"Lifestyle living" sites?

Acrylic-bob · 23-01-2005, 08:49

OK. So the council have now announced proposals for a new three year plan for the regeneration of Accrington Town centre.

But before you all get too excited remember this is an HBC plan, so it is going to be long on smart phrases and buzz words, very long actually. But when it comes down to concrete proposals it seems pretty mundane, not to say tame, and merely reflects what they should have been doing for the last thirty years anyway.

To quote Michelle McKenna, writing in the Observer (p19) the plan contains the following stunning new initiatives "Key objectives are to strengthen the town's retail position, to enhance the quality of the environment, to improve access, movement and transport, to promote investment and business development and to become a visitor destination."

As I said, nothing they should not already have been doing for the last thirty years.

But Ms McKenna goes on " Strategy proposals put forward for Accrington town centre include identifying possible sites for 'lifestyle living' in the town centre, developing a tourism strategy and providing better facilities for visitors, including accommodation, restaurants and conference provision, expanding the quality of shopping on offer and developing Accringtons evening economy."

What does all that mean? Well the accommodation and conference provision will be covered by the redevelopment of the former Skill Centre on Eagle Street which the council are planning to buy. "developing Accrington's evening economy" means handing out a handful of 24 hour drinking licenses. How they are going to persuade quality retailers to move into the town centre is beyond me. It strikes me that if Accrington was such a good business prospect retailers would actually be banging on the door already, not limping away bruised, battered and broke.

This insistence on turning Accrington into a tourist destination baffles me. And as for Lifestyle living - well, words fail me.

park381 · 23-01-2005, 09:00

Quote:

What does all that mean? Well the accommodation and conference provision will be covered by the redevelopment of the former Skill Centre on Eagle Street which the council are planning to buy.

Does that mean they will use the cash from the sale of the Market Hall.

Acrylic-bob · 23-01-2005, 09:08

Like so many of HBC's "lofty" ambitions all this is dependent on a mixture of government grants and european handouts. According to their own reading of their financial position it will be the end of next year (2006) before thay have anything like a few coppers jingling in their pocket, and then only if eveything goes according to plan and there are no unforseen circumstances - like a change of government or a crash in the housing market or the stock exchange.

Acrylic-bob · 23-01-2005, 09:17

They actually estimate that it will cost £2.5 million to complete the transfer of the Market Hall. The actual receipts for the transfer will be £3 million. The difference of £0.5 million could very well be eaten up by increases in costs by the time the transfer is completed. So HBC are not betting on any contribution to the budget as a result of the transfer.

For more details read the Corporate Performance Plan on the HBC website.

http://www.hyndburnbc.gov.uk/Your_Co...ce/corplan.pdf

Be patient, it is 100 pages long and takes an age to download, even on broadband!

park381 · 23-01-2005, 09:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acrylic-bob

They actually estimate that it will cost £2.5 million to complete the transfer of the Market Hall. The actual receipts for the transfer will be £3 million. The difference of £0.5 million could very well be eaten up by increases in costs by the time the transfer is completed. So HBC are not betting on any contribution to the budget as a result of the transfer.

For more details read the Corporate Performance Plan on the HBC website.

http://www.hyndburnbc.gov.uk/Your_Co...ce/corplan.pdf

Be patient, it is 100 pages long and takes an age to download, even on broadband!

Hey A-B if I do "take the plunge" and download this plan, is it up to date ? since most things I've looked at on HBC website have been way out of date

Acrylic-bob · 23-01-2005, 09:46

It is current. Which is, I think, all that can be said for it. It does however contain quite a lot of useful sticks with which to beat the council, if you are any good at reading between the lines.

park381 · 23-01-2005, 09:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acrylic-bob

It is current. Which is, I think, all that can be said for it. It does however contain quite a lot of useful sticks with which to beat the council, if you are any good at reading between the lines.

OK, I'll go for it then, could do with a good laugh

Acrylic-bob · 23-01-2005, 09:57

You'll also need a stiff gin! Happy reading!

park381 · 23-01-2005, 11:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acrylic-bob

You'll also need a stiff gin! Happy reading!

Think you were right about the stiff gin, have just skimmed throught it for the moment, got it saved on HD, so I can digest at my leisure, but its very interesting reading.

accymel · 23-01-2005, 11:59

Blimey HBC are rather ambitious with their ideas just shame nowt but f-ups actually happen, who'd be wanting to spend a week in accy [as much as i love me town] than somewhere in the lake district. Theres nowt much in accy for locals nevermind tourists apart from the usual fri nite brawls oh n a trip to Oak Hill Park zoo. They have the Globe Centre hospitality rooms n hotel facilities n i bet they barely fill them so why another.

HBC - off with the fairies again !

Acrylic-bob · 23-01-2005, 12:47

Errm, the last time I was in Oak Hill Park all the animals were gone, apart from the usual human ones that is. I think there might still be a couple of ducks around but that is as far as it goes.