Hang your heads in shame!
 

Some time ago the Council were most miffed about an act of vandalism perpetrated on the war memorial in Oak Hill Park, first mentioned on these very pages. So much so that the Police were despatched to aprehend the vandal and give him a good dressing down. And quite right too!

Take a look now at the act of council sponsored vandalism pictured below. This is the borough's most beautiful war memorial situated in Gatty Park and visible to everyone who passes along Hyndburn Road. Bear in mind also that we are barely a month away from Rememberance Sunday.

What sort of signal does this send to the young, who know little enough of the sacrifices made during two long and bitterly fought wars? And what does it say about Hyndburn Borough Council, who allowed this to happen??

Re: Hang your heads in shame!
 

What on earth are they supposed to be doing?

Re: Hang your heads in shame!
 

I have no idea, but the place looks completely trashed.

Re: Hang your heads in shame!
 

I loved that park spent many happy hours then when I was a kid:confused:

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dont know what they are doing,but they have done away with the path above the bowling green,and the benches,where me n the dog used to sit and watch the bowls.:(

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At least there is work going on and it looks like they are looking after the place, would be a different story if just the rubbish and no sign of any work, hopefully it should be looking its best by Rememberance Sunday

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Looks a complete mess what a shame. Why can't they just leave things alone?

Re: Hang your heads in shame!
 

agreed all it needed was a bit of sprucing up.

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I don't know what's happening there and it does look a bit of a mess at the moment but it appears that there is work going on so when that's finished it won't look a mess. I wouldn't call it vandalism. Vandalism is destroying things and leaving them or graffitti on walls/objects/monuments etc. Whatever is going on in the park will only be temporary, work like that always looks a mess before completion, it's not vandalism though.

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Ok .. bin at it again.

There was an application by HBC for a new pedestrian walkway for entrance into the park from Hyndburn Road (South East corner) which was passed in July and not sure if this has already been done and, if not, would it affect the bit you have photographed ?

Look at the map and decide for yourself :-

Gatty Park Interactive Plan

Re: Hang your heads in shame!
 

I wouldn't have thought so we will just have to wait and see end result.

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Things always look worse before they look better!

You can't judge it yet!

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Yeh, just like a zit !!

No, sure it will be an improvement of some sort.

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I spent many happy days there in years gone by. Why the hell does progress have to be so bad? I will happily remember how it was.

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Why are some people being so sensationalist? It looks as if there is work going on to improve the area. Why is that a bad thing?

Yet another over reaction.

Re: Hang your heads in shame!
 

I agree TM; the work on the park is to remove trees that were in danger of falling over and also to relandscape the borders that were so overgrown and old that you couldn't see the bowling green and therefore you couldn't see the yobs playing football on it ! Now you can see it; the work is well underway, the footpath has been repaired and it won't be too long till it's finished. There !:D

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Memory Lane or what? I used to run down Holland Street, across Blackburn Road, down Swiss Street, across Nelson Square..........Gatty Park!! I spent most of my childhood running around there and a bit of courting too.

I'm sure that they will restore it to it's former glory.

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Yes June my childhood memories revolve around Gatty Park:D

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As for night time antics (involved in some) when we leapt the wall in summer the less said the better. Mind you they are all good memories mind. :eek:;):D

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They were Spuggie J, and running up the back path to Milnshaw Park was a good day out too.

My Nana used to stand outside our house up the top of Holland Street, shouting for us to come home. She could be heard for miles. Such good days.

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With luck by the time I sneak back to Accy it will be completed. :D

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Would hate to think that someone decided to fell them for design reasons.

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I’m with the good Lady Knight on this one although I can understand Bob’s concern, I would say that it’s good to be pro active and alert people to these things early, that way action can be brought to bear rather than us kicking up when it’s to late, it’s also nice that people are prepared to go out and find answers to questions rather than the old soap box approach. Can I ask does anyone know if there is a local commission or agency to monitor, maintain and preserve our memorials I include indoor and private memorials in that as well?

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The surprising thing about this episode is the failure to provide a protective jacket to the Memorial while the work is being undertaken. I recall reading somewhere of a Gatty Park improvement scheme costed at a five-figure sum; it seems peculiar that site management could not find within this budget a small amount to cover the Memorial.

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I'm not concerned about the mess with it being work in progress I'm pleased the council are improving the park, spent many an hour there as a small child.

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Seems quite a few of us have fond memories of Gatty Park:D

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Yes we do and should be happy about it being "fixed" but the "thrillW we felt when younger would not be the same. With luck though once it is sorted kids will years from now have fond memories the way that a good few of us do on hear. :D

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To make a good omlette, you have to break a few eggs...

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I'm sure it'll be back to it's grand self in no time :D

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Hope it is just such a shock when you see your childhood memories in tatters!!!:( But as someone said earlier you've got to crack eggs to make an omlette:)

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I had a walk round the park today and I think it's looking good, all new footpaths, some trees have been removed but new ones have been planted, their doing something at the kids playground but not sure what, I didn't go that far down but I think they are laying that sponge floor stuff.
They have removed the bushes that was dividing the bowling green and the park, its more open space now, probably a good thing nowadays, you never know whats lurking behind the bushes.
They have removed the top path near the bowling green but they have made it into a garden area, should be Ok when its matured and we get a bit of sun to make things grow in it :rolleyes:
Made space for disabled parking in the park and according to the notice they have up there is going to be some ornate railings put up around the bowling green.
That parks really tiny now, seemed massive when I were a kid :D
Had a stroll up Owd Bob's after, aint been up there for years :)

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Came past today in a car, things look really good from what I could see. It looked like they were tidying the area round the War Memorial so things should be ready for Rememberance Service.

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it does look a bit of a mess but like you say it will probably look better when they finish the work.

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All looks good to me .. lovely posts at entrance, pedestrian walkway completed ... well done HBC and Parks people .. just A-B over-reacting this time.

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The memorial at the corner of Rhyddings Street and Union Road in Ossy was getting a good jet washing by some bloke with a massive tow along pressure washing machine.

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Sounds like they are really trying to make things look better this year (and so they should as we have quite a lot of lads fighting....(and dying) all round the world and they should be remembered too.