Who is this man

park381 · 08-10-2005, 19:24

This weeks observer, ‘Let’s talk up the town and be positive’ have we all been missing something
http://www.accringtonobserver.co.uk/..._positive.html

Margaret Pilkington · 08-10-2005, 20:16

I'm not sure who he is......what I want to know is, has he taken a walk around the market and the lane that leads to Broadway and seen all the graffiti and litter.?

When we have something to be proud of I'll shout it from the roof tops.

grego · 08-10-2005, 21:11

I feel the same Margaret, I find it difficult to think of something about Accrington which is positive, I dont find the town centre appealing at all.

accymel · 08-10-2005, 21:24

I dunno neither he must be getting paid for it or needs stronger spectacles & i'd like to know where the figures came from too lol

WillowTheWhisp · 08-10-2005, 21:54

Where on earth is a university going to go?

Have you seen the top (near Scope) end of Broadway? Looks like they forgot to set those chrome coloured bollards into the tarmac like they have further along so those top ones are now set into squares of white concrete in the black tarmac. Yes very pretty. We may have speculated how long it would take them to start digging it up but I bet none of us dreamed it would be before they'd even finished laying it.

park381 · 08-10-2005, 22:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

I'm not sure who he is......

No neither was I, may be HBC have imported him

park381 · 08-10-2005, 22:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by grego

I feel the same Margaret, I find it difficult to think of something about Accrington which is positive, I dont find the town centre appealing at all.

Watched all the traffic heading for blackburn this morning, then thought I'll go in to accrington, just as I thought the roads leading in were empty, so was accrington

Gayle · 09-10-2005, 11:42

Ok, so we all agree (again) that there's not a lot to be proud of about Hyndburn at the moment. So, let's look at this a different way - what would you be proud of? What thing could a business or the council introduce that you would actually stand up and say 'I'm proud of this area now'?

Let's stop complaining and let's all think about positive, realistic, achieveable things that we could campaign for or work for that would restore the pride that we're missing.

Margaret Pilkington · 09-10-2005, 12:33

Gayle, I would be proud if I could walk around the town centre without seeing discarded drink bottles and bags that have contained Greggs bakery products.......so maybe litter wardens and on the spot fines would do it for me......I dislike the graffiti too.

I think the dropped litter and the graffiti are a symptom of how negative people feel about their surroundings.
I believe if people were proud of the town centre they wouldn't be so disrespectful to drop litter.....or write disparaging comments on the fairly new walls.

I used to think that Burnley was a dump, but having visited the town centre a few weeks ago I was surprised to find that it was clean and well cared for......so whatever they are doing to keep their centre clean and tidy should be imported.

Gayle · 09-10-2005, 12:38

You're right about Burnley, Margaret. I used to work there about 15 years ago and it was a bit of a mess back then and I rarely went back. But for the last two years I've been there regularly and it is completely regenerating itself.

accymel · 09-10-2005, 12:39

Very true Margaret, you only have to look at the businesses local & the empty premises like ive said before the variety is a lot to be desired.

accymel · 09-10-2005, 12:43

I was talking with me dad about it & was on about there's 4 card shops & 2 poundshops !! says a lot were retail is concerned although the best newbie is wilkies but you want variety of retail shopping Burnley & Blackburn hold the ace card over us hence the retail desertion.

Margaret Pilkington · 09-10-2005, 12:50

So Gayle, what is it that Burnley are doing to make such a difference....?
Perhaps it would be good to get them to share some of their secrets.

Accrington used to be a lovely town full of fiercely proud people......and folks used to come from miles around for the market and the market hall. I think lots of town centres went into decline when the chain stores moved in.....because there is no diversity any more.
The empty shops and Market stall also give Accrington a very ' faded and past it' air.
Surely they could be let at lower rents to encourage enterprise. It must be more viable to have a shop occupied and a market stall being used than to have them empty.

Lampman · 09-10-2005, 12:53

A town's appearance is merely a reflection of the people who live and work there,we often blame councillors and their ilk for the state of the town.Yet how many of us would stop and pick up an item of litter that has nearly made its way to a waste bin?
I was surprised to learn that the unemployed is under 2000,sometimes on my visits to the centre it seems that there are that many loafing about the area.
Accrington's problems arent unique nearby Haslingden has nothing to reccomend it a pass through and expect to see tumbleweeds blowing down the roads!
Further afield Rawtenstall and Ramsbottom have utilised their Train Stations to create thriving tourist attractions.
Accrington has the ability to improve ,it is just lacking the neccessary will(and the odd £1,000,000).
As I've mentioned before the council has shot themselves in the foot by sacking the Warden's, so things I fear,unlike the song will only get worse!

accymel · 09-10-2005, 13:03

Think also the towns people in the centre also have some responsibility over the town its not like there aint enough litter bins about!! The one thing i hate about going into town is being harrassed by catalogue pushers, market reasearch is fair enough but the amount of times i dread going past people with clipboards wanting a sale & harranging you for things you dont want !! Im sick of having to tell em that im not interested, gosh they can really be so annoying & pushy, feel sorry for vunerable ones who aren't interested but cant say no.