Re: Christmas Shopping Fireworks
 

yaaaaaaaayy, recognition for our customer service at last :D

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And this, young t-shirt person, is what I mean... everything in town is so half-hearted and apathetic. People cannot even be rude properly. You wouldn't mind so much if the service was Spectacularly awful. Or if the shop assistants were routinely, viciously sarcastic. At least it would be something to remember. But for the most part, shopping in Accrington is just so much time that passes in a grey, uniform, depressing blurr. Everything is just the same as everywhere else, there is nothing original or unique. Take the Market Hall, The only reason that is still standing when most of the others are long gone is because Accrington couldn't make it's mind up what it wanted to do with it and neither did HBC and both of them prevaricated and prognosticated until, hey presto! it is a Victorian Architectural Gem. So what do the council do with it? Of course, they try to turn it into a pale imitation of Blackburn shopping centre, on the merest fraction of the budget and with absolutely and utterly none of the imagination. And then stand back and wonder why it is a failure.

Re: Christmas Shopping Fireworks
 

Ya mobertol the devil finds work for idle hands:D

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Oh dear, Acrylic - I actually quite like the rennovation of the Market Hall and find it quite sympathetic. It is swamped by what surrounds it and cannot be appreciated for the fantastic building it is. They should never have knocked down the 1960's outside market which was functional and pleasing for that period's attempts at architecture... to replace it with yet more awful modern shoddy buildings to house yet more cheap shops...

Will admit to not visiting B'burn town center for aeons so cannot comment on the imitation remark. Sometimes it's not money that counts but people with inspiring ideas -you are an artist so get pro-active, too easy to snipe from the side-lines.. I can see great potential but it needs ideas and a change in direction to something more up-market (not a pun) there is good space to be used upstairs in the market hall -get in young artists/artisans - time for a new direction? Gourmet foods, delicatessens, proper grocers etc. Think Oxford indoor market, Penrith farmer's market and others -maybe the various "Dads" of HBC should go on a day-trip to see how it works!

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Acrylic: Just looked at your link on previous post - time to stop political posturing and think about the local good and it's economy...

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Can't comment on the market hall as I haven't seen it since it was finished inside. But I do think the 60s outside market should have been saved. See my post 113 on the my early life in Accy thread.

Funny I was thinking about the Oxford market only yesterday and thinking how good it was.

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personally i think he raises some relevant points, the town does need a life boost and why not something new and unique. or maybe not so new. the space could be used to encourage local arts and crafts. and maybe they should be encouraging traditional market fayre back into the town it would certainly be unique to the area to have a traditional market with traditional market goods and wares return to a historic market town!

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Exactly that's what I meant....

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A slagging off then a bit of flattery in the space of a couple of posts :D

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The market hall is a wonderful building....but it has had the heart ripped out of it.

It has no atmosphere. None of the hustle and bustle of days gone by. None of the anticipation of the lovely stalls selling the kind of stuff that we all bought...instead this has been replaced by a sterile, lacklustre area...that truly doesn't know what it is supposed to be.
Is it a centre for trade, or is it a place where performing arts happen...or is it place where exhibitions can be held???
I don't like it much now. No character despite its heritage and its grandeur. It is sort of like tinsel that has been left up too long after Christmas.
Maybe the place should have been bulldozed........at least it would have given space for the new bus station that is being clamoured for.

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My hands are never idle John -it's my mind which needs nutrition...!

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Take a look at this Margaret for an idea of what i mean....it's empty of folk for the filming , but I can assure you it is the hub of the city and a hive of activity....

Panoramic photograph of Indoor Market, Oxford

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I know exactly what you mean. The Market in Bury is a prime example....it is packed. Even though they say there is no money about, the place is bumping and the cafes are full of people enjoying food.......the range of fresh food is fabulous too.
Leeds Market hall is another fine place with far more atmosphere. Bolton has a great Market hall too
Accrington Market Hall is pathetic.
Yes, the building is a fine structure, but the structure isn't worth much if it doesn't perform to its intended purpose....and primarily that is to trade.

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I used to love oxford market when i lived there. loved the tea and coffee shop, it still had the old drawers where your tea and coffee were served from. and traditional butchers AND GAME MERCHANTS! a lovely (although sometimes expensive) treasure trove of a place to shop!

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I don't understand why .....remember it always being packed as a girl. What has changed i wonder -are all the Accringtonians going away down the valley or to other more scenic venues? i know my aunt and uncle prefer Clitheroe for the market, shops and gallery....