model." Leave that to the merchants who have more of a vested interest in it. As a socialist, I believe that governments should control things like railways, road construction and maintenance, snow removal (if you ever get any), policing, garbage pick up, power generation and distribution ... you know, the big things. The little stuff, like what kind of stores there should be downtown is best left to some body like a Chamber of Commerce, or a Downtown Business Improvement Association ... working, of course, with council. Bottom line is, a "business model" is common sense in fancy clothes.

Subtract the things Accy is never going to be. It won't ever be a major tourist destination. There is no lake front or sea front. The climate sucks. There are some nice buildings; but you ain't going to have a World Heritage Site ... well, not since the bog at the bus stop near the Forts has been demolished. Once you take away the stuff that you will never be, work with what's left. Think local. One doesn't need a degree in Urban Planning to see the obvious.

The municipal politicians should provide clean, well-maintained streets, adequate and convenient parking, a safe, well-policed environment, and tax breaks and other incentives for business ... you can't force stores to open or to stay open; but you can make the town "business friendly." And try to encourage folks to shop at home, and buy local products.

It is clear that you do not have a woman in your life Eric......or you would know what a shopping experience is. I think you do know what I mean really... But you want me to spell it out for you.

A shopping experience is a town where there is a wide variety of different (quality)shops( not just betting offices, pound shops and charity shops) there should also be somewhere to go for food, somewhere to sit and watch the world go by.....so no, not Walmart and definitely not Mac Donald's.

The council is trying to market the town. We are designated as a 'Floral Market Town'.That name implies that there will be flowers and a market.
Yes during the summer we have some floral displays, but the market is abysmal.

I am perfectly well aware that you cannot force businesses to stay open, but you can ensure that there is an environment of support...or as you put it, make it business friendly.

As for common sense....there isn't too much of that commodity about......and anyway I would call it application of knowledge.
During the past the local politicians have taken great pleasure in scoring points off one another. If one party said it was day the other would say it was night.....and this showed in the fractured way the interests of the town were looked after.
A vast amount of money was spent by our council on resurfacing Broadway....it wasn't that long ago, and already the surface is breaking up and is badly marked and looks scruffy.(I hasten to say that this was done under the previous administration).

I really do believe that local politics should not be yoked to political parties, but should reflect the needs of the community.....then these people who are on the council would work together in harmony....and we would then perhaps, see some progress.
But I cannot see anything much changing soon, especially as when problems or issues are pointed out it is seen as being negative.
When the negative aspect of an area outweigh the positives it is very difficult to,focus on positive aspects.
These are my opinions.

[Less]

Eric you are so right, merchants of all kinds should decide what they can sell without minor politicians sticking a bloody great oar in their business.
Even this site was threatened by one such numpty, he was offended, set the council's officials against the owner, they in turn dismissed the (minor) dogs of law to threaten.
When the Policeman turned up at his door and was told to behave himself and throw the doors of accy Web open for scrutiny. He replied, of course I will officer, just as soon as you produce the correct documentation as is necessary under the various acts guiding us towards forums and their activities. The officer looked confused and suddenly lacked the blustering confidence he showed on the doorstep, walked away obviously to consult his superiors never to be seen again. By the way, the original numpty has since proved to be better than the numpties that wear pinker tinted glasses, they go to court and admit it.😂

[Eric]

Originally Posted by Less

Eric you are so right, merchants of all kinds should decide what they can sell without minor politicians sticking a bloody great oar in their business.
Even this site was threatened by one such numpty, he was offended, set the council's officials against the owner, they in turn dismissed the (minor) dogs of law to threaten.
When the Policeman turned up at his door and was told to behave himself and throw the doors of accy Web open for scrutiny. He replied, of course I will officer, just as soon as you produce the correct documentation as is necessary under the various acts guiding us towards forums and their activities. The officer looked confused and suddenly lacked the blustering confidence he showed on the doorstep, walked away obviously to consult his superiors never to be seen again. By the way, the original numpty has since proved to be better than the numpties that wear pinker tinted glasses, they go to court and admit it.😂

By the way, I would appreciate your input into the meaning of "shopping experience," and what one has to do to have one of these. Margaret P seems to think that my lack of understanding is due to the lack of a woman in my life. Now I'm all for social experiments; but I'm not prepared to ruin my comfortable existence in the quest for knowledge.

[Margaret Pilkington]

Eric I am not suggesting that you look for a woman to share your space...it was just an observation that men who have no female influence(and the critters don't count on this one...lovely though they are) do not appreciate what a shopping experience is.

To them shopping is a bothersome chore.....one which means they have to go out and buy stuff to keep their back and their belly from flopping together...something that will make the microwave go 'ping' or something to stick in the fridge.....preferably with a crown top and brown glass.(or I guess a tinny would do...several would be better)

[Less]

Originally Posted by Eric

By the way, I would appreciate your input into the meaning of "shopping experience," and what one has to do to have one of these. Margaret P seems to think that my lack of understanding is due to the lack of a woman in my life. Now I'm all for social experiments; but I'm not prepared to ruin my comfortable existence in the quest for knowledge.

Ah, Shopping experience, allow me to roll the rare ingredient into my fag whilst I contemplate this by joining with my feminine side with the seat down.

My shopping experience is....

looking in the cupboard if it's empty I look in my pocket, if that's empty I put shopping off until it's full.

When it's full I go out spend as little time in the shops spending as little as I can on the most mundane, (no window shopping), then murmur about how I really need to do a good shop.

Just as I pluck up enough courage to do a good shop, I learn that M&S or some other pound shop has closed, so, no point shopping this week either.

Thank goodness there's a pub halfway between my ghost town and my home.

[MargaretR]

I wish to point out that enjoyment of a 'shopping experience' is not specific to gender, and is more dependent upon having a personality which relishes that type of social interaction.

I have never relished 'shopping' in the way that Margaret P does. Even before I became housebound with disabilities, I preferred to shop on line. The tedium of being in a crowd, queuing, and wasting my personal time traveling to get there became an unnecessary waste of time which could be better spent.

I enjoyed interacting socially when I was out seeking amusement - I just don't find shopping in a any way amusing.

[Less]

Originally Posted by MargaretR

I wish to point out that enjoyment of a 'shopping experience' is not specific to gender, and is more dependent upon having a personality which relishes that type of social interaction.

I have never relished 'shopping' in the way that Margaret P does. Even before I became housebound with disabilities, I preferred to shop on line. The tedium of being in a crowd, queuing, and wasting my personal time traveling to get there became an unnecessary waste of time which could be better spent.

I enjoyed interacting socially when I was out seeking amusement - I just don't find shopping in a any way amusing.

I would love to give you a likey for that, but the last time I did so many rumours and conspiracy theories about us flooded the net that I wouldn't want AccyWeb's server to be crashed yet again!

[Morecambe Ex Pat]

Most of the time I find shopping a bad experience and have made it my life's ambition never to visit the likes of the Trafford Centre. I must confess that I was once tricked into visiting the Lowry 'Expensive Tat' Outlet but that was on the pretence of pre theatre drinks rather than actual shopping.

I do not enjoy wandering around any places that are crowded the likes of supermarkets, full of old people on a Saturday morning for some reason, are places I avoid like the plague. If I have to visit the supermarket, I go at 8am when it is quiet.

[Margaret Pilkington]

Originally Posted by MargaretR

I have never relished 'shopping' in the way that Margaret P does. Even before I became housebound with disabilities, I preferred to shop on line.

I enjoyed interacting socially when I was out seeking amusement - I just don't find shopping in a any way amusing.

I do not get that much joy out of shopping....I do it because I don't like online shopping, and we shop for my mum and for another old lady who lives close by and does not get out much
I do like going out and about to areas where there are a good variety of shops to browse....Though I often buy nothing.(so is that shopping?)
I also like taking pictures of people going about their daily doings.
Grocery shopping is no pleasure at all....Too many obstacles to negotiate in the supermarkets(the assistants fulfilling the orders for those who shop online leave the blasted trucks right in the middle of the aisles).....self service check out are a nuisance.
So MargaretR you are quite right shopping is no fun at all....And I might just give it up!

[hyndburner]

Originally Posted by Gordon Booth

What puzzles me is that in 2010 The Times voted it 'the 10th best public sector to work in'!

Careful management of the flow of information given to them. Tell 'em everything that is good. Tell 'em nothing bad.

It's the strategy that achieved the absolutely hilarious 'Excellent' tag for the Council a few years ago. Soft soap the judges and stick 'em in the Dunkenhalgh for a couple of nights.

It works a treat. Does absolutely nothing for the citizens of the borough, but gives the officers a warm glow.