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

Blimey, that was an epic post.

Still no information as to who decided to remove them, so we can ask that person when they're coming back.

Or even enquire of them if the 'experiment' has worked, and there's now no longer a problem, caused by people drinking in our town centre.

Anyway, cheers Ken, as you say, you're a busy man, but thanks for trying.

Though it seems a bit pointless, as you apparently don't know who the, quote, 'joint decision makers' were.

I'm sure I'll do my twice weekly shop, health permitting, in Accrington again, when someone tells me the benches have been returned, at this yet unspecified future date.

In the meantime I'll continue shopping in neighbouring towns.

Which so far have all luckily had welcome benches....of which there seems to be no charge to use them, despite what you posted about some of our neigbours charging a fee to park your arse on 'em.

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

...and as Accy Web is a community forum, not just a political soap box, as a member of the community, I, like everyone else who posted that removing the benches was a daft idea, will probably use this forum to selfishly moan about their disappearance, until they're returned.

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

I totally disagree with that Rindi, benches are an inanimate object and there for a purpose, to allow people like yourself to have a rest and catch their breath before carrying on there town centre business, there are already laws which forbid the drinking of alcohol in the town centre, its up to the police to enforce these laws, removing or simply moving the benches is not necessary, its just the easy way out

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

Use the Enquiries email address to ask ANY question and it will be directed to the relevant department who will give you the proper answers. I don't have all the answers and never will but it will spare a lot of arguments if people ask civil servants rather than doubting the statements from side-stepping self-serving politicians.

[email protected]

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

These decisions should be taken by councillors and nobody else Kate, after all its they who take the flak, when things go belly up

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

A political soap box is used to spread the gospel of your chosen ethos, not to explain why, when you have gained the power you so readily desired, what your doing and why or in this case who's doing it;)

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

...and therein lies the basic contradiction at the heart of this move and why it's doomed to failure.

But thanks for the info anyway, Ken. :)

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

Yeh mean like you used to do wi the observor?:D on there behalf of course.

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

We already saw this.

Personally I prefer to deal with the person who is most likely to be able to help me, and not get fobbed off with a little number, from the council switchboard.

Since you keep posting in this thread, despite what's happened being nothing to do with yourself, would you pleade answer a straightforward question Ken, if you do know the answer?

Who exactly was responsible for the 'joint decision' to remove the benches, so I can contact them directly, in the hope that this person/s has presumably the required authority to have them returned?

Thanks.

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

I don't know who was involved in the discussions but Clare Pritchard was involved at some stage.

On the subject of the Enquiries address, it's a far from being fobbed off as you can get and indeed the councillors themselves use it because it is the best way of logging and following up any complaint. You get a log number and a reply within the hour to tell you where your query has been directed and a guarantee of a reply from a council officer within 7-10 working days. I would always advocate that as the best point of contact for a source of cast iron answers to any problem.

There's really no getting out of it from a council point of view, you MUST be given an answer.

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

As an aside, this is an example of what I am talking about. I have been asked for direct answers from residents and I am giving you a foolproof guaranteed way of finding out what you want to know.

You still don't trust what I am saying.

Do you see the problem?

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

When will those who make decisions, on our behalf, grasp a very simple fact?

The ordinary person in the street is much more likely to afford you a little respect, if instead of always covering each other's backs, you occasionally hold your hands up, and admit to not being perfect.

'Sorry, we tried something, it didn't work, we were wrong.'

Instead it's all defensivness, and nasty accusations that anyone who dares criticise any decision, are all 'doomsayers'.

:mad:

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

So Cllr. Clare Pritchard is the person most likely to have been involved with this decision, and therefore presumably in a position to authorise their return, and maybe even give a date when they'll be brought back, rather than at some unspecified date in the future?

Thank you.

At last!

It would have been so much easier if you'd named this person much earlier.

Better late than never.

She could have even told us this herself.

Seeing as she was online yesterday...reading this thread.

Cheers.

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

I said this on 1st October, over a month ago.

Reading it again I still feel it implies rather heavily which councillor was involved in the discussion process.

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

Whilst i see that the drunks were a problem, to me this was a case of "Using a Sledgehammer" to crack a walnut,cos everyone suffers! whilst yeh say it was of no use arresting em,cos they were glad of a meal, perhaps a better way would be to not arrest em, but implement a system that gives em a spot fine. then this system would allow fer the fine to be deducted from there benefits, result- this i'm sure would have more effect on these people, n only the guilty suffer, this i am 100% certain will never happen cos the dogooders will trot out reasons why this aint fair,:(

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

Spot on cashy, but it was bloody hard work with the Obs you had to wait 7 days for a reply:D

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

Email sent.

Asking they are returned, and enquiring as to the date, when that's likely to be.

If anyone else would like to contact the person who could authorise their return, their contact details are on this link.

Councillors - Clare Pritchard

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

What do you mean Clare Pritchard was involved at some stage, she SHOULD have been involved at every stage and made the final decision, or is this another thing that's been delegated

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

One solution is to provide far more benches and for the police to move the drunks to the ones furthest away from the stalls.

Then everybody gets a chance to sit and the nuisance drunks will be segregated from the civilised population.

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

An excellent suggestion Cashy and I will put it to the Town Centre Regeneration panel.

Not to put a downer on it but I am led to believe that many of those who are causing the problem are vagrants of no fixed abode (or 'tramps' as we used to be able to call them in days gone by). Spot fines are useless because such people have no money to give and it costs more to process the wretched paperwork than would ever be recovered. Very frustrating.

The regrettable obvious answer would be for people to stop giving them money but it's a rather heartless thing to try and suggest to the public at large as a solution and certainly not something I would advocate.

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

No, you didn't make that clear at all.

You posted it was a 'joint decision, influenced by the police'.

Now we know. Thank you.

Though I do feel if someone did have the gumption to say who was reponsible, we could have tried to rectify this weeks ago, by contacting the right person, directly.

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

John, don't twist my words mate, I wasn't there. I'm fairly certain this was not one person's decision, it is far more likely to have been a committee decision or something agreed by consensus during discussion with various people.

Like I said, send an email to the Enquiries address and you will get an immaculate response detailing all the facts you request without any political spin on it whatsoever.

I really can't be any more open than that.

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

You probably remember, as I do, there used to be rows and rows of benches here, in the past.

Dozens happily sat there.

No drunks.

No trouble.

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

I know a few of em Ken n they are on benefits those i know at least.;)

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

Odd.

That the councilor you've now named, read this thread yesterday.

But declined to offer any advice, by posting in it, so we could try and get this problem resolved.

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

So is it a local council decision or a Lancashire County Council decision to demolish Abbey St ?;)

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

So I name a councillor who has been involved and this is not a big enough clue?

Naming someone on a public forum is not being clear?

By your own admission she was named in The Accrington Observer in connection with this topic and I have stated several times that she has been involved.

Short of some huge neon Pythonesque arrow pointing at Clare's desk, how much clearer would you like it making that she has been part of the discussions about this?

It is little wonder she hasn't posted a reply on this thread, you can't even decipher plain English.

Despite everything I've said about collective discussions, it seems you are determined to find a scapegoat.

Good luck to you.

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

Ken, trust me.

To every single Accy Web member, not hindered by wearing politial blinkers, it wasn't made clear at all, as to who was responsible.

Clare Pritchard was quoted in the press, and subsequent posts clearly stated that it wasn't her decision.

Thankfully, we've eventually been told the correct information,

Although still not happy, and I won't be until the benches are returned, I'm at least happy we can contact the person most likely help have them brought back.

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

...though even though this issue might now be resolved, I'm still waiting for the list of neighbouring towns, who charge a fee to sit on their benches, so as I can avoid ever going there.

Be handy to know, now you're finally in the mood to share useful information.

;)

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

Am I to assume from this reply that you are now identifying Clare as the person responsible for making the decision, despite the fact that I have told you she did not make the decision?

I have been involved in discussions about various matters since coming to the council, from the Royal Wedding celebrations to the council's Cycle To Work scheme yet I haven't made the ultimate decision on a single one of them.

You're beginning to sound like one of the word-twisting politicians you rail against.

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

As I posted.

Odd.

Time. When viewed from a political perspective.

One minute it's all giddy encouragement, if you happen to critiscise a daft policy by those who some politically oppose.

Six months later, dare to criticise a ludicrous decision, and we're all labelled as 'doomsayers'.

Sad really.

:mad:

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

Er...whoever ultimately rubber stamped the decision to remove of the benches, you've named the person with the authority to see them returned.

We, the utterly weary residents of Hyndburn, thank you for your kind help, knowing how busy your are.

Many thanks.

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

If Clare Pritchard read this thread why did she not post on the thread, instead of letting you take any flak going, even though you stated you didn't know much about the original decision, strange that very strange:confused:

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

Let's just hope all this moving, hither and thither, means they're still fit for pupose, when they're returned.

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

Another councillor used to log in, and read threads discussing this other issue, but rarely decided it was worth commenting on.

Former Labour loyalist props up the Tories | Accrington Observer - menmedia.co.uk

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

Um runs in the family;)

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

Give a man a bag of flour, he'll eat.

Give a man some seed and a plough, he'll feed himself.

Give a man a weapon, and tons of ammunition, if he feels threatened, it's likely he might shoot you.

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

Ya watch your back mate next time your down Accy;)

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

Why?

Do you think a gaggle of nice old ladies will carry me on their shoulders, seeing me as someone prepared to defend those who sometimes need a sit down?

I'll be careful.

It may look like a walking stick. It's actually a blow pipe.

;)

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

Well, thank you Clare, for a very prompt reply.

I appreciate your concern about the removal of the benches from the Market Hall. It is a regrettable step we have had to take but we have had to consider the disruption caused by individuals who were using the benches in an anti-social manner and the considerable damage caused to the Market Halls reputation. The police support and fully condone our actions and we are working with partners, including the police, PCT and Maundy Grange to try to look at ways to address the situation and manage the behaviour. As a result I am afraid I am unable to provide details of when the benches will return at the moment as we cannot put a timescale on the steps we are implementing . However, there are a number of benches inside the Market Hall (20 yards away) you are welcome to use and there are three benches located outside the Town Hall (20 yards away) that you can access. I really do appreciate your issue Gary and I do have a great deal of sympathy for the points you raise, however I have to consider the wider disruption of the behaviour that was happening there.


Though personally I'm still at a loss as to why you can't say when these benches will be returned.

It makes even less sense, in tackling this issue, than if they were removed permanently. Which would at least have shown a little logic.

So, I'm happy at least I've had an answer from the person with the authority to rectify this problem.

Though I'm not happy with the response.

On behalf of all the non-alcoholics who used these benches, I fear I shall continue to grumble that it was a stupid thing to do, until they are returned...eventually.

Whenever that might be.

Oh, and by the way, the other benches you mentioned are very often full.

Especially more so now. Now that the number of places to sit in this area has been greatly reduced.

If I ever shop in Accrington again, and am in need of a seat, and these benches are full, I'll mention your name, and tell them could they please give their seat up for me, as Cllr. Clare Pritchard has told me I can sit there.

Thanks.

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

Just received another message.

From someone in the know, but who is not a councillor.

According to this source one of the benches was damaged 'beyond repair', whilst it was being removed.

Perhaps this is a more likely reason why a date can't be given, as to when the benches are to be returned.

Takes time.

Doing costings.

Might cost one poor Hyndburn citizen all the amount they're due to pay extra, when their council tax goes up next year, as it reportedly is.

This information came from a very reliable source, though it would be very interesting if anyone else cares to comment.

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

I do agree with what most have said regarding the removal, totally the wrong way of handling the situation, and just pushes the problem elsewhere. On Monday for instance i saw some of these "drinkers" sat on the empty market stalls next to the bus station!

I will just mention though, there are 6 benches inside the Market Hall itself, which is probably a more comfortable & certainly in Winter, warmer environment to sit in. No good for smoker's of course.

Best Regards - Taggy

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

Cheers Taggy.

Since we've now decided market halls are better off without market stalls, and replaced them with seating area, and community art exhibition spaces, those benches inside are nearly always full.

As you say, it is warmer in there.

People seem to sit there, and settle themselves for the day.

Probably do that to save on their heating costs at home, in the hope they might be able to pay next year's increased council tax bills.

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

Apparently they are going to be bringing some live Reindeer in the Market Hall near Christmas too on certain days. Was just hoping if we could encourage You, Cashy n Jaysay in we could advertise the 3 Wise Men too!:D


Best Regards - Taggy

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

Could somebody explain why the cops can't do what they do in downtown Manchester? Confiscate their booze? If they knew that wherever they sat in the town centre, they'd be at risk of having their booze taken away, they'd soon make themselves scarce.

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

Sorry to disappoint, but I'll be playing a pantomime horse's arse, in a neigboring town, with benches, for which there's no charge to sit on them.

They'll hopefully appreciate our money being spent with local businesses, whilst we're there.

:rolleyes:

As for Accrington's magicically disappearing seats, whatever state they're currently in, let's just hope they're stored somewhere secure, and don't end up as fuel on someone's bonfire.

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

Wouldn't that be too easy a way of solving the problem, almost certainly?

What would do with all the creative thinkers, that we have in Hyndburn, who we pay to solve these complex puzzles?

:confused:

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

:mad:Its fine sending emails but why not post it on here, or is it just because your the one shouting the loudest Rindi, do the rest of use not matter, is it catching, we've already seen that the MP doesn't give a toss for the electorate, looks like councillors are the same:mad:

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

Three Wise men Taggy, well we've certainly been round the block a time or two:D

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

Wonder if they can find some local ones, the Scottish ones last year seemed to have better agents than Aldo :rolleyes:

MAYORALTY,PUBLIC RELATIONS,REINDEERS XMAS PARADE B000013318/48274,THE CAIRNGORM REINDEER CENTRE,16/11/2010, £1980
ACC TOWN CENTRE MARKETING INITIATIVES, REINDEERS XMAS PARADE,B000013318/48274,THE CAIRNGORM REINDEER CENTRE,16/11/2010 £1980

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

...or even the councillors who don't post on here anymore because they've got "fairly intensive jobs" with the council?

...although they still seem to have time to silently slip on here...and just as silently slip away again. :rolleyes:

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

Baby Jesus!

I'll wear a fur coat and antlers, and be paraded through the streets of Accy, for two grand!!!

http://www.smiley-lol.com/smiley/noe...el/caribou.gif

We could have had a flash mob, and half a pretend swimming gala for that!

What was that they were saying about times being hard, and inevitable cuts?

:confused:

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

I thought the whole point of this year's celebration was 'high on fun, low on cost'?

Which why they were searching for a worthy child to flick the switch.

Might as well pay to bring back Martin Platt, and Silly Dildo, to do the job.

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

That's it.

It's not déjà vu.

I've returned through time, and am back living in loony Labour run Lambeth.

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

Rindi I've been trying to tell you that for years, they're all loony its just some disguise it better than others:rolleyes:

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

Clare, Cllr. Pritchard, rather than logging in to Accy Web, to send p.m.'s, telling off disabled pensioners for what they've said in this thread, why not post here, and tell us all what's on your mind?

That's the fun thing about community websites, and supposedly living in a democracy, you can get things off your chest.

It's good to talk.

You can explain to the whole borough why the benches were removed, and when they're coming back.

Saves you the time and effort of sending individual messages of chastisement, to each and every member who've posted that they think it was a stupid decision.

:mad:

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

Evening, Bernard, I see you've spared us a few moments from your "fairly intensive job".

Any comments?

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

Yeah, join in the fun.

Cllrs. Moss and Pritchard are bound to to get a nice pat on the head from Graham Jones.

From (momentarily) taking the heat off him, for hypocritically saying one thing on here about a 'democratic' E.U. referendum, then doing another.

Good day to make hay.

While the sun shines.

Forget about those very, very dark clouds on the horizon.

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

Think its press button "B" and get your money back Rindi, you'll not get much change:rolleyes:

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

Strangely, in the past, I used to get loads of giddily excited p.m.'s from all the persons mentioned previously, egging me on.

But I haven't had one for simply ages.

I've just had a weird thought.

Do you think it's because when they messaged me so often before, ripping in to stupid stuff our council did, it was because the council was controlled by another party.

:confused:

Nah, no one could be that transparent, and fickle.

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

Probably because questions are raised on this forum, answers are given but they don't quite fit with what the questioner thinks and so the questioner implies that facts have never been given in order to justify his own posts.

There are also any number of 'people in the know' and 'sources' who seem very keen to supply their own 'facts' from the safety of the shadows. These people are always believed over anyone who puts their name to an answer and it makes the statements from people in positions of authority completely meaningless. There are much better ways of spending time than giving answers to an internet forum that simply won't listen to what it is being told.

Accyweb wanted answers and it has had them. Truthful, factual, straight from the horse's mouth. However, there is only so many times a straight answer can be given before the novelty of having it spun into something else wears off.

I'm afraid the refusal by certain members to properly read what I have posted has worn me down too.

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

Personally, for me, this all thing has gone way beyond disillusionment, and turned into utter disgust.

The gentle, kind, hard-working, filled with common sense, principled, socialists, I was lucky enough to know growing up, and who so influenced the person I am today, I know as fact, will be turning in their graves.

If you thought some of the daft things Peter Britcliffe said, and did, inspired scathing and vitriolic attack, you ain't seen nothing yet.

If any Labour party activist dares to knock on my door, in any future election campaigns, be warned, it won't be pretty.

There, you have it. Colours that are firmly anti-Labour, nailed to the mast.

Bring it on.

:mosher:

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

Sorry, Ken, but your blind loyalty to your fellow Labour councillors doesn't wash. If Accyweb as a forum has so many faults, then how come you lot were so eager to post on here in the past...or has Accyweb suddenly deteriorated since May, 2010?

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

So why the need for you to be Rod Hull, to Cllr. Pritchard's Emu?

She's obviously taking an interest, logging on to chastise people for what they've posted in this thread, but unprepared to speak to everyone who posted their opposition to what's happened.

Despite her not being the person responsible for the decision, you did admit the issue falls under her responsibilities, having the town centre under her remit.

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

As Wynonie pointed out, this is a community forum.

No one holds a gun to any politican's head, forcing them to post, or indeed answer any questions at all. This forum is free from any association with H.B.C., or any other government organisation.

People have moaned, and grumbled for centuries, about the actions of the ruling elite.

This is no different, as long as forum rules, or the laws of the land aren't breached.

It does seem a very popular place to try and gain influence, prior to any election, but if some politicans no longer feel able to cope posting here, that seems sad, but so be it.

They are but a small part of what goes to make up a community, or a forum.

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

Not at all, Steve, and if you want evidence that points away from my blind loyalty just take a look at some of the recent Resources Overview and Scrutiny recommendations. They don't always send glowing reports back to Cabinet, something which I feel is healthy for effective control of the Council. I certainly don't agree with everything that is put forward and have no qualms in saying so but it must be borne in mind that I am not involved in every decision that is made.

Pre-May, any answers I brought to the forum appeared to be believed because I was able to find them out direct from the Council and report back in a way that no Conservative member seemed keen to do or indeed still is so far. I tried to be as open as I could in order to inform people of what was going on up at HBC and have attempted to continue doing what I always said I would when I was in opposition. However, now I am part of the controlling group my answers are suddenly cast into doubt and I am viewed primarily as a Labour apologist.

If that's how my contributions are viewed then I see little point in continuing to make them, frankly.

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

It's not about benches anymore is it.

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

Perhaps "blind loyalty" was the wrong choice of phrase, Ken, "misplaced loyalty" might be nearer the mark.

I'll tell you what's really cheesed me off today. We have you defending your colleagues, telling us that they have "intensive jobs" and implying that they don't post on here now because they don't have time.

Then we see them logging on here regularly. Bernard's certainly been on here more than once today. So, if they've time to log on, how come they don't have the time to comment like they were so eager to do before May 2010? And, I don't just mean about benches, I mean about a whole range of issues?

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

Yes, actually it is.

Selfishly I'd like them back, like many others, and think the excuse as to why they were removed was pathetic.

It just so happens that the nails from the benches have been used to hammer down the lid, on Labour's coffin.

As it's seen by many now. Just how out of touch Labour have become, when gauging ordinary peoples' true opinion.

We have a local council who fund racist organisations, who openly discriminate against women who aren't black, or minority ethnic, and no politican will condemn this outrage as wrong.

We have a M.P. who uses this forum to state one thing, and talks of democracy, but who weeks later, votes denying us our democratic right to be allowed a vote in the future of our country's destiny.

Then we have councillors making ludicrous decisions, which punish the many, because of the actions of the few. A few who remain unpunished, yet no one has the strength of their convictions to admit they made a mistake, and who don't have the nous to rectify the absurd situation.

So yes, it is about seats.

People don't have any.

Whilst some are happy to sit in their plush ones, but they're much too cumfy to condemn the many, many wrong things, that everyone else can clearly see.

:mad:

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

I am happy to post. In fact I suspect I write too much and post too much and some would prefer I was less engaging!

I have always said the same thing, people who comment on here are often absent at the meetings put on for them and don't see the 'other cavalry' (protestors against the porotestors)- just over the hill waiting to make the same criticisms about folks not listening and do it 'their way'.

It;s always gone on and always will do and we are all guilty of seeing things through our own prism. Anyone that says they are never guilty of it is somewhere between a hypocrite and a egotistical fool in my book.

You just have to learn to take the crap full square on.

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

Perhaps we should just settle for 'less ably sighted'

Because poor Ken thinks neighbouring towns to Accy, charge you to park your bum on their benches.

'In memory of my dear sister Maud', obviously reads to some as 'Two quid an hour to sit here'.

Unless I'm being terribly unfair, and Cllr. Moss is just about to post the asked for list of such towns, with an ever so eager to please flourish.

:rolleyes::D

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

Oh Graham, I'd like to apologise to you, and to all your Labour colleagues.

Because you're description could almost describe me.

Always on here, mouthing off.

I do try my very, very bestest to be more involved, with attending meetings and such. Which would then ratify, and legitimise my right to speak out publicly.

Having a degenerative, incurable disease such as Parkinson's means it's a triffle hard to plan to do anthing. I never know from one day to the next whether I'll be able to pull myself out of bed. Nevermind do anything so exciting as venturing past my own front door.

I really wish I was able to get out and about more, because that would mean I then had a right, to publicly spout off, about what I see as being right or wrong.

Until there's a cure for Parkinson's disease, I'll heed your kind, humane, and very understanding advice, and keep my opinions to myself, and will never again dare voice my opinion in public.

Yeah, right.

Dream on.

:rofl38::rofl38::rofl38:

While you're here though, you ever so understanding, almost Saint like person, just pop over to this thread, and explain to your constituents as to why you posted on here that you didn't have a problem with an E.U. referendum, as it would settle the matter 'democratically', and two weeks later you voted against us all being allowed that 'democratic' right.

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

I hear there's talk amongst your constituents of gross hypocrisy, if there isn't a satisfactory explanation.

I'd pop over there, and settle that rather pressing problem, before trying to deal with the problem of people happy to say it as it is here. Such as me.

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

I think this is where how we were raised as children, compared to a some others, must come into play.

We were never constantly patted on the heads, and told we were good little boys.

Doing, or at least trying to do your best was just expected. A given. No need to heap praise on people's shoulders for that.

However, when we did do something wrong, we knew for sure that it would be brought to our attention, and we would have consequences to face for our actions.

Guess everyone wasn't lucky enough to have parents like my brother and myself.

Sadly.

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

I don't remember you issuing such provisos, about who has, and who hasn't the right to publicly speak out, when I was criticising policy decisions carried out when you were leader of the opposition, or rubbishing the opposition, whilst you were fighting Karen Buckley in the General Election.

Some, unkind souls, would try and paint that as perhaps being hypocritical.

Indeed I had, and still have them, many mesages of encouragement from yourself, Ken Moss, and even Clare Pritchard.

That's apart from the messages you sent me, with information you wanted publicly leaked, but were too afraid to do yourself.

Perhaps some would even say this calls into questions your judgement.

Choosing a 'right-wing', non-meeting attending, Little Englander, to do your dirty work.

I've got a feeling I'll probably not be doing it again.

;)

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

i never said i was for it or against the benches being removed. I am neutral ... i can understand why they got rid of them but also why if they are breaking the law then why are there not police there to move them on ... or if its a council responsibility to move them on - wheres the council employee who can move them on? As according to whats been said the council and the police knew what was happening ... so why werent they there to sort it out.

I hardly ever walk round the front of the market hall .. if i have to i normally walk through the market hall and come out the front doors or go up the side of the market hall inbetween that and the townhall ... mainly because there isnt enough room to get past all the clothes rails and the seats for the hot food caravans there ... will say this though .. them pics were took on wednesday ..

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

...and Graham, don't try and comfort yourself, in the vain delusion that you have great public appeal, and massive personal support locally.

Word from the street...you don't.

Ignore us at your peril.

En masse the whole country turned against Labour at the last election.

Everyone sick and tired of all the sleaze, hypocrisy, and general disdain for the ordinary man and woman in the street your party now has. As was examplified by Gordon Brown's rudely arrogant dismissal of one working class Labour voter in Rochdale, Gillian Duffy.

Hate to burst your bubble, but Hyndburn is filled with Gillian Duffys.

Hard working folk who are worried about Europe, immigration, and paying tax on things like pensions, which they see the political elite fritter away on the most stupid causes.

So carry on, try and paint me as some right-wing bigot, and not a life long Labour voter. Ignore all the Gillian Duffys of Hyndburn.

Carry on.

Enjoy your moment in the limelight.

God knows you've done everything in your power to climb up there.

Enjoy.

Let's face it.

You're only our M.P. because you're not from friggin' Lytham St. Annes.

;)

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

...and as I said.

I've used them, and have genuinely appreciated them being there, on at least half a dozen ocasions.

I know you weren't being nasty.

You're not a nasty person.

I've admitted. I'm selfish. I miss them, and will shop in places where I feel more welcome until they're back.

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

Since you've decided to pop up here.

Rather oddly, as you are nothing to do with H.B.C. now.

However since you are still a County Councillor, as well as our M.P., perhaps you might answer this question, as you seem incapable of answering all our questions about the E.U. referendum, with your refusal to answer stance being seen by some as that of a hypocrite.

Are Lancashire County Council still funding openly racist organisations, such as the Lancashire Wide Network for Minority Ethnic Women, who advertise events that discriminate against anyone who is white?

If so why?

Surely racism is wrong, whoever the victim is?

Why isn't this condemned, or why aren't you fighting so they are facing prosecution, instead of being funded with our taxes?

http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/f...ist-57146.html

Comments also welcome from any other of our 'Internationlist' politicans.

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

I am sure I have said this in the past when the other lot were in the big seat - AccyWeb is not HBC's official method of communication for responding to enquiries. If a Councillor wants to respond as Ken has been doing thats up to him but if you want to ask the Council a question then use the correct channels.

AccyWeb is good for Council bashing though :D

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

As I said earlier, people have grumbled at the actions of the ruling elite for centuries.

Accy Web is just the modern day equivalent of sitting in some snug, or chatting over the garden fence.

No one expects politicans to post replies defending their actions here, as this site is totally independent of any government body, as you say.

Politicans are as free to post here as anyone else. If they so wish.

Though no one's holding a gun to their head, forcing them to share their thoughts.

If they don't like it, they can do one.

Then can always carry on spouting off in their blogs, which few read, if they feel incapable of responding to any criticism of what they've said, or done.

Perhaps they should start their own politicans' forum.

In which they themselves can moan all day long, about how hard they all work, that no one trusts a word they say, and grumble that the electorate don't appreciate, and love them, quite as much as they'd like them to.

:rolleyes::D

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

It's up to them whether they post on here or not. After all, with the exception of "Whittaker" Tory councillors never post on here, as far as I'm aware.

However, when Labour were in opposition, we had councillors posting on here regularly telling us all about what the council were doing wrong. Now, they're in the hot seat, you very rarely hear a peep from them (with the exception, it has to be said, of Ken Moss).

So, if people notice that and draw their own conclusions, they can hardly complain about it. It certainly doesn't sit well with me.

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

Indeed, if our local councillors hadn't wasted £591,000.00 of tax payers' money, and we still had a council run community website, politicans could have been calling all the shots.

Deciding who was allowed to say what, and censoring everything that didn't paint them in the best possible light.

Row flares over £591,000 spent on outdated website | Accrington Observer - menmedia.co.uk

Sadly we don't, as all that money only resulted in a now defunct website.

Happily we do have Accy Web.

Cheers Roy.

We salute you.

:D:mosher::D

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

Even odder, they actively encouraged criticism of the council, whilst in opposition.

It's sure all changed now.

Anyone unable to attend public meetings, such as the disabled, people working shifts, parents of small children, carers, the house bound etc, are now informed by our M.P. that they shouldn't really have the right to a voice anyway.

:mad:

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

Also, just like everyone else here, politicans are free to post using an anonymous username.

If they choose to post under their own names, or identify themselves as a politicans, that's their choice.

A choice made, we suspect to further their own political agendas, or to campaign, in order garner political support for themselves, or their own political party.

If politicans choose to post on here, and sup with the Devil, as well as using a long spoon, they really shouldn't whinge, and complain that the food's sometimes a bit too hot for their palate.

:dflam:

:rolleyes:


There's one good thing about the benches being removed from outside the Market Hall.

At least no one's going to get a wet arse today.

Jolly well done Clare.

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

we have to remember that councillors have lives aswell as being councillors, they do have day jobs and families and can't be expected to come on here everyday, it's not fair for them to be shot to pieces at every given opportunity Gary, no one can please everyone, ALL of the time, as you all well know i say what i mean constantly and i think this is all getting out of hand, you lot weren't happy with the last lot who where in power and it seems that you lot still aren't happy with the lot who are in power now, i don't know much about politics but i do know that the shizzle you are coming out with is coming across as a load of bollox and i think you have gone too far now, we have all had our own jobs to do in the past, how would you have felt to be constantly undermined in everything you did in that job? it's just not on and i think there should be an end to it before it is said that Accyweb is just a bullying forum, that wouldn't be fair on Roy and would make him look like a right fool, which isn't what this forum is about

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

Gary, trolling really doesn't suit you love, the amount of posts you have written in this thread is unbelievable, please take a look all the way through this thread and read everything you have wrote

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

Wrong, they DO come on here either everyday or al least most days, it's just that they don't say anything anymore, although they seemed to have time to spout off before May 2010. Funny that.

As for being the subject of criticism, well, they were quite happy to dish it out when they were in opposition, so if they can't take it, they shouldn't be in politics.

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

Flashy - I agree - obsessive behaviour can alienate others from the cause he seems to be 'fighting' for.

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

Wyn, are you surprised they don't say anything anymore? how would you feel if everything you said was criticized? even you must be able to see this for what it is, if you feel what politicians are doing is wrong then why don't you become one yourself and lets see how many people get on your back about things, i keep an open mind about everything but this is just getting beyond a joke and is making this forum look stupid

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

Oh come on Rindi, even you couldn't be so naive;):rolleyes:

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

I repeat, they seemed quite happy to air their views when they were in opposition. If they're now witholding their opinions because of fear of criticism, they really shouldn't be in politics.

Let's not forget what this particular thread is all about - the removal of benches from the town centre, because the authorities don't seem to have a solution to the problem of abusive drunks (although other towns/cities seem to have sorted it).

Perhaps a small matter in itself but it's one more nail in the coffin of what was once a thriving town centre. To watch it decline is heartbreaking for an owd Accy lad like myself and must be deeply disturbing for town centre traders like LancsDave as their potential customer base shrinks.

Flashy, it really isn't Gary on his own here, as you seem to think. A lot of people on Accyweb share his disillusionment with local politicians at the moment!

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

i doubt its for fear of criticism Wyn, more about members on here twisting everything they have to say....i didn't say it was just Gary did i? you'll find that i said something along the lines of 'it's not fair for them to be shot to pieces at every given opportunity Gary, no one can please everyone, ALL of the time, as you all well know i say what i mean constantly and i think this is all getting out of hand'

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

Um you used term hypocrite and a egotistical fool in my book, because that is exactly how I've consider you for a long time Graham, but its only now that other people are see you in the same light

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

Curiously, they didn't seem to have a problem with this in the past.

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

they are damned if they do and damned if they don't

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

To me removing those benches is near as ridiculous as the closing of the bogs,by the other lot, i'm fortunate i aint had a need to use em, but its a simple matter of whats right n whats wrong, n the trolling on here is by margaret r n flashy as far as i' see it, if thats what yeh think start yer own thread about it.:rolleyes:

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

so people winding others up and taking people to pieces isn't classed as trolling is it not Cashy? ok, if you say so

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

Criticising politicians, both local and national, for bad decisions certainly isn't. If that "winds them up" they really shouldn't be in public life.

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

yes Wyn

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

Well I'll got to the foot of our stairs Rindi, these are the same people who year after year accused me of doing Britcliffe bidding both on here and in Letters to the Press, something which in my case never ever happened. In fact in the run up to the local elections this year I point blankly refused to post on here political dogma to aid the then ruling group, I wouldn't treat the people on this site with such disrespect. However, it now appears there were some people who didn't hold the same high principals and would stop at nothing to get their grubby hands on power, but the people should have remembered back to good old 1997 when we were greeted at every tern by D-ream and things can only get better and we all know how that ended up