[Bernard Dawson]

Originally Posted by katex

I still think it unfair to say that this money could be spent better on this and that. It has been said that the Market Hall should have been left as it was .... well, yes, cold, dark and miserable.

Ok ... firstly, the Flash Mob. Cost £1,000.

It has given 200 people, of all ages ...suspect a lot of younger people though, certainly many teenagers coming through the Arts Centre door one night I was there, the opportunity to learn a little about the art of dance movements and form a great camaraderie and possibly lead on this initial interest to better things within the world of dance. That is one good reason for this project.

It is fun and bringing it into the town centre can only brighten up the lives of many shoppers if only for a short while and will put a smile on their faces. Happy people will shop better. The centre has to be promoted as a fun place to be initially.

I just hope that eventually a new state of the art bus station will be built to welcome any visitors, and that Peel Street can be turned into a lovely square where events can be held regularly ... takes time to build up what you all think we have lost. We didn't lose anything .... just the addition of Supermarkets. Would be great to think that after shoppers have filled up their boots with Tesco branded goods, then they may just think "Oh, there is a theatre company enacting Victorian swimming, let's just pop down and see it" Maybe, they will spend the few extra bob there that they have left over.

Next ....

A new bus station which in turn opens up other possibilities for Peel St, could still act as a catalyst in re-energizing the Town Centre in my view