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Rose coloured criticism.
Peter Britcliffe's column in this weekend's Observer, urges all to be less critical of all the good things in Hyndburn.
He talks about his old Dad, saying that fishmongers don't say their fish stinks, because no one would buy it. My reply to that Peter would be, that if your fish stank, whether you advertised the fact or not, you wouldn't sell much, and would soon be out of business. People aren't daft. I spent five years at art school. With art there really no wrong or right. However, what you have to be able to is to be able to take criticism, constructive or not, and either defend yourself or learn from it. Wearing rose colored spectacles, doesn't make the world any better a place. It just cosmetically alters it, to make it look better. A barrage of constant, unwarrented criticism can create negativity. It can also bring about more positive changes and progress. You can stick with your rose coloured 'isn't everything in Accrington wondeful' attitude. I'll stick with realism, and give praise when and where it is due. |
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Very valid points. PB is in a dream world and thinks that everything in Hyndburn is hunky dory and there are no problems issues or gripes. Its time he came down from his Ivory Tower Crystal Palace or whatever he is living in and took off the blinkers as well as the glasses and take a look at reality befor it puts a size twelve into his jewel pouch.
As for the fish I am suprised he aint got food poisoning because really fresh fish dosnt smell of anything but the sea (if from the sea) and shouldnt be eaten if "smelly" or "off colour." Does he have any brains or common sense or is he taking to much of something dodgy since quitting the ciggies? |
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the river hyndburn didnt get its name the river stink because it smelt of roses,it got its new name because it smells of crap and unfortuynatly crap is what accrington has become
PB is in a position to put right some of the things wrong with accrington so if he wants people to see the good things in accrington its up to him and his mates at the town hall to put them there to be seen |
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The story of the Emporer's new clothes sprang to mind when I read the column.
'Yes, your Majesty, you look wonderful', cheered the grateful peasants, as the naked Emporer passed by, waving happily to the crowds. |
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Seriously, oh yes I'm sure we're all going to think Hyndburn is so much more attractive if only we tell ourselves that there's nothing at all wrong with it!! Come on Peter we need to be realistic, as Garinda says if we can't accept constructive criticism we are never going to make progress. This is one of my grouches with education these days. Nothing is allowed to be wrong anymore. It has to be "not qute the answer required" or some such twaddle and teachers can't use red ink because it's too aggressive. COCKYPOP! If I had a red tick I was chuffed. If I had a red cross then I knew it was something I needed to work on. There are areas of Hyndburn where a red tick is appropriate and areas where a dirty great big red cross is more appropriate - those areas can then aspire to improving so as to warrant a tick. |
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I almost hate myself for saying this but I can sort of see where he's coming from, in fact, I've said the same things myself (wonder where he got the idea).
It's not about rose coloured spectacles it's about accentuating the positive so that people outside of the town might not get such a negative view of it. As everyone says, there are lots of good things about living here but we tend to spend more time talking about the things that are wrong - mostly because you don't need to discuss the good things because they don't require debate. I don't deny there are tons of things wrong with this borough and we all have plenty of cause to gripe most of the time but we should also try, wherever possible, to promote it positively or it will forever be that town that no one wants to come to because no one has a good word to say for it. |
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so we tell people outside of accrington how good it is here and when they get here and see how crap it is for themselves we get a reputation of been a town of liars as well :rolleyes:
edit: mind you if you have a fetish for charity and pound shops accrington is the place to visit but apart from that what exactly does accrington have to entice people to come here that other towns dont have ? "COME TO ACCRINGTON - its not as bad as burnley" is about the best i can think of :) |
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I'm an optimist. However, pretending everything is good, when it plainly isn't, is like burying your head in the sand, and certainly doesn't bring about a 'feel good factor' that will attract new companies to the area. I notice thar Mr. Britcliffe claimed in his column again that forty new businesses have opened in the area, and was challenged to name them by Graham Jones. He listed the three he can remember in his column, but still seems to be struggling to name the remaining thirty seven. Perhaps he's counting ones like his chum's Kevin Horkin's Opticans, which opened in Ossy, and closed two months later? |
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OK Gayle, ball's in your court. You tell us what there is to praise and we'll praise it. I'm having a struggle to think of anything.
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Accrington Stanley Warner Street Canal corridor at Church Beautiful views from hills over Ossy Oswaldtwistle Civic Theatre Foxhill Nature Reserve The Coppice and the views from it Accrington & Rossendale College 11 parks (more green space per person than anywhere else) Ossy Cloggers Huncoat in Bloom Hyndburn Sports Centre Hyndburn Comets Community groups like Prospects To list just a few Look, I'm not saying that there aren't things wrong with the place - I know there are or I wouldn't have wanted to stand for council to put them right. All I'm saying is that there are also some positive things but the very nature of people is to talk about what's going wrong and not what's going right. If things are going ok then there's nothing to actually discuss was my point which is why any subject which could have a positive angle gets largely ignored but we all like a good moan! |
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Have Ossy Cloggers re-formed I'd heard they'd dis-banded a couple of years ago?
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So, the next time i'm in town. Instead of saying look at all the Pound/Charity shops & Bookies. I should really be saying "oh well, at least we live near a big hill (The Coppice)"
From the top of the big hill you can see the travellers camps & the refuge tip. Thanks HBC for the big hill, oh sorry, i nearly forgot that the big hill is a natural geographical feature. :eek: |
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the one that cracked me up the most was " huncoat in bloom "
does this mean the boarded up estates turn into roses in teh spring ? |
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Haworth Art Gallery - yes I'd forgotten that, and the Tiffany glass collection. That is one thing worth mentioning.
Accrington Stanley - yes things are looking up for Stanley I agree but nothing unique or unusual plenty of towns have football teams. Warner Street - nice street with some nice shops but plenty of towns have more than one nice street with even nicer shops. Canal corridor at Church - not too familiar with this, apart from being aware of derelict buildings which seem to have been derelict forever. Beautiful views from hills over Ossy - yes I agree there are plenty of nice views. The Coppice and the views from it - see above Foxhill Nature Reserve - a hidden gem and we could so easily have similar in Accy but haven't. Oswaldtwistle Civic Theatre - Council involvement is ..........? Accrington & Rossendale College - Yes we had a look round this week as my eldest daughter is choosing her college for next year. But by the same standard you could put Springhill School which was recently newly built and has all mod cons and state of the art technology. They are hardly tourist attractions. 11 parks (more green space per person than anywhere else) - and more dereliction, rubbish, vandalism.... Ossy Cloggers - surely things like this are down to the individuals who organise them? Other towns have similar. Hyndburn Comets - ditto Huncoat in Bloom - yes nice to see floral decoration anywhere in the Borough. Huncoat certainly needs it. Hyndburn Sports Centre - and a town of this size jolly well ought to have one. Many other towns have same or better. Community groups like Prospects - I'll reserve an opinion on this one for the mo. So, yes there are some points which do make it a nice place to live but if there are also some points which drag it down a bit surely it makes more sense to see them and want to improve them than to just ignore them and only look at the view from the top of the Coppice through rose coloured specs. |
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We could have more pretty brown signs all over town.
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And you've just proven my point - instead of adding to the list, you've picked it apart and picked up on the negative elements. I rest my case!
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What i'm getting at is ...............
If you get a pile of dog sh*t, & put loads of pretty flowers around it, nothing changes. At the end of the day, it's still dog sh*t. No matter how much you dress it up. |
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very well put............. :) |
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OK Gayle, ignoring the fact that I did agree with some of them but see nothing spectacular in others, lets add to it in the same vein with:
The viaduct The roundabout under the viaduct Asda is being done up We have a cinema and a bowling alley We have a McDonald's and a KFC I get a lovely view of the Coppice from Bullough Park. I still end up feeling like saying "Whoopie Doo.":rolleyes: If a child was merely "acceptable" when I was at 'Accrington High School For Girls' Miss Horne would have said "Acceptable is not good enough. Acceptable means you are not a failure. It does not mean that you are a success." I would much rather see HBC meet challenges head on and strive for improvement than wallow in a rose colourd bed of "acceptable" laurels if you'll forgive the mixed metaphors. |
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Most of the things that have been listed are either private ventures or natural feature of the area. The problem is, that Accrington is the heart of Hyndburn. If you were to visit Accrington town centre by bus, it's not very appealing.
Bus from Blackburn Going through Ossy (Blackburn Rd) = Nice area. Church = New housing development, not to bad. Travel along Blackburn Rd towards town = some new development, but mainly empty spaces. Still on Blackburn Rd near Glyn Webb = Old tatty shops & pubs. Blackburn Rd, Town centre = Quite nice, Calder, Railway pub (both private), Town Hall. Bus Station = Outdoor market that looks like a car boot sale. Then there all the Pound shops / Charity shops / Ammusment Arcades & Bookies. Even the re-development of Broadway is a balls up. Nice on the outside, sh*t in the middle. |
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Gayle, I'd give you karma if I could, but will have to make do with praising your attitude!
I'll chime in with an outsider's view, as I visited Ossy this summer and plan to return. BTW, I to live in New Jersey, so I know a lot about living in a place with image problems (of course, some of our major highways run through the uglier parts of the state, and that is a more-than-slightly skewed view that many outsider have of this state). Funny, though, how so many Canadians love our sandy beaches! When marketing your area to the rest of the world, of course you need to emphasize the positive. If the residents don't like the place, why would someone choose Hyndburn when there are many places that do a great job marketing their attractions? Even among yourselves, a realistic but positive attitude is probably best. When you want a desired behavior from animals, positive reinforcement is the best tool. Same holds true for humans, although far too many folks attempt the negative "kick in the trousers" approach. Recognizing what's good and making a fuss over it generally will get you more of the same. Moaning over what's wrong just gets you a case of the blues. Not suggesting that you can fix all problems, but you can certainly look at them and make a start on something. As you make progress, it will surely alter your outlook. Sort of a "What's there to feel good about and what can I help change to feel even better" approach to life. Is Hyndburn the most enchanting place I've ever visited? No. But, as Gayle points out, there are a number of things that are good. Okay, a lot of places in the UK have football, but Accrington Stanley is still a community asset (especially if you have football fans visiting). The place is better off with it than without it. You have some nice pubs, a big attraction for this Yank. I enjoyed the market in Accrington, the local cheeses, visiting the nearby Pendle Hills, going to a Church & Oswaldtwistle cricket match with someone who bothered to explain the game. I enjoyed being able to get to Ossy by train, as here in the USA, the places one can get to by train are pretty limited. I also enjoyed a walk by the canal in Church. At one turn in the canal is a really interesting but abandoned Canal warehouse. Not a huge eyesore, but some unused potential, IMHO. Here in the USA, we'd have developers fighting one another to redevelop that diamond-in-the-very-rough! There was also another old warehouse across the road that seemed to have potential. Well, this is one post that is way too long. But one other thing I enjoyed when I visited Hyndburn - the people I met! |
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The old saw goes, "If life gives you lemons, make lemonade." It's a step in the right direction, but maybe a better choice would be to open a lemonade stand! |
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There's lots of potential Billcat. It's just that some of us get a bit fed up of it remaining potential for so long. An old warehouse may strike you as attractive, but a derelict pub with tatty posters daubed onto it, ripping off and fluttering in the wind is not a pretty site.
The market is cramped compared to what it was and compared to Blackburn market it's hardly worth calling one. We used to have a large flourishing outdoor market but that was demolished in order to build the Wilkinson's block and shops, half of which are empty. Some have been tenanted and empty, tenanted and empty, tenanted and empty which would seem to indicate that either the rents are too high or there is no call for more shops. The current market occupies land which was once part of the bus station and now the buses don't fit in and stops have had to be put in other places such as round the corner or up by the shops (making it even less likely for the shops to succeed as they are hidden by the bus queues.) I'm not against progress and regeneration, in fact I'm all for it but we seem to have change for the sake of change and much of it is retrograde. |
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Accrington & Rossendale College - is offering an excellent course which Mimi is looking for which can be entered at different levels depending on her GCSEs and which will eventually, if she so wishes, lead to a degree. At least she is chuffed about that.
They boast having taught various TV successfuls in their drama department too. |
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Like Willow said, quite a few of the things you listed are no more than we deserve, and aren't that different from similar things elsewhere. If I was being crirical, here goes- Terrible, expensive housing, with no public housing plans which are well maintained. The worst maintained roads in the country. A town centre full of empty shops and charity shops. A generation of mothers who have come through the local education system only to chose the career of state funded parent. Lastly, but not leastly an ill sorted bunch of numbskills at HBC, who don't have the common sense that some in the real world were born with. P*ss up and brewery spring to mind. |
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Dare I post my photoshopped PB image again?
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Billcat, just because you are critical it doesn't mean you don't care or love something. You comment, and see what's wrong, because you care.
Trust me on this one, this area was a hell of a lot better thirty years ago. It's a bit like parenting. If you tell your little darling they are clever/wonderful/talented, that is good, and will build their self confidence. If you tell them they are going to be the next Einstein/Picasso/RobbieWilliams, most of them will grow up delusional, and be in need of a life time of therapy. It's called tough love. |
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If you tell them they could do with improving their handwriting it does tend to make them try harder and show an improvement too.
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Those young ladies used to give great pleasure dancing for visitors and they also used to enjoy going off to other parts of the country and indeed such places as Germany and America, they were always proud to represent where they came from. So it would be good news if they are now back up and running, but I fear that won't be the case. Just thought I'd better add a quick apology to the young men that were also in the cloggers, (you were always being overlooked weren't you lads?), they would work hard as well dancing their feet off for the crowds!:D |
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if they put gravel down so that you wernt wading through mud to get to the ducks it wouldnt be so bad and my sons cloths were covered in black from where he rubbed against the remains of whatever it was that was set fire to, it seems as though it is either been constantly vandalised or just not repaired at all . before you even get to the ducks you have to negotiate through a mine filed of whatever has been fly tipped ,broken bottles and empty beer cans apart from that we had fun feeding the ducks :) |
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Oh well that just shows you it's a while since I was up there, must be 3 years at least, and it wasn't too bad then so I was taking Gayle's word for it that it was an asset to be proud of.
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the majority are run down and in a very sory state indeed but as usual money gets spent on stupid things rather thanbeen put to good use like maintaining what we have |
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Oakhill Park was once so beautiful and had lots to recommend it. And that's only in my lifetime. It's a shadow of its former self as ar they all.
One thing most if not all of the parks are short of is a loo. If you walk a fair old distance to a park and as soon as you get there the little ones cry out "Mum I want a weewee!" you then have to walk all the way back again. It's either go to the town centre toilets or go home! |
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Talking of toilets, why don't we have mirrors in our ladies loos in Accy?
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Most people if they use the public transport system will alight at the market......what a sorry sight that is. There are some very threadbare looking stalls and very many empty ones.....in fact there are mor occupied stalls for the Sunday and Thursday Flea Markets. OK, today there was the addition of a continental market, but the stuff was over priced and not the kind of stuff that makes up the staple shopping list of many of the people who live in the area....and Gayle, if this sounds like carping, then I'm sorry. I just tell it as I see it.
The Commercial area of the town is sad and tired....and I don't know where PB gets forty new shops from...they certainly aren't in the centre of town. He was crowing about the new shop 'Officers Club' but 'Icon' closed so we haven't gained anything in real terms....O yes, there has been the recent opening of an amusement arcade....I don't think that will bring in the tourists. Oh yes and the Piggy Banc on Blackburn Road....a childrens arcade...again not much there for celebration. Subway was about the best of the bunch so far. I see that a shoe shop has plans for opening on Broadway too....a budget shoe shop....well it IS Accrington...so we mustn't expect anything too upmarket...goodness we couldn't stand the excitement. Now if Primark was to be enticed into town then maybe there would be an influx of business from other neighbouring towns. There are just so many empty shops that it looks to outsiders like the town is dead on its feet. PB likes to think he is doing a good job...and because no-one else is giving him a pat on the back he has to do that job himself. |
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someone should tell him that self praise is no recommendation.
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If a bit of money and a little TLC was given to some of the places mentioned thn we wouldnt be too badley of. Unfortunately there seems to be no cash no incentive or any belief from those who can change it for the better to do anything. If some effort was put in Accy could start to recover even if it is somewhat slow and the fruits wont be seen for a few years. When it is decided to try and fix some of the issues and try and put us back on the map the town will be so far behind that when it does catch up other areas will be halfway throught the next portion of redevelopment.
The public needs to get behind what they want and push for change that benifits them their children and their grandchildren. All it would need is that little boot up the bahookie and then the ball will start rolling. Ok it will be an uphill struggle but if the outcome is what was campaigned for and is to the likeing of the majority then it would be worth it. As there is nothing constructive being done then it was always look grey and bleak with no hope of improvement. Lets try and return to the days of civic pride and then we will have plenty to be proud of and would be able without critism to brag about it. HBC needs to have a long hard think about what it can do to improve the bourghs lot and do it with the help of those that live there and not via a consultancey with an expensive outside group. The money the could save by using a bit of gumption would be available for projects that need it and not in the pockets of what can be best discribed as "gold diggers" preying on dithering local authorities. |
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Litter Lout. Sorry for being critical.:D |
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Oh, I forgot, we can add one more make new business to PB's Top Forty list of new businesses.
There is the new, modern day pawn brokers. You know the one? In the new retail unit, in the passage from Broadway to the market? The one you have to fight your way past, because there are always people queuing going in to sell knock off goods, so they can go and get their next fix. Just the sort of people that we need. Ah, the power of positive thinking. |
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Was the lunch bag for the ducks biodegradable?
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dont wory though i will beat my 2 year old son so that he dosnt dare let go of a bag ever again :) |
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I've tried to see things in a more positive light, as suggested by Peter Britcliffe, in the hope that this mass feel good factor will bring greater prosperity to our area.
Sadly the only two things I came up with are the natural landscape, and the people. Both beyond reproach. Everything else I came up with, I could see the need for improvement. I love Accrington's Victorian Arcade. Anywhere else in the country it would be seen as a jewel in our architectural heritage. Sadly the rents are too high, and it's full of catalogue seconds stores and empty units. It would be wonderful if it was a place filled with retailers, and would create a link between the town centre and the under used shops struggling on Warner Street. Everything else I like and cherish I can see how improvements would benefit and make it better. From someone who definetly sees the glass as half full, rather than half empty, I find that quite sad fact. (Rindy departs, wondering if it is too late to find a pair of rose coloured specs, and enter the Observer's glasses wearer of the year competition.) |
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But if I convince myself really, really hard that I have some, they might magically appear, through the strength of my positive thought.:D |
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The thing that frusrates me, and this is nationwide, and just doesn't relate to Hyndburn Borough Council, is that you have a lot of elected people handling multi-million pound budgets.
If these jobs were salaried posts, and were advertised, most of the present incumbent's c.v.'s would go straight into the bin, because of a lack of experience and qualifications. |
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:rofl38: |
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:D Rindy earlier commented that Accrington has gone downhill in the past ~30 years. Could it possibly be the lost of that great English gentleman, George Henry Hall (me Granddad) in the early 80s. Accrington lost its goodluck charm?:rolleyes:
Or maybe the fact that me Aunt Maude tossed his ashes in her rose bushes (12 Oswald Street). Thus causing the beginning of Accrington's demise. Just think, that dust floating around could be a bit of me grampa!:p One of the coolest things I noted while visiting Accrington was the wicked huge pool table at the Bold Street WMC. |
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Cant have been a big rose bush on Oswald Street with no front garden and a small back yard for the bin and toilet. :p
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well i must agree with you about accrington there is not a lot down there most of the shops have shut down and theres not a lot on the markets as well but i think my self a lot what come to the hyndburn area go to the oswaldtwistle mills but i think that is also very dear to go to for a visit
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How do you work that out to VISIT ossy mills is FREE
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I have only been once and that was in July and I could have quite happily taken the entire sweet shop with me. :o To me it is a little jewel in the area. :) |
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No i said its FREE to visit
i did not say buy anything if you take the wife then i just hope you have a full wallet |
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Doesn't Mallard live in Blackpool?
So he's right. Even visiting Ossy Mills will be relatively expensive.:D |
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I am with Garinda. Rose coloured spectacles do not improve anything in reality. You should face up to the issues. Less spin more honesty. |
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The Council could give us all a years supply of Prozac when our Council Tax bills are issued. We'd all be in cloud cuckoo land, and everything would seem simply wonderful.:p |
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Certainly it is okay to identify what needs to be improved - and there always is something in that category. BUT - the is a world of difference between identifying and attempting to take on a problem and merely complaining. Truth is, complaining is probably the number one spectator sport here in the USA, and it would not surprise me to find that the same holds true in a lot of other places. Frankly, life is too short to spend time with the whiners, especially when there are plenty of fun folks who are positive and active. It is also vital to recognize what is good and what is improving and the folks who are making the effort. It is my belief that if you really "care of love something," you should personally get involved addressing one or more of the problems. I was raised to give back, to try to leave the place a bit better than I found it. That's why I'm ususally pretty busy with various projects and fundraisers. It can be as simple as participating in a community clean-up day to chairing a state-wide project for Kiwanis, where 14,000-plus members are working to raise funds for part of a new children's rehab hospital. I see way too many folks who are quite ready to identify all the problems, but who are completely unwilling to make even a minimal effort to address them. IMHO, those folks are part of the problem - perhaps the biggest part! |
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I agree Billcat. The trouble is that some people seem to think it's someone elses responsibility without taking any ownership themselves.
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There is a great quote, variously attributed to Edward Everett Hale and also to Helen Keller. Probably was first said by Hale, given that he lived earlier. Can't blame Ms. Keller for using it, as she accomplished much, despite being blind and deaf.
"I am only one, But still I am one. I cannot do everything, But still I can do something; And because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can do." It is a great concept! Hale also had his thoughts about those who complain too much, "Never bear more than one kind of trouble at a time. Some people bear three - all they have had, all they have now, and all they expect to have." And, one more from Hale, just because we should all feel this way, "Even with all my wrinkles! I am beautiful!" :s_jplol: |
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Everyone has the right to voice their opinion, and pass critical judgement, or indeed give praise, whether they 'take any ownership of themselves' or not. Whether a person sits on their arse all day, does invaluable work, quietly with true altruism, or does a lot of high profile, back slapping, community work, I think each is still able to give valid, constructive comment. Going back on track to Peter Britcliffe's thought. It is quite a naive mind that believes that big business will relocate to any particular area, just because it's citizens are thinking positively about the good things the area has. In fact it's simple minded rubbish. |
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Absolutely agree there Garinda. The point is that HBC is a collection of our elected representatives and surely we ought to have the right to point out to them what we feel could be done to improve things.
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I still think that having an interesting and attractive town centre is far more likely to draw new shops/businesses and tourists/visitors, both of which compliment each other and lead to a continually flourishing town as opposed to charity shops and pound shops and a piddling little market which discourages people from coming in from out of town and summat stuck up on top of the Coppice which hardly anybody is going to see.
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Just because people have chosen, for whatever reason, to put themselves up for public office, the majority of people who don't still have a right to voice their opinion, even if it is critical. Perhaps if they were doing their bloody job better, we wouldn't have to be told to think more positively about our area. |
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'My old Dad used to say you don't hear a fishmonger crying 'stinking fish' because if he did he would never sell anything. That's one of the reasons I don't knock Hyndburn, and in particular our major town centre, Accrington. If I did who would want to invest here and would we currently be welcoming businesses like Tesco, The Officers Club and Subway into town? Those who whinge and knock the town would do well to heed my old Dad's words if they wish to see improvements.' This is were we differ. I call it burying your head in the sand, rather than not knocking the town. Does Peter's schedule at the ivory tower that is the Town Hall, allow him to see what is actually happening in the town? Did he see the fourteen empty stalls, at the already much reduced, because of 'improvements, market this afternoon? Does he see the still empty new retail units in the town centre? Does he see the hideous blue and white facade on Broadway, a quarter of which is the Town Hall's offices? Barnes's furniture store still sadly empty. The Victorian Arcade in a dismal state. Numerous closed shops, and council backed new ones being added to the stock as we speak The list is endless. Commenting on these things isn't 'whinging', it's pointing out the fact that something is drastically wrong. It isn't a nationwide problem, sadly for us it's a local problem. Not knocking the town, thinking positively about the area, isn't an alternative to actually solving problems, like I said it's burying your head in the sand. Problems just don't go away if you chose to ignore them, anyone who has ignored a drip through a ceiling would agree, when you later have to have the whole room replastered. Bill, everyone has a right to question those that have put themselves up for public office. It's called democracy. What that person does or doesn't do for the community is totally irrelevant, as most people I know go about that sort of thing quietly, without the need to make a big song and dance about it, and if they do that shows something lacking in character in my opinion. Funnily enough my old Dad used to have a witty anecdote that featured Peter Britcliffe, but I'm much to loyal a son to print it.;) |
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I would happily participate in a community clean up, but I know that a couple of days later, the work that I might have done removing rubbish and graffiti will have been undone by irresponsible people who do not care about the environment that they live in. It makes me wonder at the state of the houses that some of these people live in. I find it totally depressing to watch young mothers allow their toddler children to discard wrappers from pasties and sausage rolls by just throwing them in the street......especially as there are places to dispose of these items of rubbish.
Much more could be made of our town centre...it has a sad down at heel feel to it. No amount of rose tinted spectacles can alter that fact. |
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One tossed an empty drinks can down the stairs to the market cellar. 'Oi, go and pick that up, there is a bin here.' '**** off' she replied. I flew after the little scrote, and again shouted my instruction, a little like I was possessed by a demon. Happily she eventually went and got the discarded can, and placed it in the bin. I even frightened myself.:D |
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Good for you, Garinda.
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That is exactly what I mean. Now girls of eleven should know that it is wrong to discard litter by just tossing it on the floor....even toddlers should be checked...or failing that there should be someone handing out fines......a few £50 fines and maybe these miscreants would think twice before littering the place.
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I'd do it again, lots of us would, it's just acting upon instinct....until one of us gets knifed!:D
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We've just come back from a long weekend in Bedfordshire and deviated through the Cotswolds. Not a scrap of litter to be seen, no graffitti, no vandalism - not even in what are supposedly the scruffy areas. Accy in comprison is a slum and it's depressing. Sorry I just can't seem to find my rosy specs.
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Peter was right. |
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Can I stress once and for all that I do not wear rosy specs and that I am well aware of the flaws of the area - heck, why do you think I put myself through the hell of standing for council?
But, I was always told that if you want a good haircut you have to go to the hairdressers with your makeup on. The point being that you have to at least look like you want to improve yourself before someone else will help you. And yes, makeup may be playing down the flaws but it gets you the good haircut which then gets you the self esteem and the good job. |
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Fundamentally disagree, I'm afraid.
Qualifications, and whether I could do the job, have always stood me in good stead interviews, not cosmetic alterations that may deceive the more shallow. |
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The words "cracks" and "paper" come to mind.
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No, it is not papering over the cracks - that doesn't help at all - and that's not what I'm advocating. If you have guests around to your house and the kitchen is a mess but the living room is tidy, which room do you take your guests into? It's about highlighting the positive and before you say 'well, you're hiding the kitchen' I'm not, I'm just not mentioning it and I'm certainly not telling anyone it's glorious, I'm just showing off the positive. |
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We really will have to disagree on this one. I'm with Willow. Papering over the cracks, may be a short term solution, and make you feel secure, but ultimately your house will fall down. |
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And for one final time - I am NOT advocating papering over the cracks. The cracks are there and they are completely visible for everyone to see. All I'm saying is that there are also, alongside the cracks, some good features and we shouldn't lose sight of them. We shouldn't let the cracks be the one and only feature that we talk about.
If we start talking about the good things and perhaps embracing new ideas we might get a more positive attitude which will give a good impression to outsiders and the investors who can afford to fix the cracks might start coming back to the town. Ironically, if we sink much further we'll manage to hit the bottom of the pile as far as wealth/investment etc goes and we will become classed as such a deprived area that the government will have to start ploughing millions into the area. |
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But there are still a couple of issues. I've never believed that government should do everything. There are some things government can and should do, like schools and roads, for instance. There are other things that individuals or businesses can do better. Also, from a purely personal point of view, I find it rewarding to work on improving my community. When a group of us accomplish something, we get a sense of accomplishment and self-empowerment. We also discover that we can make a lot more things happen - in part because we find we can personally accomplish more, in part because people see our success and want to lend a hand, and in part ecause our accomplishments help us to gain the cooperation of our the local government. Garinda, it's not a matter of papering things over or having a rosy outlook. It's a matter of being positive enough to believe that I can drive changes. It's been my experience that folks who are consistently negative have a much harder time getting improvements made. I can recognize problems as well as anyone else, believe me, and there are plenty of things that could be improved. I just prefer to recognize them with an eye towards changing some of them. Some personal reflections on how I choose to live. Works for me, but it is a very personal choice - your mileage may vary! I would be a very unhappy, miserable S.O.B. of a fellow indeed if I found my environs to hold little or nothing worthwhile and also felt that there was little I could do to improve things. On the other hand, if I can find some good things around me (and they can be anywhere in the range from the spectacular to very simple pleasures, like conversing with friends or singing sily songs in the front garden, drink in hand, on a Summer evening) and feel empowered to improve some of the not-so-good things, I find life to be fulfilling. As a result, that's how I choose to live. Given the sad events in my life this last year, with Eileen's death, this approach has helped me to keep moving forward and begin the healing process as well. |
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Rather than illustrate my points about "things we can't change but changes we would like to see" in this thread and maybe take it too far off its original course I have started a new thread on the subject.
However, I would like to say that I'm sure most of us happily do our bit for our own bit and more (like picking up stray litter as well as just not dropping any, but we can't take over from the council -we can't do the bin emptying etc or even put in a tender for it if we don't own a company with big trucks). If I had a kitchen that was falling down I'd prefer to actually repair the kitchen rather than just make sure no-one went in there. Yes I know Gayle, you didn't say "falling down" and just said "a mess" but a mess when not attended to can often get much worse - stitches in time saving 9 and all that. |
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Bill, we've met, and I hope got on. I agree with you, on a lot of what you said. I do consider that I am one of life's optimists. The glass is most definitely half full, because I keep it topped up regularly.
What I do disagree with however, is two things that were raised in this thread. One being that we should never 'knock' our area. I think it is our duty, if we see something that can be improved by our doing so. Secondly that people who aren't seen out and about in the community actively doing things, don't have the right to voice their opinions. The second one really made me angry, as it's both patronising and presumptuous. I very nearly felt I had to justify myself, by listing the things I've done in the past and do now, but that would have defeat what I think, and what I respect about a lot of the true altruistic people that I know, that make the community I inhabit a better place to live. |
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I agree with you about keeping the glass half full (or better)! Regarding the right of folks who wish to complain but who don't try personally to address any of the problems, I will agree that they have the right to voice their opinions. Heck, they have the right to stand on their heads and recite the telephone directory for that matter. I don't care to listen to them in either case. While it is their right to complain, I hope you will agree that it is my right to choose to whom I will listen. It has been my observation that folks who do nothing but complain don't seem to succeed at finding many willing listeners. The same holds true, at least for this listener, for those folks who find their excuse for inaction by taking the position that everything is wonderful and there is no reason for change. I try to take a balanced view - Some things are great, some are not. Praise and maintain the good stuff. By all means use it as a marketing message for your community. Identify the not-so-good stuff and suggest improvements (a positive approach, better than complaining, with the added benefit that your ideas on how to improve things get an airing) or start one or more of the improvements yourself (far better than complaining). Frankly, garinda, I think that we are agreeing on a lot of points. Hope to see you with the glass full to the brim in December! A thought from Margaret Mead, "Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." Pretty good stuff, IMHO! |
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Thanks for the info Bill, but Galactic law still states that I can't marry one of you humans, of either gender yet.;)
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There as one thing always puzzeld me in the early 50's the council's always kept there respective towns very tidy and clean like today everyone who had property paid there respective rates and each year due to cost of living went up so the council would up there rates to meet the demand of that cost. Now today I am sure the councils do just the same but where does the money go it sure as hell does not get spent on the towns, It does not take rocket sciences to work that one out who are the ones driving a round in flashy car's who are the one's that live in there big houses .
But all this gripeing wont do a thing only you people can do this at the poles, and make them resposable for there actions . |
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Have you ever seen "Yes Minister"? I think Hyndborg BC is a bit like that. :D
I was talking to a friend in town yesterday and asked if she'd seen the stall on Tuesday with the development ideas. Her rsponse was "Waste of time. This council will never do anything to improve the town." Grr, grr, grr! :mad: |
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I must agree, that if people realy want to change things, then it starts at the ballot box.
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I've lost count of the councillors I've voted for who said they were going to get something done about the rubbish. How come a lot of the things they say in their campaigning just never happens once they get elected? The ballot box isn't the be all and end all. We still have every right to complain if promises are conveniently forgotten. I'm not talking about the pointless "nothing will ever improve" sort of whingeing. I mean the "You are answerable to the voters so what are you going to do about it?" sort of complaint!
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It's a pity that we can't have a vote of no confidence, if the promises are carried out. That would certainly make them act.
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No confidence if the promises are carried out? :confused:
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doh !
I mean't AREN'T, obviously. Where's the "edit" button when you need it? lol :eek: |
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Sorry, that target was just too tempting! |
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