Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken Moss
It's a nice idea but sadly unworkable.
There are certain issues that councillors are involved with that are concerned with the entire borough (such as taxi licensing, etc) but the whole point of being elected for your ward is that you know what needs doing in that area better than another councillor in say Milnshaw or Huncoat. I'm currently pushing for a new post box for lower Rishton, a tiny project in the grand scheme of things and wouldn't even register on the Hyndburn map so a good example of why each ward needs specific councillors for that area.
At the moment, Cllr Grayson and myself very badly want a community centre in Rishton. It isn't going to happen anytime soon because there isn't the money but when you see one of Oswaldtwistle's four community centres getting an unnecessary facelift it rankles you somewhat when we don't have one at all and could have used that money to build one.
I've often said that concentrating all money in one ward is a terrible idea but as long as Peter Britcliffe is Leader of Hyndburn Council we are going to see everything spent in Oswaldtwistle.
A priorities list across the whole of Hyndburn would be the best solution as no one could argue that the most important things weren't being tackled first but it isn't going to happen as long as there are votes to be garnered in the Leader's ward.
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I can't think of the four community centre in Oswaldtwistle you mention.
There's one on Harvey Street, and then there's the arts centre which is being built in the Civic Theatre, which although sited here is for the whole borough, and until it's opened can't really be classed as a community centre.
It's hard to judge if Oswaldtwistle gets more than it's fair share of money. If it does, that is wrong.
Although I don't visit Gt. Harwood and Rishton all that often, I do regularly get to most other parts of the borough. People in Ossy generally think that other parts of Hyndburn get more money targeted at them for regeneration etc.
Perhaps it's human nature that people always think someone else gets the better deal, than themselves.
As I said, I honestly don't know if it's true.