[Margaret Pilkington]

When they closed off the town centre to traffic, the part that is little Blackburn road suffered, no through traffic meant that the majority of people didn't go up there unless there was a place they wanted to visit.

The large out of town shopping areas have also meant the demise of many of Accringtons shops. I cana't think of anything that would breathe some life into the place.

Having said that, we went to Bury yesterday and the town centre of Ramsbottom was closed off for a chocolate festival...the place was throbbing.
Ramsbottom is only a lttle place with lots of independent shops......it always seems busy when we pass through it, so maybe we should ask them how they do it.