Something for HBC to ponder on.

Acrylic-bob · 06-06-2005, 07:10

I came across this, which confirms what most of us have generally been saying about the failure of our town centre.

http://shopping.guardian.co.uk/news/...500082,00.html

If Hebden Bridge can manage it, why can't we?

Acrylic-bob · 06-06-2005, 07:23

It isn't just Identikit retailing that is the problem. It is the one-style-fits-all approach to town planning and architecture. How do you tell where you are in the country anymore when everywhere looks like everywhere else, and the same style of houses are being thrown up from Land's End to John O' Groats?

WillowTheWhisp · 06-06-2005, 07:39

I totally agree with you on this one A-b. Will probably get called the "all our yesterdays brigade" again but Accrington used to have its own individual character which has been totally lost now. It could be regained to some extent with a little more common sense approach to planning but I can't see it happening. We are supposed to believe that all the changes are good for us.

I love Hebden Bridge. It has character. It also has a lot of interesting shops.

Acrylic-bob · 06-06-2005, 07:52

The law is there, but no one in HBC has the imagination or will to use it.

cashman · 06-06-2005, 09:08

i also agree and as willow does,think the individual caractor of the town(and others) has been lost,change is good,but only when its for the better.

vorlon24 · 06-06-2005, 09:28

I guess it's nice to see a local town with individuality (Lewes), but I tend to avoid Lewes like the plague because the traffic round there is such a problem.

We only tend to venture in that direction if we are going to Brighton to get the last few bits of Christmas shopping, or just a general trip down there (we went there last week to see the Doctor Who exhibition on the Palace Pier).

Otherwise, we stay in Tunbridge Wells or go to Lakeside or Bluewater (but leave the hoodies at home!!!

)

Reidy · 06-06-2005, 17:10

2 or so Weeks ago Hyndburn Planning Comitee had recived a planning application for a new shopping centre to be built at whitebirk called "The Whitebirk Retail Development" Some of you may have heard about this. Accringtons Chamber of commerce have sucesfully won the battle against the developers to stop the building this new Retail Development. The Commerce said that it would put a serious amount of strain on Accrington town centres economy and that it was not viable as we already have blackburn and burnley for chain stores and that we dont need any more, Accrington has a lot of independant traders still and that it would be very likley that it if it was built they would be forced to close. After carefull consideration i have to applaud the planningcomitee for rejecting the application. But they still have 2 weeks to appeal..........Lets see what happens and pray they dont manage to win!!!! Because if they do we will end up with no town at all!!!!!

Steph · 06-06-2005, 21:09

Well, we'll see................

chav1 · 06-06-2005, 21:32

accrington town center has been cloned

from a pile of dog poop

Steph · 06-06-2005, 21:42

Now thats not very nice is it...

Graham Jones · 06-06-2005, 22:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillowTheWhisp

I totally agree with you on this one A-b. Will probably get called the "all our yesterdays brigade" again but Accrington used to have its own individual character which has been totally lost now. It could be regained to some extent with a little more common sense approach to planning but I can't see it happening. We are supposed to believe that all the changes are good for us.

I love Hebden Bridge. It has character. It also has a lot of interesting shops.

ouch... should have ducked....!!
Accrington has a lot going for it, much of the TC is historic. Most feel people that the historic elements are the main asset. I agree totally and believe we can do a lot to recapture that essence.

Interestingly the French voted against the EU [well the socialist left did anyway] because of Article 3 on free trade. French red tape controls all sorts of urban retail developments and keeps French town centres characteristically French both in look and importantly in their independent local retail make up as opposed to laissez faire supply and demand.

Graham Jones · 06-06-2005, 22:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reidy

2 or so Weeks ago Hyndburn Planning Comitee had recived a planning application for a new shopping centre to be built at whitebirk called "The Whitebirk Retail Development" Some of you may have heard about this. Accringtons Chamber of commerce have sucesfully won the battle against the developers to stop the building this new Retail Development. The Commerce said that it would put a serious amount of strain on Accrington town centres economy and that it was not viable as we already have blackburn and burnley for chain stores and that we dont need any more, Accrington has a lot of independant traders still and that it would be very likley that it if it was built they would be forced to close. After carefull consideration i have to applaud the planningcomitee for rejecting the application. But they still have 2 weeks to appeal..........Lets see what happens and pray they dont manage to win!!!! Because if they do we will end up with no town at all!!!!!

Whilst the right decision was reached it was a complete balls up. PB showed little interest and disappeared to pick his daughter up. This had been known about for months. Officers believed members wanted it and produced a report recomending it which will I am sure be used by Peel Holdings in their appeal. Total chaos. The chair declared an interest and shouldn't. The vice chair didn't take the chair in the confusion and this has put a cloud over the legality as another member chaired the meeting.

It was Blackburn w D who won it with a slick lobby and presentation with accurate references to the legilsation and up to date indepth retail surveys of Blackburn. Peel Holdings could not compete despite several suits being attendance.

The chamber of trade made more of an incidental less factual appeal.

cashman · 07-06-2005, 01:23

somehow graham (a complete balls up)has been happening with alarming regularity for years i think.

Bazf · 07-06-2005, 02:53

No matter what the politicos say they don't really give a ff about Accrington Town Center if they did they would bring in motions to change it, they don't because to develope it would take a long term effort and as their little world is all based on short term thinking and being able to blame someone else when it goes wrong, why should they put there reputations and cushy little jobs on the line.

Acrylic-bob · 07-06-2005, 05:11

In which case Graham, why isn't the Labour Group shouting this appalling incompetance from the rooftops? What happened to public accountability?

Why isn't the evidence published in The Observer for all to see?

Why is there not a stream of complaints to the District Auditor, The Minister for Local Government and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister?

If the situation really is as bad as you lead us to believe, why is not being investigated?

A while ago you told us about a conservative councillor from the south who was here as part of some appraisal or other who, you said, was privately appalled at the shenanagins of the Idiot in Chief and his pals. Has anything changed as a result of this visit ? And if not, why not?

What is the Labour group up to, besides producing completely irrelevant alternative budget proposals and re-shuffling itself?

The people of Hyndburn have elected you and your colleagues to act as a check and a balance for the controlling group. If you are not screaming your heads off at any and every irregularity and bad decision then you are not doing your jobs properly and are as much to blame for any situation that arises as the conservatives - sins of omission as opposed to comission.

And another thing, while I'm at it, why aren't more of your colleagues members of this board? Is actually communicating with their constituents between elections too much of an arse-ache for them?