Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

Load of twaddle, they had no influence whatsoever, the decision was made by the Town Centre Manager

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

Perhaps the creative thinking (that's putting it nicely) Town Centre Manager might next demolish the actual Market Hall.

Which should certainly rectify the problem of pigeons roosting there.

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

Who may or may not have been getting some earache from market traders

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

Yea right :rolleyes:

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

I first thought it unbelievable.

A politican; listening to people?

Then again, after a moment of quiet contemplation, Irealised it could be true.

Listen to a few...and sod the many.

She'll probably be fast-tracked onto Labour's parliamentary shortlist, for exhibiting such imaginative and decisive thinking.

:rolleyes:

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

The Town Centre manager is a he, and is not a politician. It's a full time position. Did you not know we had one ;)

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

I do beg your pardon.

I'm getting my Town Centre Managers mixed up with my Deputy Leaders.

Cllr. Clare Pritchard, who 'oversees the town centre’s regeneration'.

Anger at benches being taken away from Accrington (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Silly me.

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

Ah yes, the article that was a load of bunkum :D

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

Either way, whoever was responsible for removing the benches, the decision was...
idiotic!
:mad:

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

...and who is this mysterious Town Centre Manager answerable to?

Did he just wander into the area, and decide to take on the mantle?

Or was he appointed by the council, say?

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

No idea, the town centre only consists of the market hall and outside market

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

Stop it.

You'll have people thinking you are a disgruntled town centre business owner.

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

I might just be a Hyndburn citizen who has concerns how my council tax is spent ;)

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

Absolutely agree 100%.

Like your over the top analogy re. the Market Hall, same type of solution according to our council ... just slightly smaller.

I know some of you criticise the Police on this, but they are overstretched and putting someone on guard practically 24/7 would not be practical... hmmph .. you would grumble about that !

It's not a serious crime drinking in 'no drinking' areas, but maybe a raid would be a good idea now and then.. :) Can only move them on and confiscate their alcohol but perhaps we should be a little harder on them with heavy fines and custodial sentences. Zero tolerance on smaller crimes is where it all starts in my opinion.

It is more of a social crime, but letting this crime affect the rest of us by removing the benches and penalising those who like to sit there to rest their weary legs during their shopping trips, is not the answer.

Bet the perpetrators are laughing their heads off.

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

yeh they are kate- Up Church Street.

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

Deck chair hire could be made available.
(Drunks not allowed to rent them).

It is a facility offered in London parks in the summer.

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

Exactly !

:D Can you imagine a drunk trying to erect a deck chair.
Do they breathalyse them first though ?

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

Groove thinks a town centre manager would most definitely be influenced by some digruntled market trader, especially if the market trader threatens to go to the Obsever and kick up a stink about it, what with the money spent on the market hall refurb etc...Groove believes the spending cuts are also an issue and they cant afford to have officers consistently checking on these bench dwellers all the time, when nmbers are being drastically cut...Groove remembers drinkers sitting on these benches 30 years ago and wonders why the big drama now?

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

It's just as well I take my own seat with me when I visit the town centre Rindi:rolleyes:

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

Some body with a bit of initiative could make a mint selling tickets for that event:D

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

Groove was talking to one of the former bench dwellers in town this morning, who blamed one person in particular for being rowdy and aggressive, swearing and the final straw was him puking up beside the butty van were people were sat eating their dinners etc.

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

Ah! So Groove is an acquaintance of the bench dwellers...that explains a lot.

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

There's a novel idea. :D:D:D:D

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

I might be wrong but I don't think there actually is a Town Centre Manager at the moment.

The four man team in the Regeneration department currently only has two team members. One left in Jan and there used to be a dedicated Town Centre Manager but he retired earlier this year and I don't think either have been replaced. So I suspect that between them the two remaining have picked up some of the Town Centre Management stuff.

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

I suspect they will probably have got some poor oik,to pick the benches up.:D

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

These Benches, they weren't metal were they ? Are you sure it was the council & not metal thieves ? :D

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

no dave if they had been metal,would have considered nicking em meself.:D

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

They don't call ya fingers for nothing:D:D

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

Those trees outside the Market Hall are horse-chestnuts.

An innocent little kiddie could be blinded for life, if they looked up just as a conker felt the pull of gravity.

The council should fell 'em.

It's a terrible incident waiting to happen.

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

They are all sat on an empty market stall this afternoon, presumably they will take all them away soon. At least it will make space for the bus station :rolleyes:

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

A little bird told me this afternoon that the councillors were only informed "After" the benches had been removed, in fact knew sod all about it prior. n i regard my source as very credible.;)

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

Like I said the story in the LT was a load of bull, and I don't think the councillors really should have defended the decision

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

No they shouldn't.

They should have said who was responsible.

Who had the authority to remove them?

Did pixies, working for Alcohol Anonymous, come under the cover of darkness, and take them away?

All I want to know, as someone who uses them, is when are they coming back?

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

Ya mean I missed it Dave

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

The pixies probably had HBC on the pointed hats;)

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

Don't visit Accrington as much as I did, now there aren't as many welcome places where I can sit, if I have to, but did venture there today.

Disappointed to see the benches still haven't been returned.

Not suprised to see a group merrily sat supping, on the wall of St. James Church.

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

I have one of these - it folds into a walking stick - a little bulky as walking sticks go, but I have been glad of the chance to sit sometimes.

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

Thanks Margaret.

I do have an invaluable folding stick, I whip out when needed.

I'll research, to make sure this stick can take nine stone...on each side of the seat.

:D

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

On second thoughts, rather than having to buy my own seat, I'll just carry on shopping more often in other places, which haven't removed their benches.

Where it seems those who may need a seat, the elderly, parents, the disabled, or even just the weary, appear to be more welcomed.

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

Have they taken the benches from there too Rindi:eek:

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

No, not yet.

Probably just fancied a change.

Alcoholics need a little change of scenery too, from time to time.

;)

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

Well was just asking because the weather looks set fair for a trip down town for me on Wednesday and my mate George needs a place to rest his weary legs when we stop, after pushing me about the town centre for an hour:D

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

Thanks fer the warning,i'll give accy a miss next wednesday.:D

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

I think somebody took away the public today, never mind the benches !!

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

Yes, it's a shame.

Sadly people are voting with their feet, and slowly shuffling off to places where they feel more welcomed.

Perhaps they should scrub 'Accrington - Floral Market Town', for 'Accrington - So Busy it's a Standing Room Only Sort of Place'.

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

Hear there were lots of people sat around on benches in Blackburn and Burnley town centres;)

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

Of course it's not a fortune, but because of this stupid decision to take away these benches, which on many occasions I've had to use, a fair percentage of the money I normally spend in Accy, as been spent elsewhere.

It rather makes a mockery that we have an official H.B.C. 'Disabled Persons Champion' in Cllr. Malcolm Pritchard, when facilities used by the many, including the disabled, are removed because of the few, for the most ludicrous of reasons.

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

are these the same 'LL's' that used to be outside M&S and then the old job center?

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

Malcolm is not a Councillor any more, he was not re-elected at the last election.

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

I apologise.

I've never known a H.B.C. website have out of date information before.

:rolleyes:

As far as I can ascertain, Hyndburn's Disabled Peoples Champion is now Labour councillor Graham Molineaux.

I hope he's enjoying sitting on his arse, even if many aren't.

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

Well its obvious he's sitting on his hands on this issue, maybe he's been instructed to do so, which seems the norm;)

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

It would be interesting to know just how many actual places to sit there are in the town centre, compared with what we used to have .

There are certainly many less benches on Broadway, than when we had those that used to be around the flower beds, when the road was open to traffic.

Unlike the few we have there today, they didn't stay wet, for hours, and hours after it last rained, due to their shoddy design.

Pre-Arndale, on photographs it looks like there were plenty of seats in the sunken garden, if people wanted to take the weight off their feet.

In the seventies there were rows and rows of benches in front of the Market Hall, as well as that big map, which you could press buttons on, and light up various points of interest.

At a rough estimate I'd guess we have less than a third of the seats on public benches, than we've had in the past.

It doesn't give a very welcome impression to those visiting the town centre.

Especially if they haven't been for a while.

Perhaps the government should scrap the number of gypsy sites councils need to provide, and introduce an enforced seating quota. So many per benches per 10,000 residents.

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

He is actually, he's still the County Councillor for Accrington North:

Your Council

He'll be up for re-election in 2013 when all the County seats are contested.

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

Thanks for the info, Ken, now what about these bloody benches;)

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

May I direct you to this post here..... http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/937122-post82.html

The experiment is still under review I am led to believe and it was a joint decision which was influenced by the police. The intention is still to put the benches back in the near future but I have detailed all the reasons for removing them in my previous post and they remain the same. I am led to believe that it has has the desired effect, however.

For all those doomsayers who feel that the removal of a bench or two has kept armies of shoppers away from Accrington because they can't have a sit down, might I suggest one of the pubs or cafes that Wetherspoons is supposedly killing off?

A simple suggestion to improve trading conditions straight from one of your local councillors....

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

Which was the pish heads now sit elsewhere in Accrington town centre, and people like myself, and others who may have needed those benches to rest awhile, now shop elsewhere?

Great.

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

A decision which was influenced by the police.:eek: um bloody marvelous, maybe if they did the job they're supposed to and moved the offenders, people like Rindi might just have somewhere to park their backsides and have a rest whilst shopping in Accrington, so they recommend moving the benches instead, another bloody cop-out and the easy option:mad: Me thinks you would have been frothing at the mouth if this had happened 12 months ago;)

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

Not especially, particularly as the police are trying to do as good a job as they can whilst facing cutbacks and greater demands from the public every day. Arresting the drunks doesn't work, would you care to suggest to the local police how they could better solve the problem? I'm genuinely sure they'll be delighted to hear anything constructive that residents have to say.

It's not ideal and no one is pretending that it is but I haven't heard one solution put forward on this forum.

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

Oh super.

Have the council come to an arrangement with any other commercial premises in Accrington, in which they are happy for people to sit and rest, without spending a penny?

Is there a list available Cllr. Moss?

As for 'doomsayers', other than anyone involved with running the council, I'm yet to read any post that supports the decision to remove these benches, and think it a good idea with which to rid the town centre of drinkers.

Mainly because it hasn't worked.

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

Start at post 1 and read, just might get a clue or two, mind you I did say that within 6 months of taking control the ruling group would soon find the best ways of fobbing the people off, wasn't far off

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

Which includes removing these benches, which were used by many.

The alcoholics simply sit elsewheree in the town centre.

Just because you can't see something, doesn't mean it's disappeared.

This decision has solved nothing. It's merely shifted it.

Busman's already posted the drunks now sit just round the corner, annoying those trying to queue for a bus.

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

Or even just read #49, which sadly sums up the situation perfectly.

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

No, and I still haven't heard a credible solution to actually getting rid of the drunks as opposed to simply moving them on. The intention was to move them away from the Market Hall and that has worked. It isn't ideal but neither is a urine-soaked bench and whilst I don't particularly either support or decry the removal it was an attempt to address a problem. Sometimes solutions work, sometimes they don't but either way someone somewhere will always be offended.

The benches will be going back at some point as I have said at least twice in this thread. In the meantime, all the surrounding towns have benches and car parks where you have to pay instead of the free facilities in Accrington. Weigh up which is the bigger injustice.

I remember being previously criticised for not recognising the problem of drunks in the town centre and yet now the council has attempted to remedy the problem this also is a failing.

Come up with a credible solution, write to me and I will put it to the council.

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

It was a stupid decision.

It hasn't resulted in the drinkers leaving the town centre.

The only single person who doesn't think it ludicrous happens to be a councillor.

Go figure.

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

So, if they're 'going back' at some stage, what on earth has been achieved?

Other than not providing a welcome place to rest for the many non-drinker who use them, do you think their removal will mean the drinkers will never return, because their memories aren't too good?

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

I don't ever remember saying that it isn't ludicrous or that the intention was to move them out of the town centre. I have said that it isn't ideal and that the intention was to move them away from the Market Hall.

You make comments and expect answers yet when you get them you don't read them so post more comments.

No wonder your post count is so high.

Go figure.

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

Where?

Can you name all the surrounding towns, where you have to pay to sit on a bench?

Could you please list them, so as I can avoid them, when I'm shopping in places other than Accrington, as I now do.

Thanks.

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

But there has been no satisfactory answer as to what has be achieved.

Firstly by removing the benches, and then, at some unspecified time in the future, putting them back.

I'm sure we'd all love to figure that.

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

Fun Boy Three - The Lunatics (have taken over the Asylum) - YouTube

:mad:

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

...and who made the decision, as no one has actually said, so far.

Almost like it's veiled in secrecy.

Who was it?

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

There are some comfortable seats just inside the Halifax on Union St.I was sitting on one on Monday when an elderly lady sat beside me and inquired as to who I was waiting to see.

I replied know one and explained that I had just come in for a rest and to shelter from the cold.:p
She looked back aghast and in amazement.:eek:

All was going well till my daughter chirped in with.

"Ignore the old fool he's waiting for me":mad:

'Twas then It dawned on me that this could be the solution to the bench problem.

They do that little bit Xtra.:D:D

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

I'm sure for some this is no big issue, and a fuss about nothing.

For me, it isn't.

They are on the route we take when we shop in Acrington.

On at least hald a dozen occasions I've been happy to sit there. Having needed to rest, or being unable to walk. It's more comfortable to sit, than it is to lean against a wall, when this happens.

I've honestly never sat there with drinkers. It's usually chatty old ladies, who want a natter, in my experience.

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

Is the no alcohol zone, or whatever its called, still enforceable in the town centre or are the signs just meaningless and not enforceable like many other sign HBC use to try and make people be good?

If they are enforceable why are no arrests made?

Why are the police not arresting these drunk people under the laws they already have instead of ignoring the issue?

Sorry to be asking you the questions as its not your area but your the only councillor taking part in this thread at the moment.

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

That's easy for most folks to figure out.

Many questions are answered with totally unsatisfactory replies...or are met with deafening silence.

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

Post, like penis envy, has never really been a great concern for me.

Though I do try and be sympathetic to those it is a worry for.

Like everyone else, if I think something needs saying, I'll say it.

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

Thats called passing the buck to me Ken,:rolleyes: everyones aware its the polices job, using cutbacks as n excuse "Not" to do there job is pathetic in my view, or are the council in too cosy a position wi em to apply pressure?

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

Looks like you won't get an answer to this one either. :rolleyes:

He's a great side-stepper is Mr Moss - all this " they will be going back at some stage" - but always no specifics. Perhaps he's practising for the next General Election - I wonder if he can see his reflection in the screen as he's writing and is smiling too;):D

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

There have always been drunks of course....

Visited the village of Heptonstall last year, in a corner they had the original "Lock-up" where in the past the village drunks got deposited until sober. It was constructed out of brick was only a few meters square and had only a door - no windows or facilitiesand looked pretty damp and dirty. I expect it worked for most after one or two visits....:rolleyes:

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

In fairness as Neil said he is the only one attempting to answer the question, I can only assume from the answers given I suggest he is only telling us what he has been told and is not directly involved.:rolleyes:

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

In fact Ken, you could do me a favour, and prevent me wasting another couple of hundred posts.

Have a word with your old mate Graham Jones, and get him to answer the question as to why he said one thing on here, that he has no problem with an E.U. referendum, as it would settle thing democratically, then voted against giving us this right.

http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/f...ing-59650.html

Thanks.

I'll wait, leaning against this wall, seeing as there are no seats, until you get him to reply.

;)

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

But who is involved?

Ken said it was a 'joint decision, influenced by the police'.

Who made the joint decision?

Did P.C. Plod have a word with Noddy, and Big Ears?

Who was it?

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

The Kinks - Tired of Waiting - YouTube these lads might know mate.:rolleyes:

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

I think it's time I mentioned Hitler and put this thread to bed.

Not to ram home the point about people ignoring the facts they have already been given but......

http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/937122-post82.html

This decision is nothing to do with me although I have no qualms about answering questions on it if I have the facts to give. The facts have been placed right in front of you and you still aren't happy so what exactly do you want me to tell you that would satisfy you? Apparently the police aren't doing their job so you could always try asking them.

Accyweb has all the answers but, like me if Mobertol is to be believed, you are all doing a lot of side-stepping.

What is the solution?

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

Ken, you know I like you, but all I want to know is who authorised the benches removal, so don't take this personally.

Unless it was you, then you can do.

:D

This isn't political.

Cllr. Clare Pritchard was quoted in the paper, but we were told it was nothing to do with her.

Then Dave mentioned a town centre manager, then Gayle posted it can't be them because there currently isn't one.

All I want to know is who is reponsible, so I can contact them directly and say I think it was a daft thing to do.

Yes, what I think is influenced by the fact that I've genuinely used them to sit on, because of mobility issues arising from having Parkinson's disease, whilst the person I was with kindly got the rest of my shopping.

I've honestly never had any trouble with any drunks whilst sat there, nor did I notice any smell of pee.

I don't care who, or what decided to remove them. I just want to know so I can try and pursuade the person/body concerned to put them back, sooner, rather than later.

So I can park my big sorry arse down there again, if needed, along with the many other non-drunks who used them to rest awhile.

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

...and yes MargaretR, regarding your stupid comment that Parkinson's is a chip on my shoulder, which makes me argumentative.

I've always been this way, when trying to right something that's plainly wrong, but I did mention the fact I have a disease which affects my mobility on this occasion, because it was relevant to the subject being discussed.

Which in this case is the removal of benches, appreciated by many, but removed because of the few.

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

To be honest, when I've been down Accy this year on quite a few occasions, I never actually saw any drunks sitting outside the market hall, in fact I actually mentioned to to George at the time

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

Perhaps people think I'm the drunk, that's always sat there.

Shifty looking, loads of bags...probably full of bottles of meths, shakes a bit...alcohol dependent.

It's me!

I'm the friggin' problem.

That's not pee, by the way.

It's Van Cleef & Arpel cologne.

;)

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

When is the councillor, who is a member on here, going to take charge of the situation, Clare Pritchard is responsible for the town centre, its no good having all these title then sitting on your hands doing sweet FA, a bit like Nero fiddling while Rome burned

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

We've been told it wasn't anything to do with her.

But Clare, if somehow you can pull some strings, and make them magically reappear, I for one woud greatly appreciate it.

As would all the other people who use them, who aren't alcoholics.

They were used, and needed by many.

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

Its a bit like the Leaders column in the Obs, he doesn't use that either, strange very strange

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

It's odd really.

Time.

Especially when regarding politicans.

It doesn't seem two minutes since I was posting my distress, at one or other, of the stupid things the council were doing, or planning to do.

Then I was labelled by a few as a 'Labour apologist'. Probably because the council happened to be run by the Tories at the time.

Indeed I got many gleeful messages of support from various Labour councillors, encouraging me to carry on my good work at highlighting various issues.

Now, a mere six months later, dare to criticise a ludicrous decision, and we have a Labour councillor posting that we're all 'doomsayers'.

Well Ken, I can only speak for myself, and not every other single person who's posted their opposition to these benches being removed, but my opinion isn't in the slightest bit politically motivated.

Selfish? Yes, I'll hold my hands up.

I, like others, appreciated being able to sit and rest on those benches.

I don't give two figs which bright spark thought removing them would rid the area of drinkers.

For one thing, no one's got the balls to actually say who was responsible.

Saying it as it is.

It hasn't worked.

The alkies are still in the vicinity.

The only difference is, those who genuinely appreciated the benches being there, miss them.

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

'If' stall holders, or the burger van, complained, why not just move the benches further away from the building?

Problem solved.

As stated earlier, in the seventies there were rows, and rows of benches on this site. Easily accommodating dozens of people, and with no anti-social behaviour.

Where are the benches being stored?

Just reposition them outside the Market Hall.

Everyone's happy.

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

Perhaps thats too simple?;)

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

Could be Health and Safety issues...with falling conkers.

No, you're right.

Seems simple.

Then again...

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

Thing is ... not only who was the deciding authority in taking them away .. who will give the order to put them back, seeing as it is temporary like ?

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

We've been informed that these benches have been removed, on the authorisation of person/s yet unkown, and are to be returned, at some unspecified time in the future, as an 'experiment'.

What's the conclusion so far?

Has their removal reduced the risk of our town centre alcoholics indulging in drunken fistycuffs in the area?

Or are they just as likely to be making a nuisance of themselves on Broadway, in Church Street, or as Busman informed us, in Peel Street bus queues, at the side of the Market Hall?

Perhaps if whoever's responsible holds their hands up, we can ask him, or her.

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

i was down accy today ... and there are benches .. ok not in front of the market - but in front of the town hall .... not far from the market .. so why not sit on them instead ...

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

Er....I have done.

If I happen to have been near those when my legs freeze, and my mum can get me there.

Since we shop in the Market Hall, or used to, before the benches were taken away, they were the ones I sat on more often. Our usual route doesn't go past the Town Hall, but thanks for your concern.

Freezing in Parkinson's Disease - What is Freezing in Parkinson's

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

As I said my own frustration is purely selfish.

As they happen to be the seats I've used more often than others, whilst shopping in Accrington. I sit there, when I've needed to, whilst someone else gets the rest of my shoping.

Every single person who posted in this thread thinks the decision is wrong.

All except two people I count as friends. A Labour councillor, and a Labour party activist.

Since no one has admitted which numpty is responsible for this decision, but oddly some seem a tad defensive, if the defenders do happen to know who authorised their removal, could you please inform the public, so we can contact them directly, asking that they are brought back?

Thanks.

Re: HBC have taken away the benches from outside the market
 

Right, let's settle this then everyone can climb down off the moral high ground.

Firstly, my apologies for not always replying straight away. Things such as work and sleep occasionally prevent me from being poised with an arsenal of answers at my computer screen 24/7. When I don't have those answers I will try to find out or at least point you all in the right direction.

Secondly, I have already presented the facts behind the removal of the benches several times to various people in various ways and it is patently obvious that there are still those of you who think there must be some sinister cover up which I am not revealing. If anyone has a problem with what I present as fact to the public at large then it ceases to be my problem as there is little else that I can do to persuade someone other than telling it how it is. Long before control of HBC shifted I strove to get answers for Accyweb and you seemed satisfied with that, now a number are convinced that I have suddenly turned into someone different who is deceiving you all or trying to hide something.

By all means question council policy, it is your right as a taxpayer to do so and I would never dissuade anyone from taking an active interest but at least listen to the facts and the reasoning behind decisions. If you still don't agree then that's fine by me but I have gone over the facts behind the removal of the benches half a dozen times now and am still being asked to answer the same questions. Let's have a precis for the final time:

Complaints have been received (largely from the people who use the Market Hall) regarding drunks loitering and peeing up the walls and on the benches. The drunks enjoy being arrested because they get free food and lodging for the night. The police have liaised with HBC to try and remedy the problem and a solution put forward involved removing the benches for a trial period to move the drunks away from the Market Hall. No one is suggesting this is ideal or is a complete solution to town centre drunks. Clare Pritchard is responsible for all town centres across the borough and has been involved in the discussions. There is a Town Centre Manager although I personally won't risk dragging a council officer's name through the mud in a public debate. The problem has apparently got much better since the benches were removed and they will be going back at some point in the near future, when exactly I do not know as I am not part of the discussions.

That is all I can tell you. I have neither defended it or criticised it, I have simply told you how it is. The council were presented by a problem from residents and the local police and attempted to solve it in what was perceived to be a reactive way. Whenever this happens it will ruffle feathers and sometimes HBC will get it wrong. I'm not saying that this decision was right or wrong but it does appear to have remedied the problem it was intended to solve.

At the risk of further fanning the flames, this thread is raging against the temporary removal of some benches, not some huge financial scandal or closure of a major public amenity. I realise it affects certain residents much more than others but a quick read through of Cllr Smith's finance report demonstrates the real problems affecting the borough just now:

http://www.hyndburnbc.gov.uk/downloa...Monitoring.pdf

In real terms, with all the cuts being imposed by central government together with the necessity to replace a fleet of waste disposal vehicles that the Britcliffe administration didn't budget for, we will have just £19,000 left over next May as things currently stand. Way off topic but an indicator of why HBC are concentrating more on finance than town centre benches.

It has been levelled at me that I spent 18 months attacking the Britcliffe administration. Of course I did, I was in opposition and tried to get to the bottom of anything which didn't smell quite right. However, he isn't here anymore and my energies can be directed into proper attempts to whittle out the waste I saw so much of previously. I now have a position at HBC that allows me to root around from the inside and as the Cabinet are all too aware I won't tolerate it from my own lot either. I would invite you all to keep an eye on the activities of my committee to see just how I am trying to sort out bigger problems:

Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee

I sadly don't have the time any longer to spend hours enjoying discussions on this forum, much the same as the other Labour members. This is not because we're dodging bullets but because the five main contributors have all ended up with fairly intensive jobs up at the council. At the moment, you have members on the council (and even your MP) who are prepared to give reasoning behind council decisions, something I don't ever remember from our illustrious predecessors.

It pains me to be so blunt on this forum as I have spent many happy hours debating endless topics but recently it seems that whatever facts I give out are treated with utmost suspicion and any attempts to give people tips on the right way of going about things are suddenly my way of side-stepping issues.

As a final point I would like to reiterate that if anyone has any comment, query or problem that they want a proper answer to then the HBC Enquiries address is the one to go through if you want the facts from someone other than a councillor. Ask anything and you will be given a log number and a reply within 10 working days, it is a great system:

[email protected]