[JohnW]

I would have thought the way to make Accrington a thriving town again was to take it back to its roots and encourage industry. It is a town built on, and for, industry. You are in the position of having excellent Motorway links and you have many industrial type buildings which could be utilised. Your council needs to offer some incentives to different industries to bring their businesses there, particualarly manufacturing. Your local institutions of further education need to offer training to the workforce in whatever industries you do attract and this would be a further encouragement for companies to bring their businesses to the area. They need cheap buildings, low rates and a skillful/diligent workforce. I think that Accrington has the ability to offer all of these. England's wealth was built on the hard work of the northern people of Lancashire and Yorkshire. They just need a chance to repeat the process.