Something for HBC to ponder on.
 

I came across this, which confirms what most of us have generally been saying about the failure of our town centre.

http://shopping.guardian.co.uk/news/...500082,00.html

If Hebden Bridge can manage it, why can't we?

Re: Something for HBC to ponder on.
 

It isn't just Identikit retailing that is the problem. It is the one-style-fits-all approach to town planning and architecture. How do you tell where you are in the country anymore when everywhere looks like everywhere else, and the same style of houses are being thrown up from Land's End to John O' Groats?

Re: Something for HBC to ponder on.
 

I totally agree with you on this one A-b. Will probably get called the "all our yesterdays brigade" again but Accrington used to have its own individual character which has been totally lost now. It could be regained to some extent with a little more common sense approach to planning but I can't see it happening. We are supposed to believe that all the changes are good for us.

I love Hebden Bridge. It has character. It also has a lot of interesting shops.

Re: Something for HBC to ponder on.
 

The law is there, but no one in HBC has the imagination or will to use it.

Re: Something for HBC to ponder on.
 

i also agree and as willow does,think the individual caractor of the town(and others) has been lost,change is good,but only when its for the better.

Re: Something for HBC to ponder on.
 

I guess it's nice to see a local town with individuality (Lewes), but I tend to avoid Lewes like the plague because the traffic round there is such a problem.

We only tend to venture in that direction if we are going to Brighton to get the last few bits of Christmas shopping, or just a general trip down there (we went there last week to see the Doctor Who exhibition on the Palace Pier).

Otherwise, we stay in Tunbridge Wells or go to Lakeside or Bluewater (but leave the hoodies at home!!! :p )

Re: Something for HBC to ponder on.
 

2 or so Weeks ago Hyndburn Planning Comitee had recived a planning application for a new shopping centre to be built at whitebirk called "The Whitebirk Retail Development" Some of you may have heard about this. Accringtons Chamber of commerce have sucesfully won the battle against the developers to stop the building this new Retail Development. The Commerce said that it would put a serious amount of strain on Accrington town centres economy and that it was not viable as we already have blackburn and burnley for chain stores and that we dont need any more, Accrington has a lot of independant traders still and that it would be very likley that it if it was built they would be forced to close. After carefull consideration i have to applaud the planningcomitee for rejecting the application. But they still have 2 weeks to appeal..........Lets see what happens and pray they dont manage to win!!!! Because if they do we will end up with no town at all!!!!!

Re: Something for HBC to ponder on.
 

Well, we'll see................

Re: Something for HBC to ponder on.
 

accrington town center has been cloned

from a pile of dog poop :)

Re: Something for HBC to ponder on.
 

Now thats not very nice is it...

Re: Something for HBC to ponder on.
 

ouch... should have ducked....!!
Accrington has a lot going for it, much of the TC is historic. Most feel people that the historic elements are the main asset. I agree totally and believe we can do a lot to recapture that essence.

Interestingly the French voted against the EU [well the socialist left did anyway] because of Article 3 on free trade. French red tape controls all sorts of urban retail developments and keeps French town centres characteristically French both in look and importantly in their independent local retail make up as opposed to laissez faire supply and demand.

Re: Something for HBC to ponder on.
 

Whilst the right decision was reached it was a complete balls up. PB showed little interest and disappeared to pick his daughter up. This had been known about for months. Officers believed members wanted it and produced a report recomending it which will I am sure be used by Peel Holdings in their appeal. Total chaos. The chair declared an interest and shouldn't. The vice chair didn't take the chair in the confusion and this has put a cloud over the legality as another member chaired the meeting.

It was Blackburn w D who won it with a slick lobby and presentation with accurate references to the legilsation and up to date indepth retail surveys of Blackburn. Peel Holdings could not compete despite several suits being attendance.

The chamber of trade made more of an incidental less factual appeal.

Re: Something for HBC to ponder on.
 

somehow graham (a complete balls up)has been happening with alarming regularity for years i think.

Re: Something for HBC to ponder on.
 

No matter what the politicos say they don't really give a ff about Accrington Town Center if they did they would bring in motions to change it, they don't because to develope it would take a long term effort and as their little world is all based on short term thinking and being able to blame someone else when it goes wrong, why should they put there reputations and cushy little jobs on the line.

Re: Something for HBC to ponder on.
 

In which case Graham, why isn't the Labour Group shouting this appalling incompetance from the rooftops? What happened to public accountability?

Why isn't the evidence published in The Observer for all to see?

Why is there not a stream of complaints to the District Auditor, The Minister for Local Government and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister?

If the situation really is as bad as you lead us to believe, why is not being investigated?

A while ago you told us about a conservative councillor from the south who was here as part of some appraisal or other who, you said, was privately appalled at the shenanagins of the Idiot in Chief and his pals. Has anything changed as a result of this visit ? And if not, why not?

What is the Labour group up to, besides producing completely irrelevant alternative budget proposals and re-shuffling itself?

The people of Hyndburn have elected you and your colleagues to act as a check and a balance for the controlling group. If you are not screaming your heads off at any and every irregularity and bad decision then you are not doing your jobs properly and are as much to blame for any situation that arises as the conservatives - sins of omission as opposed to comission.

And another thing, while I'm at it, why aren't more of your colleagues members of this board? Is actually communicating with their constituents between elections too much of an arse-ache for them?

Re: Something for HBC to ponder on.
 

Re: Something for HBC to ponder on.
 

Labour shouting from rooftops: we didnt get our act together and some members voted for it.

Public Accountability: Planning is very legal, very formal and an open forum, some members of the public did attend.

Evidence Observer: newspapers print headlines these days, not substance.

ODPM/Auditors. District Audiotor would not get involved in a case like this. BwD basically represented ODPMs position [as did ELEVATE]

HBC bad as said, why no investigation: Its incompetence not corruption. We have Tories on this board who wont vote for the best, just vote anti-Labour. You get what you ask for, and the media coverage of important decisions is patchy. Wyn Frankland speaking out was a rare exception, everything else is glossed over and the real impact is hidden from voters through sleazy politics.

Visiting Conservative leader: From Richmond. It was a fact finding visit on the cabinet style of local govt. I dont think they cared a hoot about us come 5 o'clock.

Labour Group: The Labour budget was an amendment BTW. Quite different from a [full] Labour Budget in terms of time, effort, resources etc.. When you are in opposition you are on your own so to speak. The reshuffle was not by choice but party rules. Jean Battle now holds a senior position on another authority, LCC. I think it is fair and clear that in this position she should resign one for obvious reasons.

Labour Group: 5 years has seen a lot of change. We have several more councillors up for retirement next may. Most of the new councillors have spent 2 years finding their feet and putting out Conservative fires, but yes, there is a real recognition of a need for alternative ideas, however a lot goes on whatever party is in power. We would do these better and it is on these essentials that most effort has been made in oppostion as opposed to new or radical policies.

What ideas do the Lab Gp have: We will introduce 24 community wardens out of the main council budge within 6-9 months. It is increasingly likely we will have more affordable housing and less free market housing, mainly elderly accomodation instead of £170,000 shoeboxes real people cant afford. There will be a Zero Tolerance [the Conservatives have a go lightly policy] on fly tipping, litter, dog fouling, anti social behaviour with fines and new by laws where appropriate.

Likewise we will pull out all stops against private landlords who provide a poor service, dont control their properties. Tackling landlords, aloingside the TC and Wardens will be the intial priorties.

As with the ZT approach Landlords will be full licensed [though the Tories have made this more difficult through incompetence] and monitoring of them. We will have the warden service to assist in monitoring of course, working much closer with police.

It is increasingly likely we will be looking at a major multi million £ redevelopment of Broadway and elsewhere, a completely different redevelopment of Accrington as a historic market town. If we can prevent it the MArket Hall will kept in public ownership.

The Town Hall and Civic Theatre and all the arts and culture/festivals staff brought out of the Trust and back to the Council. We will be looking at more open govt so you see who are the fools and who are not.

A people approach. Helping to organise, help with, advertise, encourage a whole host of people activities, such as struggling sports leagues especially aimed at older people [healthy hearts etc..], charities - like dial a ride - , better more public use of the Town Hall etc and better use of the Civic Theatre particulalry aimed at young people.

Making Hyndburn more attractive to young people [no not the loutish variety!!]. Value are history more. No tendering of services and more careful consideration of amalgamations with other authorities, particularly Blackburn. An effort to attract better jobs, work with a wider agenda for high skilled employment, a local university, better life long learning [like more plastering places at Accy college!!!]. If you vote Labour, this is where we will directing resources. We aim to reverse the growth in bureaucracy by reducing office workers and increasing the numbers of front line workers. Managing finances better. Make sure everyone feels included.

Scream our heads off: We try but its a balance. You understand the dangers of totalitarianism [which is how Hyndburn is run compared to elsewhere] however the public like to see us 'working together'! It does not help when the press do not scrutinise all the false allegations that PB tells to con people. He would have been voted out years ago if the press had done its job. Instead we end up with the labour group says this and Conservatives say the opposite and the public is confused. People want to feel positive and some hope about where they live, not how bad it is.

Members of this board: dont know?

POSTSCRIPT: PB said Wyn Frankland had originally said at a Con exec meeting she was resigning next year, everyone then discussed a replacement without any consideration or hesitation instead of askng why? Hence, I will resign now then... PB says there will be no leadership in the Cons because 2/3 will always do as they are told and the other 1/3 are to spineless to argue in public.

Re: Something for HBC to ponder on.
 

What are the boundaries? On that point though Warner St is, yet no one has challenged the external plastering on several of the properties. When I enquired I was told 'dont know why?'

Re: Something for HBC to ponder on.
 

Some interesting postings from yourself Graham, facts mixed with opinions but not too overpowering, could I mention the £35,000 again and why nothing has ever been made public even though some members of Labour where very annoyed about it, remember we can only kick up a fuss if we know the facts.