Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

there's the older fella with glasses (it's his stall), then my dads cousin Dave (small fella with a grey beard) then the younger tall lad

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

The market hall, whilst looking superb for the most part, is certainly not finished in my book. Dodgy flooring and ramps, raised drain covers and ten empty stalls on the ground floor alone. It must be said that the occupied stalls were superb and the footfall was undeserving of the quality on display from the traders but something is clearly lacking on the higher management side.

Having spoken to the stallholders they are clearly not happy with one person in particular (and you know who you are).

It's a real pity because it has the potential to be a top-notch market.

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

Traditionally, Tuesday was the busiest market day. Second only to Saturday.

Sadly this is no longer the case, and 'Knock Off Thursday', or as it is more quaintly known, the Flea and Collectables Market, now produces the largest footfall

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

Mossy did you ask about the rent increase?

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

I did indeed, Shaz. Some of them have had it increased by 50% overnight and traders who have been there for generations are now on the verge of leaving.

At least there is a massive brass plaque dedicated to Cllr Peter Britcliffe, Leader of the Council, for his work renovating the Market Hall.

Well done.

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

I have a strong feeling that this will be PB's white 'elephant in the room' ;)
.....his downfall brought about by his own vanity

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

I thought he was a white elephant?:D

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

wonder how long it will be before someone pulls the plaque down and weighs it in?

i'll congratulate them when they do

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

I prefer it to stay there, so that people know who is responsible for the whole fiasco.

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

this is true

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

It would be far better for someone to take the reins properly and sort it our for the poor stallholders.

After what I saw yesterday, the solutions are glaringly obvious but it will be hard to get the grabbing Tories to see this.

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

I was in the Market Hall today and can't believe just how poor it looked. The floor isn't safe for anyone unsteady on their feet either. What a waste of money.

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

Can i ask 2 things ....

1. Wheres the sweetie stall gone ... spugs needs his fix of coltsfoot rock ... and if ossie mills is shutting in accy where else will i get it from...

2. Whats an old settee 2 old chairs a table and a kettle doing in place of a market stall at the far end near where them stairs are .. saw this last week .. and if anyone says thats art ...

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

.....provided for the local winos?

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

It's not art!!! :D

But it is the place where the artists are using for a few weeks.

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

Hi, sweetie stall still there. Go in side door, nearest to Town Hall, and its there, looks good too! Taken over what used to be the first butchers stall - to your left as you walk in.

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

Yep i'd agree with that too! Whilst i must admit the flooring does actually Look better in its original form, its not comfortable to push a wheelchair user around because its uneven.

Best Regards - Taggy

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

The official tally of empty stalls is three, although we counted ten on the lower level. Most of the units upstairs were unoccupied as well and the rent being asked was ludicrous.

The coffee shop on the upper floor was also barely ticking over which, bearing in mind who owns it, might account for the tremendous push to get market traders working six days a week to increase footfall (which it won't).

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

Think that's a bit unfair , Winston Churchill's father was a well known degenerate who died of syphilis and his mother an immigrent American jewess , would you hold that agaist his son ? ;) :confused: :confused:

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

Possibly would, but his plan during the general strike CERTAINLY Would.;)

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

Yep , my Grandma ("Red Maggie" ,Blackburn weavers union ) would have agreed with you , she hated the guy :D :D

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

Me n yer nan woulda got on famously steely.;)

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

I'd never wish anyone to fail in business, particularly someone self-employed, but bringing an entire market hall to heel just so that your son might get a few more punters in his coffee shop is just not on.

Of course I'm only speculating, it could just be a huge coincidence, but no other market that I can think of forces its stallholders to open six days a week. There's also a whole layer of management (Quarterbridge) who should have been fired off after renovations were completed but it seems that we're still paying them as consultants.

Why, if Cllrs Britcliffe and Haworth are pulling the strings?

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

Probably so they(PB and MH) have someone they can lay the blame on.

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

I know! I'm a cynical old sod.

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

It seems that we're two of a kind then, Margaret! The situation is symptomatic of extremely bad management and the poor stallholders are being treated in an appalling way (and for the benefit of whoever it is at HBC that Peter Britcliffe pays to read AccyWeb, those are the ones who actually make the Market Hall what it is).

Vast swathes of money are being wasted in Hyndburn due to the bloated vanity of one man and we could save an absolute fortune if he was excised from power.

Expect to see his name on a few more brass plates by the end of the year as well. He is currently engaged in some rather dubious tactics to exclude the Mayor from opening events so that his own name can go on the wall plaques instead. Ask Malcolm Pritchard if you don't believe me.

We need a level headed Leader of the Council, not an egotistical dictator.

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

Ken, I do not need to check on what you say, I have eyes in my head.
I cannot abide this self aggrandising megalomaniac.....the sooner he is gone, the better I will like it.

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

Cheers.

Thanks a lot.

:D

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

Be sure to pass the messages along....


(:thefinger)

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

Where were you three years ago?

Hyndburn was very nearly rechristened as St. Petersburg and Districts Borough Council.

http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/f...xed-31135.html

:D

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

Much as I'd love to wade through dozens of pages, I got the idea after the first few posts. Another bright idea from Britcliffe Central.....

I'd love to know what goes on in TheLeadersOfficeHBC that makes so many councillors vote unanimously in favour of such birdbrained, self-serving schemes.

It's like a dictatorship or something.

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

I think St. Petersburg was only decided on, after Megalomania and Districts Borough Council was rejected, for sounding too eastern European.

;)

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

Great Britcliffe? A conglomeration of authorities headed by a monarch?

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

Please stop Ken.....I have run out of anti nausea pills and I am in danger of ruining the best brussels.
any ideas as to how to remove sicked up toasted Brioche off a deep red carpet?

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

I presume 'great' is being used as an adjective, meaning larger, rather than outstanding?

Where's Little Britain, whoops, meant Little Britcliffe?

Or is it too small to see?

http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2007/...b__300x456.jpg

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

Thank you for your enquiry, which has now been passed on to the relevant department. You should receive an answer within 7-10 working days.

You see, really got the hang of it, haven't I?

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

oh Ken :D by that time I will need advice on how to deal with maggots and mould too :)

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

That's the trick though, Margaret, it is hoped that within 7>10 days, the problem will have been either killed or cured .... or you will have forgotten about it. :D

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

Not a chance Kate. I would be like a dog with a bone......would gnaw at it until there's nowt left. Am nothing if not persistent.:D

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

Been told today that 7 day trading is being pushed for now

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

So Peter never changes ! Worked with him for years in the 90's.

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

I went to see Marlene Haworth yesterday with Cllr Clare Pritchard and in fairness to her she heard us out. I asked her to be specific about terms of a review of 6 day trading and she conceded to put it in a letter to the traders. I would far rather work with a Conservative counterpart in ironing out the faults than watch the whole project descend into collapse.

The problem as far as I can see is that whoever is responsible for putting the work into the Market Hall, Peter Britcliffe is seen by the traders as the figurehead for the enforced changes, despite the fact that it was emphatically stated yesterday that he has had virtually nothing to do with it. Perhaps the brass plaque might have had something to do with that, Peter?

No one wants to see the Market Hall fail but I don't think anyone would push for 7 day trading at this point. Even the most egotistical of council leaders would see that as suicide, surely?

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

could it be .. the council pushes for 7 day trading .. the traders then think 6 days isnt so bad .. and agree .. so they get what they want .. the 6 days trading ...

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

That makes a great deal of sense wi that devious toad as leader.;)

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

The fact remains that nobody wants 6 day trading, the council think that it's getting them to move into the 21st century though which is the killer.

It is completely the wrong move even considering it, in my opinion. I was told on Tuesday that the traders are being told to sign up to a three month trial period of 6 day trading rather than being forced into a permanent 6 day contract but even so.....

When all the booths on the upper level are on 6 day leases you can see why the stallholders are concerned about the term 'review period'. I have asked the council to be far more specific about the details of the review and Cllr Clare Pritchard requested that footfall is compared to the previous seven years rather than simply last year when the Market Hall was full of scaffolding.

I'm all for gentle evolution but at the moment it's difficult to see anything gentle about the new lease from the traders' point of view.

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

Didn't the 'Busmans cafe' upstairs above the Market Hall operate 6 days a week ? not sure if it had an entrance from the Market Hall though , happen just is own from near the bus stops

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

wasnt that just for the bus drivers .. ran by hyndburn transport .. their drivers rest area for when they were driving .....

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

Nah mate the enterance was a door by the owd Blackburn bus stop, used to use it meself.;)

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

thats the place , no idea who operated/managed it (Accrington Transport, or the Accrington Council ..... in the days before Hyndburn) , but we never had a problem using it when attending Sandy Lane Tech , thought it was open to everyone .

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

it was open to everyone, near sure was owned by Transport.:)

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

It was used by everyone except the bus drivers and conductors.They used the Nags Head.:hehetable

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

Accy transport crews certainly did.:D;)

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

A cafe is different from a market stall in that it is probably a prudent move to open 6 days a week and thus is worth paying the extra staff required.

A market trader (probably working alone) has to have a day to re-stock the stall and also have a day off. In order to cover staffing requirements for 6 day trading you actually need to employ two extra people in order to cover breaks, as laid down by the Working Time Directive.

If you're self-employed you can work what you like without a break but most employees don't feel the same way.

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

Working that extra day also costs money(staff, electricity, time etc)....money that doesn't seem to be finding its way to the traders....so it is an uneconomic proposal. Now if, let us say, the council were to slash the stall rents for the proposed length of time of the trial.....just so that the footfall could be measured, and the economic possibility could be more accurately determined....then perhaps, just perhaps the benefits(or not) could be proved and the stall holders would be more amenable.

Failing that, what is wrong with opening the market hall so that the cafes and the upstairs units can operate, along with any stall holders who feel they can afford to trade?

HBC needto keep the Market Hall stall holders on their side, otherwise the money that they have paid out in refurbishments will go down the pan.

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

Peter Britcliffe's comments in a local paper recently, where he claims he was worth every penny he received, just shows what an egotistical, arrogant, overrated, megalomaniac he really is...I'm still waiting for a reply to a letter I sent him 6 weeks ago !!!

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

Margaret, you're talking sense again, cut it out please. This is the Britcliffe Administration.

Following my meeting with Marlene Haworth, I found out yesterday that my name is on a letter to the market traders which is so cleverly worded as to imply that both myself and Cllr Clare Pritchard AGREE with the six day trial period!!!

In actual fact, we're resigned to the fact that this little scheme is going to be rammed through with little regard to the practicalities or cost implications and are simply trying to make the best of a bad situation for the traders.

Rest assured, if I ever get anywhere near the driving seat the situation up there at the Market Hall will change drastically.

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

Don't hold your breath, Simon.

The Civic Theatre in Ossy was due to be officially opened by the Mayor on 4th September. Britcliffe asked if Malcolm would step down in favour of him opening it instead and when he refused he simply cancelled the opening.

I'm sure there will be a legitimate reason for it but I'm willing to bet a substantial amount that Malcolm Pritchard won't be invited to the revised opening day.

Of all the great wonders in the universe, there is nothing so supermassive as Peter Britcliffe's ego.

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

How very democratic....ramming a situation through will not make it work, and may put the viability of the market hall in jeopardy.

Ken I sincerely hope you do get a chance to alter things.......after all a change(in the right direction) is as good as a rest.

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

Over the past two weeks I've been putting together a proposal which will completely alter the way the Market Hall is run. Financially, it's a bloody mess but there is absolutely no reason why it needs to be.

Greed and egoism are ruining it and if it fails then only the traders and shoppers lose out, the councillors will be safe.

What a relief.

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

My theory is that PB goes round with a smug smile on his face because he always has in mind a culprit he can blame when the doo doo hits the fan.

I am intensely distrustful of him.

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

Oh, that's a no-brainer. Everything that goes wrong is the fault of Graham Jones. That's been the stock response for several years now, even when he opens the fridge and the milk has gone off.

Just remember next May that a vote for the Conservatives is automatically a vote for Peter Britcliffe to remain as council leader. I say that with genuine regret as there are some Tory councillors who do a good job but it's the only way that we can get rid of him.

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

Please get your facts right before dragging the Civic Arts Centre into this.

For a start it was not the Civic Theatre that was due to be officially launched, it was the newly refurbished Civic Arts Centre.

The original date was the 12th not the 4th and the official launch event has been postponed - not cancelled.

The Centre is very much Open and there was an Open Day on the 22nd August. The Centre is up and running and very much open, please don't go round saying that the opening has cancelled as that implies that we're not operational and we are.

The official launch event was POSTPONED because there are three big projects happening in the run up to the event (two already happened) and the third next week. The Board and I decided that we didn't have time to do the Official Launch Event the justice it deserved so have bought our selves more time. Plus, some of the board were unable to attend the date of the 12th, so the Board of the Arts Centre made the decision to POSTPONE the event.

Peter Britcliffe will undoubtedly be a huge part of the rearranged Official Launch event (and was always intended to be) as it was he that has championed this project from day one and it's in his ward. Don't forget, the Labour Party opposed this project and voted against the capital expenditure.

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

I'm always willing to be corrected, Gayle. Thank you for putting me straight.

However, it still doesn't get away from the fact that the Mayor's invite has been withdrawn so that Peter Britcliffe can open the event. Malcolm Pritchard wanted to open it, something which would be part of the duties of any Mayor.

Peter's grubby politics regarding mayorality this year are not only tarnishing the respectability of the position but also events that are linked to it and the opening of the Civic Theatre is one of them.

I'm told that a visit to the theatre on Thursday (which regrettably I had to pull out of) showed the building off as an impressive piece of work but the project had no performance standards in place , something which is a basic scientific principle on any experiment.

Whatever your side of the fence, we're talking about several hundred thousand pounds of public money and I would expect that anything on that scale to have a measure of whether it was gauged as a success or failure. It doesn't and on that point I am not best pleased.

Peter wants the Civic Theatre to be one of several monuments to his time as Leader of the Council and however good your relationship with him may be I'm afraid I cannot condone anyone who uses public money to inflate his own ego without proper regard to the consequences.

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

As I am a member of the board as a Trustee, Ken, I am bemused that you appear to know more than myself about who is on the invite list for the Formal Opening of The Civil Arts Centre.

As Gayle has mentioned, this event has merely been postponed due to other commitments, and there is no change, as yet, to whom we would like to invite to formally cut the ribbon. Cllr Britcliffe has been heavily involved in this project from start to finish so, no doubt, will be playing a large part in the ceremony.

It is a shame that you did not appear at the Open Day last Saturday to get an inside view of projects already booked. The centre is not just for the people of Ossy, but for the whole of Hyndburn, and would have been good if you could have returned to your constituents in Rishton to inform them of this new facility and interestings projects for them at a minimal cost.

Please take another look at your crystal bowl so that I can inform the other members of the board what to expect will be our decision. :p

www.civilartscentre.co.uk

Ok .. thread wander .. but you started it... LOL.

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

I've been accused of worse things, Kate....

I have nothing against the Civic Theatre itself and can see the wider good intentions for it but it is becoming little more than a trophy for Peter Britcliffe which is demeaning the whole thing. There is an uncomfortable amount of sloppy accounting involved with the actual allocation of funds and we're talking about a lot of money, sums of which I'm sure you're already fully aware of.

Peter's jiggery-pokery with the eventual invitations is well known within the corridors of HBC as it is going on with a couple of other things as well. As I've said before, in the run up to next May expect to see Peter Britcliffe's name on as many brass plaques as are due to be unveiled in Hyndburn, not Malcolm Pritchard's.

Gayle's mention of Labour's stance on capital expenditure implies that I'm entrenched in a Conservative/Labour argument here, which I'm not. What annoys me is that one man is pulling the purse strings of an entire borough just to satisfy his own ego and get his name associated with as many things as possible.

Hyndburn is suffering as a borough because of what is being dictated by that man to the masses.

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

I neither love nor hate Cllr Britcliffe, Ken, and have not had many dealings with him as I live in Clayton, however, I can see that as regards the Arts Centre he has worked tirelessly to give Gayle the support that was needed to bring this project to fruition. Whether if for his own self-ego, yes, maybe .... but does not negate the fact that it was put to good use.

I have not seen any sloppy accounting as yet ... everything has been accounted for and spent very carefully to get the best out of the funds that were available.

The ongoing operating accounts of income/expenditure are now in the process of being set up with the utmost professionalism.

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

Like I said, don't think that I'm in any way against the theatre simply because it isn't a Labour project or anything so superficial. I genuinely hope that it proves a long-term success in just the same way that I want the Market Hall to work but the way money is being organised at Scaitcliffe House to pay for such things is truly shocking.

If I had control of the purse strings then neither project would be threatened but there would be far more long-term planning and budgetary reviews than simply standing up and saying 'I've spent £1m on this, aren't I wonderful?'

The Market Hall is a very good case in point. It looks superb for the most part but the actual administration of it is utterly shambolic and I'm trying to find out just how much money is being wasted on it each month by having a layer of management that we simply don't need.

The market traders are the heart and soul of it so drive them away and what have we got left?

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

Again, this implies that I was having a go at the way the theatre itself is being run, a misunderstanding for which I apologise.

I have heard very positive things about Gayle Knight and it seems that the project is now in safe hands but the original allocation of money from council funding was done without any sort of in-depth research and the performance standards that I'm looking for were never in place.

The blame for that lies with the council administration, not the theatre.

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

I think you are maybe getting a little confused here, Ken. There has now been some funds allocated for refurbishment of 'The Theatre', which is entirely different to the Arts Centre. It is in its infancy as yet, and groups that use 'The Theatre' are being asked what they consider is the best way to use this money... e.g. new lighting, new sound system, new seating,etc. So, lots of studies still being don on how to spend this money.

Have you ever visited our Civil Theatre ? Please do, is the only one we have in Hyndburn.

Good luck, however, with your efforts to help the Market Traders ... to bring it back on thread.

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

My replies haven't been very clear, it does sound like I'm a bit confused!

If the Theatre and the Arts Centre have been done up to the same sort of standards as the Market Hall (barring the doorsteps...) then I'm sure they look superb. I will get around to visiting one day soon because, as you say, they are for all of Hyndburn and not just Oswaldtwistle.

The projects that Cllr Britcliffe decides get funding and how he goes about doing it are not so even-handed, I'm afraid. The Market Hall has gone way over budget and is still not completed, plus money is haemorrhaging to a consultancy firm.

I would implore any council to instigate performance targets prior to spending on any project within the borough. This is not the case and smacks of hoping something works rather than planning to succeed.

I'm simply concerned about how taxpayers' money is spent.

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

Haven't you signed the pledge yet, that forbids courting public controversy, in your elected role?

No?

Good.

:D

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

No comment, your Worship?

Seeing as you're online.

http://thebsreport.files.wordpress.c...oice.jpg?w=400

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

I used to love the Accrington market hall and loved Blondie's cheese stall. Bought big hunks of crumbly delicious Lancashire cheese and brown eggs. Liked the clothes and handbag stalls and meat stalls. The outside market seems to be doing a disappearing act. I hope things pick up again, in time for my visit next year. Just love the lancashire markets-is the Burnley one still alive, not to mention Blackburn?

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

Yes, both are still going.

The Blackburn one is undergoing something of a revamp at the moment which may or may not work in its favour but I was there with my wife last weekend and it was thriving, a real hive of activity. If we can get the Accrington market up to anything like that level then it will be the jewel in the town centre.

We do need occupied stalls first though....

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

Blondie's cheese stall?????? Where please?

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

'PLANS to revamp more of Oswaldtwistle Civic Theatre are back on the cards following a VAT windfall.'

'An additional £300,000 will be spent on improving the first floor theatre space itself, following the unveiling of the ground floor Civic Arts Centre on which £400,000 has been spent.'

More of Oswaldtwistle Civic Theatre to be revamped (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

Perhaps it is/was Greenwood's? Remember that well, both inside and outside the Market Hall and i seem to remember that there were a couple of blonde ladies worked there.

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

Clarrie Greenwoods daughter was blonde....and she worked on the stall.

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

Oh I knew who you mean now, she at one time kept the jewellery shop next door in the market hall. Then they sold out, didnt they, was it Christine who then owned it (she used to work on the stall originally.)

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

Gosh, I don't know.......I worked on the market years and years ago......Clarrie owned the stall in the market and they had one on the outside market too......I know his daughter worked on the inside stall....and I know she was blonde......I also know she was scary...she could stop you in your tracks with just a black look. Maybe it was because I was just a slip of a girl at the time.

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

What a story. It would never have been threatened so long as Britcliffe is Leader but he's still managed to paint himself as the hero.

He increased his own budget by £650k last year to encompass this and the £600k VAT windfall came ages ago. There's another story flying around that he's saved the council £1.9m this year but those two figures are included in the total so it's not really a saving.

He's also increased his own Cabinet fund by £40k this year but all this money has to come from somewhere and it concerns me that we'll have nothing left in the pot come next May, regardless of who wins the local elections.

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

I just want to make a public apology about this post. I shouldn't have added the final line - what do they say, 'act in haste, repent at leisure' I may be paraphrasing.

I regret saying that Labour opposed the project as it's not strictly true. They did vote against it at the council meeting but they had their reasons for that. The truth is that many of the Labour group were very supportive of the project from day one. It was always included in Labour's budgets and some members were very keen to see it go ahead.

I don't want to get caught between a very public 'rock and a hard place' so it will be much better if I bow out now.

Apologies to anyone that I have offended.

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

For anyone who is interested, myself and Cllr Clare Pritchard will be bringing the Market Hall up at various points through the course of the evening at the next full council on 14th September. The market traders have already been invited to come and sit in the public gallery but it will be interesting to see how Peter Britcliffe and Marlene Haworth avail themselves in front of their target audience.

I imagine that Independent Cllr Dave Parkins of Huncoat will also chip in with his opinions as it is a subject very close to his heart.

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

Mmm, might be good if a "party" of Accywebbers went. Anyone up for it?

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

Cllr Britcliffe apparently can't make any comments on the Market Hall at the council meeting as he has a personal and prejudicial interest. It seems not to have stopped him before:

Accrington Market Hall Relaunch

Accrington market hall's £2m revamp unveiled (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Call to end Accrington's Wednesday half-day trading (From Blackburn Citizen)

Car park plan for Accrington bus station (From This Is Lancashire)

Internet cafe business opportunity at Accrington Market (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Market development opens in Accrington | Facebook

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

Nobody seems to have mentioned the folk that have to keep the place “spic an span” or at least as “spic an span “ as possible within working hours.

The market is at least two porters down (unreplaced after they left/retired) also a part-time cleaner down (retired and unreplaced). The new workload for those remaining involves cleaning all the new glass surrounding the balcony, the new staircase, the new balcony itself, three new toilet areas (public toilets and disabled toilet), the new lift and probably a few other bits that I cant think of right now.

The hall floor used to be cleaned every Wednesday(wet cleaned , scrubbed and the residue sucked up using a machine) also on Sunday. Not allowed to do that when the place is open to the public. That machine is now defunct, due to the nature of the floor.. Apparently a new machine is being sourced, If its up to the task maybe it will get a quick push around.

Main point of my post is that the Market Hall is understaffed, folk have left, retired… whatever, workload has been bumped right up

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

They will probably contract out the cleaning to be done at nightime.
That involves cheap (and often untrustworthy) labour.
It happened at Melbourne House after I left, and staff were having items stolen. So stall holders will need to increase their stall security if they can.

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

Bonnyboy does the cleaning on the markets Margaret, and a good job of it he does too

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

They are required to have one cleaner on duty during trading to clean up any health and safety hazards.
I hope he is the one they keep on.

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

Its the simple art of "Worming yer way outa the crap" Ken.:rolleyes:;)

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

Points 12-16 of the Hyndburn Market Handbook deal with this:

12: A trader shall not interfere with the requirements of the council for cleaning the floors of the market.

13: A trader shall keep the stall and the area immediately surrounding the stall clean and tidy throughout the day, and place all refuse in the receptacles provided for that purpose by the council.

14: A trader shall take all reasonable precautions to prevent blockage of sinks, pipes and drains and in particular shall use all communal amenity parts of the market, including the stairs, preparation rooms, toilet and storage accommodation in a clean and proper fashion. A trader shall on demand pay the council any cost incurred in cleaning any such blockage as aforesaid or in cleansing or repairing any sinks, pipes or drains or in cleansing the said communal amenity parts arising out of the fault or default of the trader or his employees.

15: A trader shall have no claim against the council for any loss, injury or damage sustained through fire, theft or other cause whatsoever nor shall he have a claim for compensation for loss of goodwill or otherwise on the termination of a licence or at any other time and all traders shall indemnify the council from and against all actions, proceedings, damage, loss, claims, losses or outgoings of whatever nature arising out of a traders use of any premises on the market.

16: It shall be the responsibility of the trader to insure his stock, fixtures, fittings and any other valuables brought into the stall or storage against damage by fire, theft or flood.

In other words, you're on your own boys. Point 15 is a belter.

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

In reference to point 15, why does it say 'nor shall he have a claim'.

Is this not applicable for the female market traders?

They should take a test case to court, if that's the contract they signed.

Not very politically correct is it?

I thought H.B.C. supported equality.

Or does that just mean everything we get comes in three languages?


Gender
a) to eliminate unlawful discrimination and harassment
b) to promote equality of opportunity between men and women
http://www.hyndburnbc.gov.uk/downloads/SESfinal.pdf

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

...........and a Mickey Mouse agreement between the Council and the traders!

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

Not really on their own though.

Point 16 actually covers point 15 and you are not allowed to trade if you don't show your insurance. If I was trading in there I would rather deal with my own insurance and make sure I'm covered properly than trust the council.

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

Not quite 100% correct, the office is fully staffed ;):D

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

Yes, well it would be wouldn't it?

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

Yep. He knows I'm winding him up, we've had a few discussions about it :D

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

My letter regarding this issue is in today's Lancashire Telegraph:

Concern at Hyndburn's six-day trading week (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

What are the council saying? That the traders are being stick in the mud?

If there really was a demand for 6 day opening from the general public, why would the traders fight against it? They are the ones who would profit most from it.

I would go with the traders who know their own business. The Council will never succeed by co-ercion.

Re: Market Hall Refurbishment
 

The traders are living in the past wanting Wednesdays off to re-stock their stalls. There are millions of people who want to go to the market on Wednesdays and Sundays but those pesky stallholders are ruining the place.

It's not like the rest of Hyndburn shuts down on Wednesdays or anything, is it?

Mind you, they're all stuck in the past too according to the Conservatives.