[Wynonie Harris]

Surely, it's not about being snobbish or elitist, but rather, about offering more choice? A record shop that offers jazz and classical, but also blues, 50's rock 'n' roll, reggae and more. A bookshop that stocks Shakespeare, but maybe also has a good crime fiction section, perhaps books on the occult and other varieties. Restaurants serving tirimasu and red wine, but possibly something more out of the ordinary like a Mexican, veggie or even cajun restaurant.

I think it's been said before on here, but there seems to be little point in Accrington chasing the coat tails of bigger towns with more and more bog-standard high street chain stores. Instead, it should develop its own identity as an unusual, slightly off-beat shopping centre with an interesting range of independent outlets. I know it's stating the obvious, but we have so many jewels in the crown here - a superb (but criminally misused) arcade, the Warner Street area, a traditional market hall that wasn't flattened in the 60's. When you add the free parking to that, Accrington has the potential to be a real draw for out-of-town shoppers...or am I dreaming an impossible dream??