Quote:
Originally Posted by claytonender
The problem in Hyndburn is that there is no will by the controlling group
for enforcement. There is one landlord, who owns many properties in Hyndburn, many in a bad state of repair and on the list of 'blighted sites' who should be prosecuted by HBC but isn't. if he was prosecuted it might send out a message that delibrately leaving a property in a bad condition will no longer be tolerated.
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Realistically, there just is no incentive for anyone accrington to care what happens to the people in it. Where is the hope for people from Accrington? Where is the goal that is to be achieved?
I remember on my 20th birthday thinking 'I will never be a teenage mother now' with relief. Not because it's a bad thing necessarily, or because I think it's a disgrace or anything like that, but because I just wanted to try for something more. But I have to admit that it's hard to be optimistic, particularly in this climate. I've no idea what I will do when my degree is over. Do I take out a loan for £10,000 for the LPC, and more for living costs, or do I continue studying, or do I go to a completely different profession altogether.
There are no guarantees of anything, but I can say with almost 100% certainty that there are no real opportunities in Accrington, certainly not without qualifications behind you, and then there comes the question of why stay in Accrington when you can take your skills and knowledge elsewhere? Somewhere where there IS community spirit and there are shops and bustling streets that are alive.
I love Accrington, I love Oswaldtwistle even more and I never fail to mention the pear drop to every new person I meet. And Accy bricks... but I can't help feeling sad when I think of how much I can't stand being there and seeing so much potential being wasted on a lack of dreams and ambition.
And those dreams and ambitions HAVE to start with the council, because if they have no hope then why should anyone else? I'd love to be a part of that change, but I really don't think I have the strength to turn around all that apathy by myself when there are people in other places who are willing to change things. The people of Lancaster have been campaigning against developments in Lancaster that they feel will threaten their local independent businesses and their communities. They spend all day stood outside sharing their passion for lancaster with people and encouraging people to be a part of the voice.
I've never seen that in Accrington. It badly needs that. I think those that HAVE tried though have lost their voices amidst the apathy though. And unless the younger people decide to make a change, it'll soon be too late to reverse the damage.