The Accrington Observer
 

How many of you buy this each week? It is widely recognised that most of the local politicians get the paper but what do people actually think of it?

Now I get on well with the Rishton reporter but there never seems to be an awful lot of news concerning Labour and Independent councillors and given that the editor of the paper is credited as a judge on the Freeman of the Borough awards it seems understandable that it isn't exactly the most neutral of publications. It is notable that the Conservative councillors who are up for election in June are suddenly appearing with increased regularity as well.

However, since being mentioned on AccyWeb I notice that the number of cheques that are photographed being handed out has dropped off considerably, with none at all this week. I also see an article regarding the Spring Street derelicts with quotes from Cllr Britcliffe distinctly at odds with the claims in their own public newpaper In Touch that state Cllr Horne has succeeded in securing demolition. The power of Accrington Web!

One question remains: just who is D Pratt of Plantation Street who gets a letter printed in every edition?

Re: The Accrington Observer
 

he/she is probably related to A.Pratt

Re: The Accrington Observer
 

i get it .. not every week .. but more often than not .. depends if i remember to buy it ...

Don't buy it, do read it if it's in the pub .
Ignore the letters page.
If I guess who d Pratt is, as with lobby ludd, if I'm right do I get a prize?

Answer, look on mirror you chose to be a Councillor.

Re: The Accrington Observer
 

bought this weeks, cos i wanted to read the ayatollahs ramblings, just to remind me what a complete ****** he is. first i bought this year, used to be a regular buyer when it was a good local paper.

Re: The Accrington Observer
 

i found the ink left marks on my backside so i switched back to loo roll

P.S. Ken, you seem just lately though very often to use phrases such as "How many of you", rather than, "how many of us".

Re: The Accrington Observer
 

True, but I know that I buy it so I chose in this instance not to ask myself.

Good point though, noted.

Re: The Accrington Observer
 

My thoughts haven't changed, since I posted this, last year...

http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/f...all-55566.html

Re: The Accrington Observer
 

Before your time, but it was once a truly great local newspaper. Especially when it was a broadsheet.

Today's feeble facsimile doesn't even compare to the old Midweek Accrington Observer.

Printed news has changed.

People want information instantaneously, and for free.

Sad, but not much can be done about it.

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Sums it up for me. I bought the Observer yesterday for obvious reasons but don't normally buy it. Don't buy any paper unless there is something in I know about and need to buy it.

Re: The Accrington Observer
 

I, along with fellow committee members, were photographed in the press last year, receiving a cheque on behalf of the Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Parkinson's disease support group.

Truly, we were very grateful for the financial support we received from the council, and Peter Britcliffe. If it wasn't for him informing me that there might be funding available, I would never have thought of seeking funds this way.

Resulting from the photograph's publication we attracted some new members to the group, who needed help and support.

Nothing to do with politics, but this year I've decided not to apply again for a grant from H.B.C.

Cuts mean peoples' jobs are likely to be axed. We will find other ways to raise money. I am applying to Ribble Valley B.C., who have yet to cough up a penny.

Regardless of why we were awarded this money, we were genuinely grateful, and it did make a real difference to our members.

The first year we were given it, no publicity at all was sought.

Last year it was only at my suggestion, and no one elses, and we were grateful that the ensuing publicity resulted in us being able to offer support to more people affected by Parkinson's disease.

Fair's fair.

No politican used us to gain publicity.

That was purely down to me, wanting it for our group.

No politican forced, or even suggested the award should be publicised.

Re: The Accrington Observer
 

quite sad that the only thing that increases sales of a paper is a story about toilet closures hand gifted to them from the public and not by anything of quality or interest done off their own back.I may take a look online to see if they mentioned how these toilet closures benefit the council leaders sons buisness yet inconvinence everyone else visiting accrington.

i notice comments on the site are closed for teh toilet story so i guess they dont want to hear what the people of accrington have to say about this nor their customers

Re: The Accrington Observer
 

Don't waste your time, it's not online

Re: The Accrington Observer
 

its here but like i said the comments have been closed

Accrington latest Blog Archive Town toilets closure not ‘inconvenient’ – council leader

its what i got when i clicked on their website anyway

Re: The Accrington Observer
 

Cheers for that. I only looked in the news sections, didn't even know they had a blog section :D

Re: The Accrington Observer
 

Why would comments be closed on a brand new story?

I got the same message.

Re: The Accrington Observer
 

Wrong question Ken- It should be WHO has got them closed?

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The same reason the protest was removed on Monday from outside the toilets, a call from Scaitcliffe house :rolleyes:

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After commenting on here about it's quality as a newspaper, I presume all emails from 'garinda', seeking help with publicising our meetings, go straight into the trash can.

Be warned, Cllr. Mossy.

Not that this thread's in anyway critical of the Observer.

:rolleyes::D

Re: The Accrington Observer
 

I looked at the link, intending to leave a comment, but the blog is closed to comments........so even if we think the closure of the public toilets is inconvenient....we are not enabled to voice this.

Back to the question......we get the Observer delivered with our morning paper......it has become a habit.
I have become quite disenchanted with both the Observer and the Lancashire Telegraph...neither of these publications seem to be able to report local news accurately.......recently I have toyed with the idea that it might be better to kick them both into touch......and save a bit of money into the bargain.

Ken, Mr D. Pratt and Mr A grady have been contributing to the letters page for as long as I can remember.....I think it might be what they consider to be a 'hobby'.

Re: The Accrington Observer
 

D Pratt has been writing to the Obs for over 25 years Ken, I remember from the time when I was a very regular contributor, I actually don't think he has any political leaning at all

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It's the cuts.

Probably find that by closing the comment facility on this story, it will save £10,000.00 per year.

:D

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I live in fear of the Scaitcliffe Cyberman coming after me and screaming 'Delete'.

However, the raging cynic in me wonders about the ethics of such a paper apparently being so biased towards the controlling group, particularly as they are moving to offices within the new Market Hall shortly.

Re: The Accrington Observer
 

Those were your glory days.

He was a very poor imitation.

There was only ever one real Pratt.

;):D

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Well it is an award winner.

Even if the paper isn't.

:rolleyes:

Re: The Accrington Observer
 

This award that they won......did they take the judges round the new Tesco........?
If our market won, then they must have visited some pretty dire places......Murmansk perhaps!

Re: The Accrington Observer
 

I agree wholeheartedly G. think its taken a nose dive even more since Mervyn left, he was always very fair, and very even handed politically although he certainly didn't have the same views as myself, a lot of the former reporters were ace and actually took the trouble to get off there backsides and go out into the community and didn't just sit on the end of a telephone to get there stories

Re: The Accrington Observer
 

Since I no longer buy it, would some kindly soul still inform me when the Hyndburn Glasses Wearing Hunky Snow Covered Pet of the Year competition is please?

Er...I have a 'friend' who might want to enter, as along as the prize isn't Tesco vouchers.

:)

Re: The Accrington Observer
 

Agreed.

Though in respect to it's current reporters, I'm guessing there isn't the funding to go out sleuthing, and pounding the streets.

It is sad, but there isn't the revenue in it there once was.

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They know when it is, but are keeping the information until July when they fear there will be a dearth of news and they want to have something to print.

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Okay, but please keep an eye out for my 'friend'.

It might be hard to spot.

July and August is usually awash with the pull out and keep Prom Specials.

:D

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Prom Specials....the sign of a quality newspaper! :)

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how can they say that Accy Market Hall is the best in the UK? is Bury not in the UK? or is it the best because no one in the UK other than Accy actually have a Market Hall?

what a loada bollox, something else made up by that Britcliffe thing?

oh and why are half the market stalls in Accy empty? i counted at least 5 empty stalls today....has he put the prices up on those too? and today being a Market Day, i expected there to at least be SOME market on

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...and that's not counting the stalls that have disappeared, and had their empty terrain liberated by....well now't really.

Just empty space, which used to be the location of market stalls.

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At what point does the square footage of business units compared to square footage of retail units in a building change it's legal status from a Market Hall to an Office Block ?

Re: The Accrington Observer
 

sorry, i should have put...on't Th'outside market

Re: The Accrington Observer
 

Same on Tueday, as well as Fridays.

Once both bustling, thriving market days, until the market was 'improved'.

Heartbreaking, walking through now, past all the empty stalls.

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walking through is all i ever do now, there are no stalls of interest to me anymore

thats coming from an 'outsider' god knows what people think of the town who come in from further afield

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Mr Pratt is a popular resident of Peel Ward. He votes the same way he says at every election. Very nice conscientious man who is in his late 80's.

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They can scream 'delete' at you as much as they want, if its on this forum you can't delete it and HBC would need to go through the correct legal channels to get something removed.

It would be different if you asked for something you posted to be changed though. We have edited peoples posts at there own request before.

Re: The Accrington Observer
 

Do many people lie about who they vote for?

If they do, how is it possible to know, in a secret ballot?

Did you really vote for Karen Buckley, in the last General Election, despite what you lead us to believe?

She was very nice.

We'll forgive you.

;)

Re: The Accrington Observer
 

who ?

oh yeah that person who the conservatives chose to represent them despite no connection to accrington other than her grandad broke wind here once or somthing.What was wrong with putting up a local candidate with a long standing history in the area lol

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I'll have you know I worked very hard, helping raise poor Karen's profile in Hyndburn.

After she received very little help fron the local Tories.

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Seems shes forgotten us now.:s_whistl:

Re: The Accrington Observer
 

To be fair, the summer season did start right after the election.

There'd be skirting boards needing to be wiped down.

Donkeys to be groomed. Nevermind waltzers requiring oiling.

She was busy.

I for one, forgive her bad manners, in abandoning her Hyndburn kith 'n' kin.

:rolleyes:

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Donkeys........theres n Ass up new lane, could have got herself in there.:D

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Were the Plods informed ??? :eek: Such a heinous practice !! Was it on-line ?? ;)

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Don't even go there.

There's no evidence it was given drink and drugs in Blackburn, before the late night journey to the Golden Mile.

http://www.smsowner.com/wp-content/u...ey-300x225.jpg

Re: The Accrington Observer
 

Interesting question, although I have to say I heartily approve of the Accrington Observer being based in Accrington again, regardless of where the office/business unit is.

Fair's fair and kudos to Cllr Haworth if she's managed to do that on her own.

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I've come over all funny and weak at the knees Ken after that statement:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::end: :D

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She hasn't forgotten us, she will never forget us, why?

Because I won't sell her the negatives!

She will carry the stigma of Hyndburn to her St Annes grave, (if her neighbours will allow someone that has rubbed shoulders with the common man into such a prestigious place).

P.S. A nice enough girl but Oh! so, SLOW, she just doesn't realise, a digital camera has no negatives.;)

Re: The Accrington Observer
 

No doubt they can get around the legals by having back copies of the paper for sale, (they must have plenty of those).
:)

Re: The Accrington Observer
 

No, credit where it's due, this is a positive move for the town. Just because we may have different views about how the Market Hall is run doesn't mean we're opposed on everything.

It's got to be better for a local paper to actually have a base in the area it reports on!

Re: The Accrington Observer
 

Oh I totally agree about the local paper thing, its just you actually agreeing with Marlene, thats knocked me all to kilter mate:D:D In fact I think you'll notice I've only just come back on line since my last post on the subject, I've been lying down in a darkened room :D:D

I've been watching footbal actually lol