would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

as a result of the christmas lights discussion i have decided to see what your feelings are with regard to seeing more community focussed events. i am a firm believer that such events are great for the community as a whole as well as the possibility of extra trade brought in by outsiders coming in to visit these events. there is so much potential in this town and maybe we should be petitioning hbc to back more community events matbe to begin with focussing on special occasions eg. easter,mayday,summer,harvest.christmas.


what do you think?

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

They already do community focused events.

There was the Royal Wedding and St George's Day in summer this year. Plus, the light switch on. There's the food festival in April.

There are local performers performing in the market during the run up to Christmas.

A committee has started working on the Queen's jubilee next year.

The problem is that all these things cost money and the one thing the council doesn't have much of is spare money. I can just imagine the fuss there would be if the council spent any extra money on putting on events. Well, actually I don't need to imagine it because there are loads of threads on here about it.

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

Personally I'd feel more welcomed if they returned the communal benches.

Before I can comment further I'd need to know what specific 'community events', and what the costs would be to the public purse.

If it was over a grand, spent teaching a group of neddies, a five minute dance routine to perform on Broadway, no, I would not be in favour of it.

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

i am talking about events of a similar vein to the christmas market we have been discussing

eg. local craft markets, local foods etc.. with a focus on the local community.

these can be set up at minimal cost with most of that being recouped through stall rentals etc..

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

getting pretty sick of the 'these things cost money' response

surely it would be more beneficial to spend what little money hbc has at it's disposal on something which engages the whole community and also local commerce and promotes local enterprise, than funding part time jobs for a minority target group!

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

I think it would be a start if the Town Hall, and the information/tourist centre was reopened on Saturdays.

In the eighties the Town Hall was hired out monthly, and attracted hundreds of people to the town who wouldn't have been there, except to specifically visit the book, collector, model, antique fairs etc.

Other businesses benefited from the extra peole visiting the town.

I know when we hire the Town Hall for our meetings, there are an extra 50-80 people I see shopping in the town afterwards, who wouldn't otherwise have been there.

(Although the Town Hall's closed now on Saturdays, it will be opened if someone hires it.)

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

another cracking idea little things like this are all stepping stones to a thriving town

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

Ever run a successful commercial concern?

Costings are a paramount part of the equation.

More so in a recession, when there are drastic cuts happening to public services.

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

As far as I am aware the ballroom at the Town Hall can be hired for FREE. As long as the hirers have a bar so that Leisure in Hyndburn make money in some way.

As for other events - why not go ahead and organise stuff?

Everyone can have good ideas but just telling someone else about it doesn't mean it will happen.

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

Anyone can come up with any amount of pie in the shy ideas, which would make the world a better place.

Unfortunately realism rears it's ugly head, and things like costings have to be considered, before anything can happen.

The last time I looked, money still doesn't grown on trees.

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

although street entertainers arnt my cup of tea i can honestly say i have never been offended or caused any harm by one

instead of paying for them to be welcomed for one day how about lifting the ban on them if it is still in place and to hell with regulations?

im not claiming they would save teh town but they wer epart of accy centers charecter and charecter is something that accy center has had systamaticly stripped from it the past few years.

all accy is known for is betting establishments and cheap shops and this needs to change.The coucil should make having a shop in accy center an attractive prospect not screw them dry with council tax so that we may then get quirky little shops of interest as well as big names who can afford the privelage of been in a town center

just a thought.

It is also illigal to drink booze in the town center so enforce it dont take away things peopel use because of them.If they start leaning against teh wall of marks and spencers to take a sip of their booze will teh council demolish marks and spencers ?

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

true enough, but surely if enough people want it then that's what the money should be put into instead of schemes people don't want. is this not what the council is there for - to represent the people?

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

M&S don't have a wall, it's all glass

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

My comment was just about how the Town Hall was marketed and used regularly thirty years ago, but it isn't now.

The model train event is now held in the Sports Centre, but the town centre doesn't benefit from a knock on effect, now it's located there.

People travelled from all over to the collectors/antique fairs etc, which there's probably even more interest in nowadays, due to their populatity on television, and the fact other places host fairs.

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

lol ok good point M&S is safe then :p:D


isnt any glass though is it,its M&S glass :)

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

Want what though?

You mentioned May Day, and harvests.

Would 'community events' in the town celebrating those things, make me visit Accy?

Probably not.

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

those were just examples, as i said in the post

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

I once saw a building with four glass walls.

A conversation-tory, or something like that, I think they called it.

:rolleyes:

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

As I posted, I would need specific details of any 'community focused events', with full costings, if they needed public funding, before I could comment on what I thought any benefits there might be to the town, and it's people.

Otherwise it is just pie in the sky waffle.

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

Why doesnt Jedimaster & Garinda organise a public community event and seek funding from the council, I mean they seem like they want more community events, Why not organise the event yourselves and that way you can give something back to the town and also you can show what you guys can do and improve on things .... Just an idea

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

why do you think i've set up the poll? to see if there is enough people that would support it. and more importantly WHAT THEY WANT!

however YOU have already been put in charge of one of the events, should you not therefore be tailoring it to the needs and want's of the people of the town it represents?

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

Silly poppet, you really don't want to start telling me what I should be doing.

Or second guessing what I do, or have done...and epecially what I think.

If people want to take on a public role, spending peoples' hard earned taxes, but can't face the responsibility of being held accountable to the public, they are perfectly free to do one.

No one's holding a gun to their head.

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

Yeah ..... indeed ill just have a look at the attendence figures , When you have a crowd from the stage outside the market hall that goes up and past the calder then one would say that it must have tailored to the towns people, And before Garinda comes in with a Chav remark i have pictures from the events and didnt look very chavy to me........ Anyhow good luck with your event and lets hope its a roaring success

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

Then feel free to put on a community event for the town and you will be supported by the council, Its easy to sit and tell people what they should be doing and how something should be run, when your not the one doing it, My view is why dont you get your heads together and do a community event, nothing wrong with asking the question

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

Nice you have your snaps.

There were very few in the local newspaper.

Odd, that.

:rolleyes:

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

Er...I've already voted in this thread.

I don't want anymore 'community events'.

Not unless it's specified what the events actually are, and if there's any financial input from the public purse, full costings.

So their true worth can be evaluated.

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

I know Odd that, Funny how they phoned me yesterday to help organise the nightlife section ..... You know this paper that ive apparently fallen out with..... Garinda Shssssssss poppet

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

funny how you enter into a personal argument yet fail to respond to the valid points that i have raised.

i hope to be able to do something for the community but FIRST i aim to find out what the community wants, as with every venture good market research is the key, if you can't identify your market you are doomed to fail before you even begin

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

I probably would do more, than I already do.

If it wasn't for the fact having Parkinson's disease means I don't know whether I'll be able to dress myself tomorrow, nevermind committing my time to things I'll probably not be able to honour.

Until they find a cure for Parkinson's I shall carry on saying what the hell I like, about where my taxes are spent, and on what.

If you don't like it, don't read it.

Again, no one has a gun pointed at your head...hopefully.

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

Good yeh think that way,aint good to think they just might be using yeh when it suits em,as ive said before,its a funny owd world.

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

Oh dear.

It's only just improved slightly of late.

Might have to consider cancelling it again.

:rolleyes:

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

I didn't state anyone's 'fallen out' with anyone.

Just stating a fact.

There's usually a good spread of photographs of the Christmas lights switch-on in the Observer.

There wasn't this year.

Fact.

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

I didn't attend the Switch on of the lights because I don't like fireworks and I'm a bit long in the tooth to be shakin my substantial booty to tunes belted out by a pop singer I have never heard of.

I might attend a Victorian Event as I think they have character and style(the one in Llandudno is brilliant), and they fit in with a christmassy theme....especially if there was input from local schools, Nothing brings a lump to the throat like a group of six year olds singing 'Little Donkey'........and the older children from secondary schools could be charged with writing a christmas song of their own.

I used to attend the Antique and collectors fairs that were held in the Town Hall......very much my thing, craft fairs and the like are interesting too
I haven't voted because like Garinda, I would be quite discerning about the type of event I attended.

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

I think you are asking in the wrong place, some members on here are very anti anything like you suggest.

I have stopped mentioning what my groups get up to. The last thing we did was Borough wide and cost £10,000. The other Borough wide one we are currently working on will cost £100,000. More local to we is going to cost many times that.

No matter what you decide to do you will have people who like it and people who dont. Just decide what you want to do and find a group of people who want to be involved and go ahead and do it.

You will find that most of those who say they don't like what you do wont do anything better so the best thing you can do is listen polity, smile and then forget about it.

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

And just how do you propose to involve the whole of the community, when the vast majority don't give a monkeys unless they're getting something for nothing and I was involved in my first community project when I was 18 about 47 years ago, so I do have some idea what I'm talking about

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

a valid point, maybe i should have said one that is OPEN to all members of the community

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

That's a fact, that's common to every single thing we do in life.

Some people dislike having what they do scrutinised, in any way.

Not being short of self-confidence, I'm always happy to explain my actions, if someone else challenges me, because they happen not to like it.

Not that it's wrong, if others fail to see the advantages of facing that challenge head on.

They just don't 'like' it, I guess.

Takes all sorts.

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

And what difference would that make, half of um still wouldn't give a monkeys no matter how you dress it up, unless there was a goody bag for everybody then you'd get crushed in the stampede;)

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

A poll on this forum would really give you little idea of what people want. Do the research in the town centre BUT make sure the people you ask are a broad section. I think you will really have your eyes opened.

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

Totally agree with you Dave, you spend all your working day in the town centre and have an idea that will fly and what won't, a poll on here says nothing really, I haven't voted because it won't affect me I'd be unable to attend anyway

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

Not convinced I know what will fly and what won't fly John. Like anybody else not everything would be my cup of tea but as long as it's not wasting money I'm all for anybody trying to do something.

I'd just like people to see for themselves why there is an element of apathy & dissalusionment amongst those of who try to earn our living down there. Spend a few days down there all day and people watch. Until the authorities do something to sort it out it will be very difficult to get anybody volunteering to help organise events in or around the town centre. It's not a pretty sight :mad:

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

That keyboard of yours strikes again John. You missed a one off the front of 47. :hidewall: :D:D:D:hidewall:

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

Dave, you are right in what you say, as a shopping centre Accrington is pretty poor, it has been eclipsed by other local towns. They have been able to attract prestigious big names into their centres.
But places like BHS(The Arcadia Group have had a 40% fall in business - are talking of shutting 250 shops) Comet, Currys and Debenhams are all having to fight for their cut of the trade. Money is tight and there is only so much to go around.
I don't see anything much changing soon.
Accrington is dying on its uppers.

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

Saw that on the news this morning. If the lease is due to expire on Burtons in the Arndale during the next 3 years I wouldn't hold out much hope for it. Green said he was going to concentrate on the big shopping malls and online sales.

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

I'm sorry to be so thick but why do these things cost so much? Are there not such things as sponsors? And even if not why so expensive, I'm rubbish at sums so please could I have a run down of costs versus potential short and long term profits involved?

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

I'm afraid we're at a loss now, re: costings, when it comes to things like the recent Christmas lights switch-on etc.

When H.B.C. was under Conservative control, we were inundated with oppostion councillors, who were only too willing to publicise the costs of various things.

Some were so helpful, to do their public duty, that some costings were requested under the Freedom Information Act, and then made public.

Since Labour gained control of the council in May, this information seems to have dried up, somewhat sadly.

We were hoping for a new era of openess, but alas this wasn't to be.

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

Ann, I just looked at this, posted on the fireworks thread. Can't type it all again -finger sore but the costs are surprising.

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

Whalley has been doing a Dickensian Evening for years. I think it is organised by the Rotary Club and from what I remember of it(it is a few years since I visited it) it was well attended and successful.
Maybe the Rotary know how to winkle sponsorship money out of people.
It was certainly a characterful event.

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

Thank you Gordon, I've answered you on the firework thread, please don't think I'm being deliberately controversial, I'm genuinely interested to know the answers to what I think is a very simple situation.

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

Ramsbottom is another place where they do excellent street markets.......they close off the main thourough fare....and the place is always well attended.
So what is the secret of their success, other than daring to be a bit different....to take a chance?
They have the wartime weekends, the music festivals.
Now you wouldn't think a wartime theme would attract youngsters, but it does....one of the favourite singers on the Wartime weekend is only 20 years old.
We don't know what works unless someone is brave enough to try it.

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

Same all over London.

I used to be heavily involved with the Jermyn Street Festival in St. James, and the Motcomb Street Festival in Belgravia, which were always well attended and succesful.

Things like the Pride festivals, where you're getting crowds of over 100,000 were a little harder to pull off.

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

I completely agree, I was going to give Whalley as an example, it seems to me that such events need not involve major public expenditure if sponsors are involved if necessary, but there doesn't seem to be a need for major cost implications in any case as far as I can see, people do not need C list celebrities being paid at major expense or major extras such as portaloos and other such health and safety nonsenses for an event which will last only a few hours at most but will bring positive publicity to the town - I'm afraid I'm getting back into grumpy old woman mode again!

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

I was taking about one of the groups I am involved with that just spent £10,000 pounds on 200,000 crocus bulbs to help make Hyndburn look pretty in spring. HBC assisted by funding the machine planting of 100,000 bulbs in places classed as to dangerous for community groups to plant like on the Dunk roundabout. The other 100,000 crocus bulbs were planted by community groups all over the borough.

As for why it cost money , bulbs don't grow on trees :rolleyes::D

As for profits - there are none at all in monetary value what so ever. Just a warm glow inside that we made a difference.

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

No neil,thats the Whiskey.:D

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

a poll on here is a start and it is by no means the finish

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

Hoy you can go off folk ya know:D

Re: would you like to see more community focussed events in accrington
 

Can certainly see your point Dave, but it always strikes me as funny that those in opposition on the council have all the answers, yet are clueless the minute they are in charge, the only problem with trying to introduce new ideas to the town centre will cost money which ever way you look at it, the knack is getting value for money which hardly ever seems to be the case