Originally Posted by cashman (Post 914510)

i was stopped 3 times last week fer money or fags, perhaps some don't want to upset saint Dorothy?:rolleyes:

Originally Posted by Wynonie Harris (Post 914278)

Something else which local councillors seem very reluctant to comment on. Funny how they're falling over themselves to come on here and tell us when they've been successful in getting travellers moved on, but when it comes to more awkward problems like this, there's a deafening silence!

Originally Posted by Neil (Post 914545)

Yesterday we went shopping in Blackburn and then Accrington. We wanted to go to the three shop and I wont shop in the one in Blackburn because I told the little (insert nasty horrible word) I would never shop there again after he would not send a phone of my son's for repair.

Blackburn was busy, very busy really.

Accrington was dead, the shop I wanted and many others were shut.

I understand what you mean about the people but what do you do about that?
Councillors will never openly comment about that problem because these are the people that vote them in.

I have said it before but I think Accrington town centre will die off and close, I think many small towns will suffer the same fate. I think the whole area is suffering from the way society in general appears to be now. Many people dont care about where they live any more. There is no sense of ownership. then again some people dont care how there own house looks so why would they care about the town centre? just look around you when you walk, drive, or ride the bus and look at some of the properties you pass.

In my opinion our Council does not help. We were in the Poulton-le-Fylde area on Saturday collecting some eggs. The place was so lovely and well looked after, wonderful flower displays planted on the street side and grass verges neatly mowed. I commented to Rhonda that the verges must be looked after by the big house we just passed but they were all like that. In my opinion their Council is leading by example and I dont think ours does.

When our streets, footpaths and back streets are uneven, falling to bits and full of litter, Council owned buildings and parks are shabby and uninviting it makes people think why should I bother, nothing I can do will make a difference.

So I think its time for Hyndburn Borough Council to should show us how to look after our Borough, our towns and our green spaces. Lead by example and pull your finger out!!


Sorry about the rant, I got a bit carried away.


Not all people think the way I said many do, I know and work with lots of people who love our borough and put a lot of time and effort into making it a better place to live, we just need more support.

Originally Posted by Wynonie Harris (Post 914548)

Neil, taking all that into account, the LAST thing this town needs is yet another problem on top...a problem that is particular to Accy. As a frequent visitor to the town, I've noticed over the last few years that there seem to be a high number of people in the town centre tapping you up for money or dossing around in a generally wasted condition. This doesn't happen to the same extent in other surrounding towns I've been to or even in Manchester. As I don't live here, I couldn't understand why this should be, but from reading other people's posts I'm starting to gain an inkling.

What I would like to hear from Graham Jones and from members of the present town council - Ken Moss (when he's back from his hols), Bernard Dawson and Claytonender - is what their views are on this problem and how they think it should be tackled. Is that too much to ask of them?

Originally Posted by Neil (Post 914545)

Blackburn was busy, very busy really.

Accrington was dead, the shop I wanted and many others were shut.

Originally Posted by Wynonie Harris (Post 914548)

What I would like to hear from Graham Jones and from members of the present town council - Ken Moss (when he's back from his hols), Bernard Dawson and Claytonender - is what their views are on this problem and how they think it should be tackled. Is that too much to ask of them?

Originally Posted by Ken Moss (Post 914566)

I never made it on my hols, been working away for most of the month.

It can't be denied that Accrington town centre needs looking at but to be honest I'm probably one of the least qualified people to talk on the subject as I'm nowhere near as familiar with its history as someone like Bernard or Clare.

I've said it before but each time I go into Accrington it extracts money from me and I'd far rather go there than Blackburn if I can help it.

Originally Posted by Wynonie Harris (Post 914571)

No holidays, Ken? You're working too hard!

As you have just said, you go into Accrington centre, therefore you're qualified to talk about it. Never mind about the "history", it's what's happening NOW that counts.

Do you accept that, whatever the reason, there's a particular problem with undesirables in the town centre over and above other towns?

What do you think the council should do about it?

Originally Posted by garinda (Post 914573)

They are doing something. Bending over backwards.

Reduced property rates, and giving the Freedom of the Borough to the chief facilitator.

Originally Posted by Wynonie Harris (Post 914571)

No holidays, Ken? You're working too hard!

As you have just said, you go into Accrington centre, therefore you're qualified to talk about it. Never mind about the "history", it's what's happening NOW that counts.

Do you accept that, whatever the reason, there's a particular problem with undesirables in the town centre over and above other towns?

What do you think the council should do about it?

Originally Posted by Ken Moss (Post 914582)

However, the council can only do so much and the success or failure of local shops must ultimately rest with private enterprise.

Originally Posted by Ken Moss (Post 914582)

Perhaps I've just been very lucky but I've never been tapped up for money or come across anyone I would class as undesirable. All town centres have their fair share of people who simply have little better to do than hang around on benches but I'd say that Accrington's populace is generally representative of the demographic. We're in a depressed area and we could throw all the money in the world into Accrington but it still wouldn't help the people who actually live here if they can't afford to shop there.

Originally Posted by Wynonie Harris (Post 914593)

In that case your experience has been different than mine and quite a few people I know including a number of members on here. You say "all town centres have their fair share of people who have little better to do than hang around on benches" but it seems to me that downtown Accrington has more than its fair share who are doing far more than just hanging around. Like Graham you seem to confuse the problems that any small Northern post-industrial town will be suffering at the moment and a problem particular to Accrington.

I remember you once saying that Accy has a good town centre infrastructure for a place its size and I think you're right - it just needs using to its full potential. However, you can't even make a start on realising that potential until that problem is sorted. But as you think that problem doesn't even exist, you're obviously not going to do anything about it.

Originally Posted by Ken Moss (Post 914582)

Perhaps I've just been very lucky but I've never been tapped up for money or come across anyone I would class as undesirable. All town centres have their fair share of people who simply have little better to do than hang around on benches but I'd say that Accrington's populace is generally representative of the demographic. We're in a depressed area and we could throw all the money in the world into Accrington but it still wouldn't help the people who actually live here if they can't afford to shop there.

Originally Posted by Ken Moss (Post 914596)

There's no getting away from the fact that we're in a depressed area which has also taken a further beating from the recession. There's bags of room for improvement but the council doesn't have pots of money to throw at things and private investment is not forthcoming in many areas right now.

Originally Posted by cashman (Post 914598)

Perhaps the reason yeh aint been tapped is the fact yer a "Non-Smoker"? its lethal to even consider lighting up, particularly on Abbey St, without being a magnet to these people, as i was twice last week as i left me fav coffee shop to have a fag after me brew. i go oer bury once/twice a week n have never had that, nor in blackburn, so i must strongly disagree that its generally representative, no way hose is my view.

Originally Posted by lancsdave (Post 914584)

Does that mean we can club together and hire a security firm to clean the streets ? ;):D

Originally Posted by Neil (Post 914627)

Yesterday 2 teenagers were riding bikes on broadway, a PCSO asked them not to and they basically just laughed and carried on.

That would not happen in Blackburns Mall because it is private company owned so the security will just chuck them out.

Just been down Accy to the bank and eye shop. There were several groups of late teenagers just hanging around with nothing better to do with themselves. Its groups like this that make the place look uninviting to older people. Being a young lad they dont worry me but they will put many people off coming into town.

Originally Posted by lancsdave (Post 914650)

Should have videod it, some people don't beleive this sort of thing happens in Accy :D

Originally Posted by Neil (Post 914662)

I like people watching its my sort of sport.

Originally Posted by jaysay (Post 914696)

Glad to see Kens already got the knack of ducking and diving and passing the parcel to other that know about the situation but seem very reluctant to air their views

Originally Posted by Ken Moss (Post 914697)

No John, it's my own special method of dealing with things I don't know enough about.

Unless you'd prefer a local politician to simply spout a load of claptrap just to see his own words in print?

No one who did that would garner much respect....