Council get something right!! - Page 3

Graham Jones · 06-03-2005, 13:07

Remade last week said that should the Panopticons go ahead then the Coppice access areas would become urgent and the Budget would be advanced to start 2006/2007 & 2007/2008. That came from the horses mouth. The meeting featured FoAH, HBC planning, HBC Parks & Open Spaces, Remade [LCC], Wildlife Trust.

I think these two sites had been scheduled some years away from what was said. There were a lot of maps on the table but the two sites are Peel Park and Huncoat, though I think there is a case for Hodder St, the 3rd site.

Acrylic-bob · 06-03-2005, 13:18

I have had a look at this stunningly repetetive document and note that Aspen Colliery Coke Ovens is a project selected for inclusion in Year 1. How odd that we are almost at the end of Year 1 and no improvement work has been done. I also note that the plan states that the Within Grove project might be considered a waste of time, effort and money.

It is all very well Councillor Jones suggesting that we might be turning down shedloads of improvement investment. But on the evidence he presents I see nothing more than a lot of well meaning suggestions which may be very glossy and "worthy" but actually do nothing to improve the lot of people living in the borough. In fact, as I see it, it is only beurocrats who will benefit in any way from this plan.

There is no getting away from the facts that the majority of people in the borough want the Coppice to stay as it is, and the Panopticon project selected for the Coppice is ill thought out, says nothing about the area it will occupy, says nothing about the aspirations and history of the area, defeats the point of having a landmark and is about as meaningless as the councillor's description of Conservative Councillors as "Burghers". Which, according to the OED, describes a citizen of a German Town. (Unless he knows something we do not!)

One is led to wonder why Councillor Jones, alone of his collegues, has chosen to wait until now to make his opinions known to the members of this board. After all, it is not as though the debate has not been raging here for some time. One also wonders whether, now that he is a member, he will be joining any of the other debates concerning HBC and it's percieved failings. I do hope so.

Graham Jones · 06-03-2005, 13:21

I have checked the document and the major line for East Lancashire it is "Assisting delivery of the Regional Park will be a REMADE priority."

The document dates for 2003 as well. The [ELP] Regional Park initiative is setting the agenda now which the REMADE document refers to. That inititiative is only beginning to find roots however. ELP & NWDA are strategic organisations pushing this wider agenda including the Panopticons project. For good or bad it is all happening above The Councils head.

park381 · 06-03-2005, 13:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham Jones

Remade last week said that should the Panopticons go ahead then the Coppice access areas would become urgent and the Budget would be advanced to start 2006/2007 & 2007/2008. That came from the horses mouth. The meeting featured FoAH, HBC planning, HBC Parks & Open Spaces, Remade [LCC], Wildlife Trust.

So are you saying that if the Panopticans don't go ahead the remade funds will not be forthcoming, to regenerate the areas identified?
Another question, from the remade business plan, the on costs for maintaining these projects on completion are a little high. What happens to them if grants, funds were withdrawn, as you know they can be, is HBC to be faced with the maintenance cost, hence the people of hyndburn?

Acrylic-bob · 06-03-2005, 13:28

Excuse me Councillor, but I think it might be a good idea for me to point out that most of the members of this site speak and use plain English (Some of us, very plain English.) not Quango Newspeak. Would you care to translate?

Graham Jones · 06-03-2005, 13:32

Remade are working towards the Regional Park. Its a great idea.

And in answer to the contributions - I just want the best for where I live and I am sick and fed up of crap decisions and nothing getting any better. I have posted 3 or 4 posts last year and read regularly. I am interetsted in what other people genuinely think.

- The Coppice is a significant part of the Regional Park and may be the centrepiece? -

Regional Park.

The development of East Lancashire's Regional Park - the first in the North West - means a major boost for the area. A cash injection of £23 million to develop the Park opens up a brighter future for both visitors and residents alike.

The Park is a key element of our twenty-year strategy and encompasses both rural and urban areas in East Lancashire. It will provide an environment in which our communities will be encouraged to take part in various initiatives designed to improve their immediate surroundings and enhance their quality of life.

The Regional Park will provide an overarching focus for other projects such as transport, housing, economic development, education and health. It will bring in new investment and create additional development opportunities. Attractive new housing developments and business relocations will result from the pleasant environment created by the Regional Park. The East Lancashire Rapid Transit system will facilitate the movement of people to and around the Regional Park.

The Park will improve the image and upgrade the environment of East Lancashire by promoting it as a place to live and work and helping to attract private sector investment. It will also stimulate urban regeneration, providing an interface for communities with recreational, cultural and sporting facilities in a countryside environment.

The Park will also raise the profile and image of East Lancashire as a great place to visit. The new woodland and gateway facilities that will be developed as part of the Park will provide a considerable boost to the tourism industry. The Park will allow the development and expansion of local recreational, sporting and leisure facilities.

Disadvantaged communities will benefit directly from the Park. The initial focus will concentrate on a broad band of urban fringe land adjoining a number of disadvantaged areas. The re-use of derelict sites, reclamation of brownfield land and diversification of agricultural land will all be priority activities.

Funding of £5m from the Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) towards the Park's establishment is matched by a further £18m from the public and private sector.

Graham Jones · 06-03-2005, 13:42

Sorry. I dont mind taking stick. The reason for butting in is the debate so far in the media has been poor. In plain english.

ELP is the East lancs Partnership, a quango funded by the 7 district authorities and LCC in east Lancs to develop common solutions.The other high profile thing it has been involved with is rapid transit

NWDA is the North West Regional Development Agency. Another quango. Last years proposed referendum on regional gov't was an attempt to make it more democratic. It has funded the Panopticons project.

Acrylic-bob · 06-03-2005, 13:47

>> The Coppice is a significant part of the Regional Park and may be the centrepiece? <<

Thanks for that explanation. If, as you say, the Coppice may become the centrepiece of the Regional Park, then surely it is in everyones interest to make any sculptural Landmark placed there as visually dramatic and as artistically valuable as possible. How do you think a handful of grassed over heaps, which according to Midpennine Arts, will only be properly visible from the air, achieve this end?

You also mention The East lancashire Rapid Transit System. Perhaps you could enlighten us what will happen to this proposal, if as is expected the government's review of Railways in the north west concludes that the Blackpool/Colne Line is inefficient and should be closed?

park381 · 06-03-2005, 13:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham Jones

Remade are working towards the Regional Park. Its a great idea.

And in answer to the contributions - I just want the best for where I live and I am sick and fed up of crap decisions and nothing getting any better. I have posted 3 or 4 posts last year and read regularly. I am interetsted in what other people genuinely think.

Yes I take your point on the regional park and would welcome any move to create it.That would be of benefit to all east lancashire,and has been on the cards for a long time, but it did not answer the questions I asked.
You intimated in your first post, that if the panoptican did not go ahead, the funds for the regeneration of the areas indicated would not be forthcoming, is that correct.

Graham Jones · 06-03-2005, 13:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by park381

So are you saying that if the Panopticans don't go ahead the remade funds will not be forthcoming, to regenerate the areas identified?

Well it would appear that way. We are finding it very easy to get funds as part of this wider agenda. I don't think there is an agency that has recently approached the Friends of Arden Hall for eg.

The regional park will have a maintenance budget but I have yet to see exactly how all this pan out. There is also the issue of English Nature and it being a Local Nature Reserve, possibly managed by them.

Another question, from the remade business plan, the on costs for maintaining these projects on completion are a little high. What happens to them if grants, funds were withdrawn, as you know they can be, is HBC to be faced with the maintenance cost, hence the people of hyndburn?

Kind of the above answer. We need to be in at the sharp end of the Regional Park and fighting for as much centrepiece funding as possible. We are not and also we are in danger of being left out somewhat. I know Nick Hunt from Mid Pennine sees the coppice as a centrepiece.

Graham Jones · 06-03-2005, 13:53

A lot of this is kind of up the air or up for grabs I feel. East Lancs Partnership, i reserve comments on tax payers money being spent by them. The trasit thingy has gone from a full on metro accompanied by front page headlines and glossy print to guided bus paths, to upgrading the current bus timetable. I kid not. At most transport meetings, including the new passengers group set up, ELP were absent to my knowledge. Not good.

The regional park is the only one I have any faith in. Thats because the likes of Remade, the other district councils and the NWDA are backing it. So its got plenty of umph right now.

garinda · 06-03-2005, 13:54

Thank you Graham, interesting to read a different perspective. Although as you can see the majority of people here prefer the natural beauty of the Coppice unadourned.
Walking along Broadway yesterday however, this is a place crying out for public art/ benches/ flowerbeds and shops that aren't waiting for tennants.
Sadly Accy town centre now reminds me of the worst satellite towns around Glasgow.

Graham Jones · 06-03-2005, 14:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acrylic-bob

>> The Coppice is a significant part of the Regional Park and may be the centrepiece? <<

Thanks for that explanation. If, as you say, the Coppice may become the centrepiece of the Regional Park, then surely it is in everyones interest to make any sculptural Landmark placed there as visually dramatic and as artistically valuable as possible. How do you think a handful of grassed over heaps, which according to Midpennine Arts, will only be properly visible from the air, achieve this end?

..... It wont, their crap. And also the earth moving equipment as well. Its a very fragile ecosytem up there. There is no road to the top. Stone slabs or whistling wall were my choices or nothing at all were my choices..

You also mention The East lancashire Rapid Transit System. Perhaps you could enlighten us what will happen to this proposal, if as is expected the government's review of Railways in the north west concludes that the Blackpool/Colne Line is inefficient and should be closed?

I just noted how much it has proved to be pie in the sky [Transit plans]. [How much council Tax do we pay?]

The Colne line is hort of just 300 yards of track near Todmordon to make it a circular to Manchester through Blackburn, East Lancs valley, Tod, Manchester. To me that makes more sense. I cant see it being cut though a new operator has just taken over I understand.

However Clitheroe Manchester is under threat. Another Beeching hatchet job you might argue. Although Prescott has just backed down and help fund the Manchester Metro 2 - the extension I understand? We will have to see what govenment recomends but.. the EL railway is important.

Acrylic-bob · 06-03-2005, 14:05

Ahh, so it's all up in the air is it? Pie in the Skie sort of thing. It might happen and it might not happen, the funding might be there, but then again, it might not be there?

And in the meantime the people of Accrington will be lumbered with another expensive white elephant to maintain while the local regeneration circus moves on and develops even wilder and more expensive ways of spending public money. Still, the vandals will enjoy trashing it, so I suppose that it won't be entirely wasted.

chav1 · 06-03-2005, 14:06

instead of fancy art monuments why dont we just simply restore the spread eagle that has been visable for as long as i can remember

it seems to be loosing its shape a little and is no where near as big as i remember it been and i bet would cost a hell of a lot less than any monument you could stick up there

it would also be visable by everyone and i cant see anyone objecting as its already there and only needs a bit of tidying up around the edges

if you like you can fund me i will trim around it with a shovel for a few hunderd quid

town center is a disgrace to look at and those pathetic cobbles now scattered in patches throughout the town centre are dangerous in my opinion and a waste of money , all they seem to be good for is making people slip on their ass

bring back the benches , bring back the flower beds and it wouldnt hurt to clean up our back alleys and streets as we have a reputation for been a dirty town and unfortunatly people are right our town is filthy so even if tourists did come they would be wiping their feet on the way back out

just a few simple ideas from a simple man

no not simple as in idiot b4 any one says it lol