Portas Pilot

[lancsdave]

Not seen it mentioned but suprised nobody has.

The video for the Portas Pilot is on You Tube. Definately a 'warts and all' viewing .

!

[garinda]

'So far at least 350 towns have applied to be pilots.'

Portas retail park demand rejected - FT.com

Stiff competition, for the 12 places that will be chosen.

A pity her idea has been rejected, that all out-of-town retail parks, and large supermarkets, would need ministerial approval, before being given the green light.

Would have lessened the temptation for local councils to accept a large financial bung, from Tesco say, if their planning applications are approved.

[garinda]

The film did make laugh.

Hearing the narrator drone on, and mentioning the Market Hall having won the 2011 'indoor market of the year'.

Oh the irony.

It doesn't seem two minutes since certain people met that announcement with total derision.

When it turned out the last lot in control at H.B.C. had paid to enter the 'competition', and apparently glittering prizes were therefore two a penny, once you'd paid the hefty entrance fee.

[Margaret Pilkington]

I cannot see how the Portas Pilot will change very much in Accrington.

I don't want to pour cold water on the idea, but it isn't going to work.
People only have so much money to spend....and sensibly, they look out for where their money will go the farthest.

To regenerate the town, you have to have something that will draw in people from surrounding areas.......something which isn't available in their own area.

In reality, what has Accrington got to draw in the crowds?

We have crap Market. A Market hall that has no vibrancy(I don't care that it has won an award - I feel that was done by the greasing of palms) and is like a mausoleum most days.
We have an uninspiring Shopping Mall which is approached by a down at heel, peeling Broadway.

On the plus side.....yes, I have to say there is a plus side.......The Town Hall is an imposing building, as is the Market Hall, but then so many other towns have similar buildings.......the parking is free.
As for seeing the new bus station as a draw to people....it is akin to the free parking.......there has to be something here to bring the people in their cars(to use the free car parks and the swanky new bus station) and sadly, it is there that I think Accrington fails.

People will still take their money to Retail Parks, or shop on the 'net' because that is where they feel they can get value, for the money they have.

[Neil]

I am always pleased to see external funding coming into the area and I do hope that any negative comments found in the local press/radio/forums/facebook won't be taken into account when the are deciding who gets the money.

[jaysay]

Does anybody seriously think we will get any money from this project, over 350 applications, quite a lot from the south

[Margaret Pilkington]

Originally Posted by Neil

I am always pleased to see external funding coming into the area and I do hope that any negative comments found in the local press/radio/forums/facebook won't be taken into account when the are deciding who gets the money.

Money that could have made the area much pleasanter has been squandered in the past.......you only have to look at the fiasco that was the resurfacing of the area that is Broadway to see that.

[lancsdave]

If the council did get any money it would be far better spent actually relocating a certain business and it's customers out of the town centre. Would be by far the best thing that could happen to the Town Centre

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by lancsdave

If the council did get any money it would be far better spent actually relocating a certain business and it's customers out of the town centre. Would be by far the best thing that could happen to the Town Centre

You talking about the business on Abbey Street Dave

[Neil]

Originally Posted by jaysay

Does anybody seriously think we will get any money from this project, over 350 applications, quite a lot from the south

I think this particular fund looks difficult because of the figures mentioned but I don't know any details but so are many of the funding opportunities available.
One thing is certain though, if you don't apply you definitely wont get and fortunately we have a lot of people in our borough who don't give up easily.

I think the figure secured by community groups that work with the parks department is over £4 million in the last 5 or 6 years now.

St Mary's football club secured well over a £1 million for the the Heys football fields project.

I know of other recent successful funding bids for the area but I cant name them as I am not sure if they have been publicly announced yet.

[jaysay]

Ya your quite right Neil if you don't buy a ticket you don't win the raffle

[garinda]

Originally Posted by Neil

I am always pleased to see external funding coming into the area

I don't see anyone here disagreeing with you.

However, despite all the hype from the council, there are 12 towns, who'll be selected from over 350, who have so far applied.

Accrington, quite rightly, has made a bid, like many, many other places.

External funding will only appear, if we are lucky enough to be one of the chosen twelve.

We've bought a lottery ticket.

Not won the jackpot.

[Neil]

Originally Posted by garinda

We've bought a lottery ticket.

Not won the jackpot.

The waiting is the worst part of a bid after all the time spent gathering information and submitting it

[garinda]

Originally Posted by Neil

The waiting is the worst part of a bid after all the time spent gathering information and submitting it

Probably one the reasons why I don't buy a lottery ticket, or gamble.

Prefer certainties myself.

Dislike wasting my time, and money, when all something comes down to is luck.

[Neil]

Its not all down to luck but it does have an part to play. You need to be able to fill a bid in well with all the evidence of need and required statistics etc. Not something I could do well personally I don't think, there is a skill to it like everything else.