[Ken Moss]

Just idle curiosity while looking at discussions about Accrington on the net. Lo and behold, a link for Accyweb is in there and what a surprise to see that the same old faces are saying what a terrible place it is, a dying town, why can't we go back to the golden age of the 1970s etc etc.

Strangely, I see the same comments on forums about Blackburn, Darwen, Preston, Chorley and probably anywhere else if I cared to look. The truth is that certain people in every town just enjoy a jolly good moan day in day out, never enjoying a single gasp of air and refusing to see the world as anything other than a place created by vile politicians who live in big houses and claim expenses. They trot out the same little homilies over and over, quoting and misquoting to suit their miserable little diatribes whenever the (bad) mood suits, never venturing beyond their own front door and then wondering why 'no one ever listens to me'.

I am not sorry for one moment that I enjoy living, shopping and socialising in Accrington and I read all the comments online half-smiling and half-pitying because it seems painfully obvious to me that quite a few people have all lost the ability to see anything positive. As an example, in the past 12 months I have ventured into shops, pubs and even a smashing little tea room then told people how good they are.

I may well be considered to be wearing rose tinted glasses but I at least it keeps me spending money in Accrington and if I can persuade just one person that they should do the same then it's good advertising for the town.

Listen to yourselves, you're taking the Mickey because I'm trying to talk the town up!