Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

A conversation between Gaskell Motor Bodies, Graham Jones MP and Miles Parkinson, leader of Hyndburn Council a year ago suggesting that a farmers market be be started on Towngate in the centre of Great Harwood, has led to a Sunday market which has gone from strength to strength and is now firmly established in the calendar.

The first market took place in March and with the help and support of the local community it has grown in popularity from a few stalls to now around 30 local traders attending each market on the first Sunday of each month.

Success can be measured in many ways, for example there is the massive amount raised for local charities, it has helped to bring life back into the local economy, it is attracting visitors from outside the Borough the market was shortlisted for the Association of Town and City Management awards in the category ‘Improving the Business Mix’, new businesses have been established and existing traders have taken on new employees.

Feedback from all involved has been very positive. The charities involved have welcomed the support and opportunity to be involved, traders have commented it has made a significant difference to their business by increasing their income and establishing useful business opportunities elsewhere.

Councillor Clare Pritchard says “It’s been a real pleasure to support the development of the farmers market. The wooden chalets we have provided have enhanced the look and feel of the market and have been very popular. The market has galvanised the whole community and helped to regenerate the local economy, provided much needed support for local good causes and reinforced the sense of pride local people have.”

Louise Gaskell said; “We’re really pleased to see the how the Farmers Market has developed and grown in popularity. It’s not only a great day out but raises money for local good causes, so if you haven’t been yet, please come along on Sun 2nd March to see for yourself.”

Everyone is looking forward to an even better 2014 with the first market due on Sunday 2nd March 2014 (the application form will be live on the Hyndburn BC website from the start of February).

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

Yes, the monthly market is popular. It's a pity the weekly Friday market isn't doing as well. The last time I looked there was just one stall, which was selling pet food.

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

Can someone confirm;
its the 1st Sunday of each month?
What is the address/post code for towngate where the market is located?

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

First and foremost the Gaskells farmers market is really well worth a visit....

but...

That is one heck of a sneaky post...

A conversation...would that be where Gaskells asked the council for permission to transfer their already fairly successful farmers market from their bodyshop to a more high profile Towngate?

Gaskell?s farmers? market supports local charity

Supporting development...Would that be where the council said 'ok' and chucked in a couple of chalets that they had previously failed to use successfully and would otherwise have ended up on the next bonfire or left to rot next to the infamous benches?

Soundbites like 'galvanising communities', 'regenerating economies', and 'reinforced pride' are just that..politspeak..this is acumen by a local businessman getting some advertising, helping his community and local charity.

Its successful because of the work and effort of Gaskells pulling it all together with minimal input from politicians/councillors.

It speaks volumes that you and Councillor Pritchard waffle on about how much HBC, and in particular the labour party has contributed, yet the spokeswoman of the true main contributor, Louise Gaskell, just says 'come along and enjoy'.

Why couldn't you just afford the credit where it's due instead of claiming this as a labour victory?

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

The Duke Of Wellington pub faces the Town Gate and its postcode is BB6 7DE. Yes, it's the first Sunday of every month. Have a look on Google, searching Great Harwood Farmers Market for further information and photos.

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

Back in the 70s, when I was buying cattle for Canada Packers, I used to walk through acres of this every day.;)

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

Maybe the answer to regenerating the dismal market in Accrington is to put it into the hands of someone with commercial expertise.
A market like this in Gt Harwood that draws people is to be applauded, encouraged and the strategies used to foster this success should be used where there has been such failure in the past.
This is a bit like the 'flea market' that is on in Accrington on a Thursday.
This is busier than the main market because on the whole the stalls are full(some would say full of tat - but everyone knows that one mans tat is another mans treasure).

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

No that's not right at all. I'll tell you exactly what happened.

I spoke several times about GH Friday market with Miles P and what we could do to revive a GH market long before any Sunday market.

We met on Towngate with the clear plan for a Sunday market. We had no chalets at that stage. That was part of the early vision. Sundays, Towngate, chalets.

Miles and I stood on the Towngate and agreed we would set up a farmers market and agreed the chalets would help. Rob Gregorovic (council officer) turned up as he had been asked. He blurted out to our surprise that he thought Gaskells had either had just set up a Sunday market at their place as there was a road sign advertising it.

Miles and I discussed the possibility of Gaskells moving to Towngate (rather thwn the council doing it) in partnership. We wanted to engage with Gaskells and any other community group.

Miles P set the wheels in motion. Sorted the chalets purposefully built for GH. 1 at first. Then 2 more. Then 2 more. He asked Gaskells (maybe thru RG) if they would do a Sunday market on Towngate. They agreed. It has been a great partnership. The council promote the market with Gaskells and provide help. Gaskells also play a full part making it work. Especially Louise. It's been very productive.

In the beginning there were a few stalls. Within a few months there were plenty.

I am delighted Gaskells are involved. They have been a huge part of the success. However the initial plans of Miles and I were totally separate to Gaskells. Both came together.

Gaskells have been fantastic partners but a Sunday market on Towngate with chalets was initially 100% Labour - and we should take 100% credit for that - and Louise is fully aware it's important people know what their representatives are doing for them. Im proud of that fact and don't mind telling people how hard Labour is working for Hyndburn.

The first Sunday market at Gaskells was 100% Gaskells.

Clare Pritchard did a lot of the organising from the Council perspective to make it happen. The pricing was agreed.

Then we had a little dirty politics. 'Political rivals' telling stall holders the £30'rent for the chalets wasnt going to charity. It never was as it was the fake up and down and storage costs. Gaskells weren't happy and neither were we.

That was ironed out.

Miles ordered 5 more chalets. I have not spoken to him about their use. They did appear in Accrington but that didnt work out as well as Harwood has.

They are there for all community groups to hire across the Borough for the many events that ocurr if requested.

As I said they were bought one at a time as a trial in GH. Common sense!

I hope this puts you fully in the picture and you can rest easy in the safe knowledge that your In The Know hasn't told you quite the truth.

I was at the heart of it so I am familiar with what did and didn't happen. Shame I had to come in correct you. Would have been better if your have been right first time of alternatively said nothing you could t back up.

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

Sorry for one or two typos. Typed on my iphone with 3pt type and all thumbs!

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

I'm not 'in the know'...I read stuff, like my original link, and this..

Farmers' market boost for Great Harwood (From Lancashire Telegraph)

First two paragraphs puts an alternative slant.

I don't doubt that you and Miles had a chat, whilst looking at two stalls and a meat van. Strange that you'd look at Harwood and imagine a Sunday market yet not think of doing the same whilst buying a pasty in Greggs on Broadway considering that you are selling Accrington as a market town.

It's your round mate ;)

Don't think anyone doubts the work you guys are putting in, just dispute the direction you take

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

I do smile at those who post prolifically online and purport to know far more about things than your average man on the street because they have read a few lines of newspaper article and can therefore see what is really going on.

Graham gives a clear cut answer in writing in public and it is still disputed.

Not forgetting those 'infamous' benches that 'outraged' close to three people.

God bless keyboard warriors everywhere.

Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

Especially those that get one rung up on the political ladder then come back to tell everyone how little they all know.
:)

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

Well fer the first time Ken, i am saying loud n clear yer telling lies, I know far more than 3 people very annoyed about those benches,n as fer keyboard warriors,funny how yeh seem to only come on these days when it suits yer purpose. :mad: yeh just gone down in my estimation.:rolleyes:

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

Hahah I think it was 4 people :D

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

That's a bit like saying 'reported' crime figures are down. The real figures are probably up but everybody knows there is no point reporting it ;)

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

It wasn't 100% Labour it was 100% Hyndburn Borough Council. Unless the Labour Party purchased the chalets with their own money and built and removed them.

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

I do smile at how readily some people make an ass of themselves.

Would that be someone who posts prolifically like me with less than 800 in 10 years or someone like you that posts over 2000 in 4 years.

I don't purport to know anything more than anyone else and have never claimed otherwise (unlike you have), I read bona fide stuff, I present evidence and draw conclusions. You on the other hand apparently listen to the fairies at the bottom of your 'Rishton Towers' garden, which is obvious from your stance that only 3 people are annoyed about the benches and that you can buy anything in Accrington.

The only keyboard warrior on this forum that I'm aware of is the one that pretty much waged war on the then council leader, with thread after thread after thread on how bad he was, then promptly went to ground himself the day after he was elected.

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

Your contemptuous attitude does you no credit, Ken. The removal of those benches was more unpopular than you think and was just one of a whole host of moves by HBC which has reduced Accrington's appeal as a shopping centre. You don't have to take my word for it, go and see its pitifully semi-deserted state on a Saturday afternoon, compared with other town centres.

But of course, to quote the latest cliché, that's "talking the town down", isn't it? Well, I suggest that you and your fellow councillors take your heads out of the sand and face up to reality!

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

Face up to reality, Mr Moss has just demonstrated to me, thats impossible.:rolleyes:

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

Nobody needs to talk the town down Wyn once people have been here they can see for their selves what a dump the town center is. Filled as it is with empty shops, drunks, bag heads and scum bags , that unfortunately IS the reality.

Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

Hey, leave us drunks alone, if we didn't bother to get up and call into the Centre of town not only would the paths be green with moss, but all the take aways would have to close down and the street cleaner would be out of a job!

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

And the pubs, Less. The pubs would all be shut without your contributions!

No benches- serious.

No pubs- disaster!

Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

Well, thank you, you have just pointed out to me that I actually have a purpose in life, I can from now on stagger proudly over our uneven pavements knowing that I and many, many, many, like me are actually keeping the pubs open for the once a year celebrating Christmas drinkers.

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

Don't underestimate yourself. We all have a purpose in life, even Graham Hartley.

Your purpose is an important one.
Graham Hartley's purpose- well, I haven't worked that one out yet.

Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

Don't worry, I can tell from his witterings neither has he.

Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

'This is no good, that's no good... everything is no good' is to often the lazy (don't care) answer which I am implicitly against.

Ken isn't one rung up the ladder. It's little reward financially for the effort made. He's making an effort. If as much time was transferred from typing absolute drivel into going to your nearest pensioners social (or engaging in some way with society), then society and those individuals would be a better off.

It's worrying behaviour because the latest prosecutions over the abuse to the lady over a female face on bank notes revealed the two perpetrators lived lonesome lives and had serious mental health problems. There appears to be a trend where keyboard warriors and trolls who sit alone behind their computer screen, particularly those who engage in personal abuse - who desperately need some form of help. From serious mental health problems to anger management.

The LT website is worrying.

Most councillors (a favourite villain of trolls) in my experience by contrast spend hours in the community giving something back and live a normal life amongst real people.

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

It is easy to make the comment that those who criticise are lazy and don't care.Just as easy as it is for the people who say things are no good...but it doesn't make it true.I accept that councillors work hard for their wards. Maybe they do not do it for the financial reward, but for the inner sense of making their surroundings(and those of their electorate) better.
Not everything can be reduced to pounds shillings and pence.

Much has been done at the town which has taken away from it rather than adding to it.
This has been done over many years...in fact over decades...and some of it I feel was done for political point scoring, by people who had their own agendas.

These changes are very difficult to undo and especially in the recent climate of austerity.

It is absolutely no good at all to market Accrington as something it isn't. It is dishonest and will lead to further problems long term.

Accrington has to have something that is marketable - to bring traders in......traders will bring with them their own clientele.

At the moment Accrington is just another impoverished once industrial town with not much to recommend it.
(I am NOT talking down the town - just being realistic about what accrington has to offer)I am neither a keyboard warrior or a troll and I find that using those terms is both offensive and counter productive and not something I expected from you Graham.

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

What would be of some good is for those with a little power to come onsite bragging about what the Council does as a team, not blowing your own political trumpet about a few things claimed to have been done by just one party.

You are absolutely correct Ken isn't one rung up the political ladder, he's supposed to be at the bottom of it making sure those above have a steady base.
You just assumed I meant him, perhaps you should look closer to home?
Sorry, I must have missed this piece of important news could you elaborate?
When did becoming an MP make you a Doctor able to diagnose what is or isn't wrong with other people?
That's a bit of isolated wandering would you like to expand on it or perhaps (using my vast medical experience) may I suggest you start taking your tablets again?
See, we can all make sweeping statements working on little or no information.

Some people do plenty within their community, they just don't display their self importance by announcing it as a little bit of political publicity.

Perhaps if you came onsite without talking down to everyone you would get a better response?
No doubt you will return with some glowing put down, that is not the way to make friends and influence people.
:bangh8:

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

It is really easy to see where we all went wrong.
We voted the wrong person into power.
Worst of all we did it over and over again...because we were duped by the lies.
Our other fault is that we do not publicise whatever deeds we do in our own communities.

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

Do I have to take my pills now Nurse?

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

Do you think if the market had been left where it was and the size it was that it would be as busy now as it was 40 years ago or do you think it would be full of empty stalls because of the amount of people who want to use supermarkets and the internet to shop?

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

I'm not sure it all hinges on the market Neil( except Accrington sells itself on being a floral Market Town), there have been vast changes in the shopping habits of many, but some markets continue to thrive...maybe it is because they have stuck to the old format of what a market is.
And if the Farmers market can make a go of it, then this is surely an indication that it IS possible to have viable market trading conditions.

I think you can use the supermarkets, but still buy some things from the market...and internet shopping is something that is alright for some things, but it isn't a very satisfying way to shop.
I prefer to be able to see and feel the product that I am buying......the internet might be fine if you want to buy a TV or a hair brush...but ornages and cabbage...give me the experience of being able to see them and decide if they are good value...and more to the point fresh!

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

The farmers market is once a month, maybe it's seen more as something to do than shopping.

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

Wow...keyboard warriors, trolls, lonely people with mental illness and in need of anger management....

Your dead right about me though..

I use my keyboard to bring the fight into open debate.
I troll newspapers, magazines, blogs, twitter and other media, all by my lonesome, for information to use in said debate.
I often feel like banging my head on a brick wall or pulling out my hair because of the ineptitude and inflexibility of politicians to admit when they get it wrong.
I'm angry that you feel you know better than me about Europe because of something that Sir Humphrey has told you.

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

Maybe it is Neil, but if it proves to be something that makes people turn up...look, then buy, it has done its job.
If it is a pleasant place to go people will tell others and this is how the popularity of a place grows...which is exactly what I am saying about portraying a place as something it isn't. Initially people will come and have a look, but when it doesn't meet expectations then the people who have visited will tell far more people of their dashed expectations than those people who have had their expectations met.
Good experience = 10 people told.
Bad experience/unsatisfactory experience = millions of people told.....the internet is a wonderful thing if you have an axe to grind...or feel you have been duped.

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

I think of today's keyboard warrior as the historical chest thumping militant. Different generations but same process of registering your dissaproval at the system ;)

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

I've long said that Accrington outside market is over-marketed. The requirement of the council to fill it with crap on traditional non-market days will never bring people in to make it a day out.

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

lancsdave, with great respect, these flea market days when all the stalls are full(even if they are full of tat - one man's tat is another man's treasure) are more patronised than the regular market days when there are empty stalls.
The flea markets must generate some revenue or they would stop....but you are right in the fact that people will not come to Accrington just for a flea market.

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

Your opinion is respected Margaret :)

Just a couple of points though;

Which is the most popular market in the North of England,and does it populate it's stalls on traditional non-market days with 'tat' ?

One stall is on there 7 days a week selling the same stuff, is that a 'market' stall or a flea market stall. ? The distinction has long gone because nobody has controlled it.

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

I would have to guess that the most popular market in the North of England has to be Bury...and no, it doesn't populate its stalls with tat....maybe that is because it doesn't have to do that to make it viable.
Accrington really doesn't have a viable market. The market hall is a joke - well, except it isn't funny.
Yes, you are right when you say no-one has taken control(or for that matter responsibility) to make the market not jsut viable, but a success.
A market is like a marriage - it doesn't just 'happen', it takes work, maintenance and love to keep it going.
Accrrington, sadly has none of those things. We should not proclaim ourselves a 'Market Town'.

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

Maybe that tells you a lot about the spending power of Accringtons shoppers and why the big shops stay away

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

There is a challenge which has not been fully addressed. The challenge is to make Accrington a town where there is something to bring people in.......selling it as a 'Market Town' hasn't done it.
There has to be something that will appeal to people. So far there isn't anything.
It is all very well for Clare Pritchard(I know she has worked hard) to expend time and energy to promote the businesses in Accrington, but if these do not provide something that isn't available/cheaper elsewhere then all that work is lost.

I went shopping in Blackburn yesterday(against my better judgement)...it was a thoroughly disappointing experience. I hate the market. It has no 'feel' to it.
The Shopping Mall gives me eyestrain(that floor is hideous...very glary).
I can tolerate Accrington.....but I hate Blackburn and will not be going back there for a very long time.

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

Don't blame you Margaret, I think they should let the IRA practice on it, they couldn't make it any worse, yet the clowns in charge want to call it a city, its short of an SH and another T.

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

yes, what I think of it rhymes with city, but I am far too polite to elaborate on what it is. I think you might be able to guess :)

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

Iprefer Blackburn than Accy for shopping but Blackburn Market isn't nice.

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

I haven't been to Blackburn for shopping since the new market opened. I disliked it then and it hasn't improved in any way.
The glaring floorcovering in the Mall gives me a headache...so I won't be visiting again any time soon.

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

Earlier today our Graham told people on twitter not to forget to go to the farmers market this sunday (tweet now deleted)...pity he got it wrong by a month despite the attached picture he published clearly showing 2nd March.....guess these labour politicians are right about not believing everything you read on social media.

Especially stuff published in the public domain by our MP

Maybe I should write a post starting 'I do smile at....' or 'clear cut writing in public and it is still disputed'

Then again I'm just an average man in the street who knew that the market was on 2nd March and not 2nd February because I read a flyer and could see what was really going on.

Keyboard warriors 1...Politicians 0...home win

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

How very condescending KM - and I DO wonder, smiling, of course: do you live up on some fluffy white cloud and sustain youself with delicate spoonfuls of ambrosia... x

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

I am seriously considering bequeathing a bench to Hyndburn Council - to be placed outside the Market Hall - so that those three - or possibly four -haunches can rest their weight there to posterirty...

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

A conversation between myself and Miles Parkinson of the ruling labour group regarding the lack of benches outside the town hall resulted in a 100% labour led council decision to replace them. With a modicum of help from Mobertol, we eventually decided that we would place them in front of the market hall, 11cm to the left of where the conservative benches used to be... this has been a resounding success for the labour run council. People are sitting on these benches.

Councillor Moss, cabinet member for sitting down people said, 'its an outstanding success, only tired people use them because the lazy people can't be bothered to walk the extra 11cm to sit down'

Mobertol said 'I'm glad to help the people of Accrington'

The local MP states categorically that this was a Labour initiative, regardless of what anyone thinks, and tweets that the new benches on Broadway are a success, before hurriedly deleting his tweet after the cabinet member for checking MP's tweets points out that the benches are in front of the market hall and not on Broadway.

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

excellent

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

Well mobertol,i must say Ken Moss has not responded(shock horror) to my reply despite stating he was telling lies, He posted that on Jan20th n was online a few times until Jan 26th so i can safely say i saw him reading this thread. so i base my comment on the simple fact i do not regard him as stupid or ill informed, so it was the only other option i can see. so hes now gone down even farther in my estimation.:rolleyes:

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

This site might interest you, it shows deleted tweets by politicians including the one you mentioned

Graham Jones MP (UKMPs) - Politwoops

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

Still feel that way? Still feel that Accyweb is full of keyboard warriors now that you've bumped into the 'real' version on facebook?

For those of you without fb, this is the result of trying to engage with people without an ounce of argument, debate, wit, fact, research or respect, i.e the nuggets that are the true cowardly keyboard warriors.

Ken Moss
Following an evening of my friends and family being bombarded with threats and abuse by people they have never even met, the Rishton First page will be closed as of this morning.

Unfortunately, we have a group of people who have pried into my personal life over the past 18 months with almost obsessional fervour and it just isn't worth subjecting my nearest and dearest to the constant abuse of people we don't know simply to remain on Facebook.

Privacy is being eroded to the point where personal messages are being copied, taken out of context and shared far beyond the original recipient while visitors to my house are reported on Facebook before they have even left.

As we enter election season, my political opponents and their supporters have begun the dig for dirt and quite honestly I have no desire to descend to that level. Aspects of my private life which have no bearing on my Council work are being reported to the legal department on a regular basis in the hope that I can be removed from office and allegations are now even being made that I am responsible for criminal damage to the property of anyone who disagrees with me.

All of this stems from Facebook which is why it has become more hassle than it is worth. I hope you can all understand my position.

Come and argue with proper folk, although you may get a rough ride for sticking your head above the parapet, you will get 'none of the above' disgusting crud from us

Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

Wow! Aren't we a nice crowd to talk to compared with that lot.
He'll be happy to come back and discuss benches with 2 or 3 of us after this, maybe we could give him a warm friendly welcome when he returns to the safety of AccyWeb?

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

Looks like you proved him right about copying and pasting his messages :p

I can't understand his problem really. He just needs to remove anyone who isn't a real friend or family and set his privacy settings correctly.

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

My personal page is perfectly secure Neil, the problem came from trolls on Rishton First, a public page I set up for residents to interact with Councillors. It became very trying keeping one eye on Facebook all day when my supporters of my political opponents were spreading personal rumours about my private life which were totally untrue.

The page is now closed except for daily links to Rishton news reports from the blog.

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

As a 'super moderator', I'd assume that you'd be able to recognise the difference between copy/pasting a public statement to inform others who may not have seen it and copy/pasting a personal post to malign..obviously I give you too much credit :p

I also think that Ken has fallen foul of typical facebook morons rather than the secret templar society of political opponents he alludes to. It was an open facebook group, set up to engage with his electorate. Altruistic but still a recipe for disaster. Open groups need 24/7 moderators or they almost always devolve into 'epeen' machismo..someone actually tried to set up another open group to continue the debates..it lasted less than a week.

If as Ken says its a tory plot, they have actually shot themselves in the foot, this particular facebook page has now become just another pro-Hyndburn Labour platform linked to its twitter account.

Re: Great Harwood: Farmers Market raises £4,000 for charity
 

I hadn't noticed there was a Rishton page but I did notice recently that new posts have to be approved before they appear on the Ossy Area Council page. I can understand why because of the issues you have had and a while ago the Ossy page was full of adverts for e-cigs and other rubbish