Re: Portas Pilot
 

Sorry for the wander, but I'm a great fan of Larson. The last time I held a, more or less, real job ... one at which they actually expected me to show up for work on time, and sober ... everyone office at Queen's had a Far Side cartoon pasted on the door. True genius. And this is one of my favorites.:alright:

Re: Portas Pilot
 

Is that a fact? You seem to know an awful lot about me considering we have never met. Don't judge me based on some predetermined stereotype of what you imagine a Labour councillor to be.

Your whole attitude is overwhelmingly sour, just the sort of outlook that is dragging the country down whilst others are trying to perk it up. As an example, there are a couple of comments on the YouTube video at the moment, all derisory about something which is attempting to make life better. Someone has gone out of their way to knock something positive, it certainly isn't me with the problem.

There comes a point where you question the motives of people whose view of the world is utterly negative.

Re: Portas Pilot
 

You mean like the anti-Indian contingent, who thanked Labour so gratefully, for their warm welcome to Hyndburn's council chamber?

Yeah, agreed.

All that gang raping of women and children was a tad on the negative side.

Re: Portas Pilot
 

You are part of a Marxist party .. does that make you a Marxist ? or are you a Commie ?

As for me being sour , not at all! , the fact is none of the main parties have this countries best interests at heart or we wouldn't be in this mess would we?

Your right people do need to question the motives of people , starting with the Liebour party & the Cons party .. because they have took it upon themselves to do what they like without the peoples wishes .. that is wrong because you are supposed to be working for the people not for your own agenda!

If you think a two bit video is going to bring in the much needed boost to this town you are living in a dream world.

Re: Portas Pilot
 

:rofl38::rofl38::rofl38::rofl38::rofl38:I remember the councillor for Rishton prior to May 2011 on this very site 7 days a week:D

Re: Portas Pilot
 

Your begining to grow on me Wrighty;)

Re: Portas Pilot
 

I'm not a mad fan of labels so to be quite honest I'm neither Marxist nor Commie.

In what way am I working for my own agenda? I'd really very much like to hear this. Be specific.

The video didn't cost two bits either, although the pint of ale from a colleague was an appreciated gesture.

Re: Portas Pilot
 

Occasionally I did come up with solutions to problems instead of sticking rigidly to the 'we're all doomed' line.

Re: Portas Pilot
 

'Bid to be a ‘Portas Pilot -'

'The recent improvements to Platts Lodge, the railway station/Tesco development and the Market Hall are clear evidence of this proactive and co-ordinated approach.'

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



I do hope Accrington's bid hasn't made too much of a big deal about the massively imposing, new and shiny, town centre Tesco.

I don't think ol' ginger Bob is too keen on that sort of thing. Seeing as she wants the passing of plans for them to be taken out of the hands of local councillors, whose judgement might be swayed by the promise of a hefty financial bung if planning is approved, and the decision as to whether they are a benefit to wherever, taken down in Westminster.

A move that would probably be welcomed by Accrington's rapidly dwindling independent retailers. Who are always more than ready to tell people who still shop with them, that their businesses have suffered dramatically, since the new Tesco opened in Accrington's town centre.

Re: Portas Pilot
 

By the way, does anyone know if us having a brand new town centre Tesco, was mentioned in Accrington's bid to be one of the selected Portas Pilot towns?

I'm rather hoping it wasn't.

Re: Portas Pilot
 

Let's hope mention of having a new Tesco was dropped from our bid, and they bigged up the success that is the ever expanding, Maundy Shopping Village.

Re: Portas Pilot
 

The next time another numpty on the council decides it's a good idea to change the name of the borough...again, we'll proably find we're all suddenly living in Maundyington.

Re: Portas Pilot
 

Ken just a point. If you and your party are as Wrighty says you are for Heavens sake don't call in the Stormtroopers- you'd be their first target!
Try ringing for the Spetsnaz, they may still be a little 'lefty'.

Re: Portas Pilot
 

I don't see that there is all that much difference, if any ... No doubt you were once a member of the Conservative Party ... and you share their ideological outlook, usually without question. Ok, so you are no longer a card-carrying member, but from your posts, and your responses to those who post from a left-of-center perspective, well ... no longer has the membership, but it's bred in the bone ...

Re: Portas Pilot
 

nice to see my flower cart on there... in the market under the stairs....

Re: Portas Pilot
 

Sorry Gordon from now on I'll refer to him as GB or I could actually add an "H" aka GBH in as much as GBH of the British economy:rolleyes:

Re: Portas Pilot
 

The difference is Eric I DON'T have to follow the party line, which if you remember when the question of Europe rears its head I'm definitely on the out of European Union side, unlike our MP who says one thing then does another, you may remember I was against the closing of the toilets in Accrington too and I won't be voting Tory in the May elections either:rolleyes:

Re: Portas Pilot
 

I notice that the Observer is reporting that Accy's bid succeeded.

Council chiefs delighted with £100k town centre windfall | Accrington Observer - menmedia.co.uk

In view of recent bad reporting by that 'rag' it isn't surprising that they aren't being believed.

We await the 'truth' from official sources.

Re: Portas Pilot
 

I saw that too Margaret and though it would have become an hot topic on here:confused:

Re: Portas Pilot
 

That's nothing to do with the Portas Pilot bid.

It's a different government initiative.

Their High Street Innovation Fund.

In which 100 ailing town's councils were given a £100,000., to try and solve the problem of so many empty shops.

The Portas Pilot scheme, of which Accrington has submitted a bid, has still to choose the twelve successful towns.

Re: Portas Pilot
 

That Observer article is misleading/false - because it does say that it is from the Portas scheme.

"The borough has been awarded the money out of the £10million High Street Innovation Fund, which the Government is labelling its ‘Portas Plus’ plan"

Portas Plus - Portas Pilot - are they just confusing the issue?

Re: Portas Pilot
 

Margaret we are talking the Observer here, since when has the truth got in the way of a good story;)

Re: Portas Pilot
 

I agree. It wasn't clear in the Observer where this money had come from, or why we'd got it.

Re: Portas Pilot
 

Well, Mary turns a blind eye to Hyndburn's bid, but it's a thumbs up for Nelson.

High streets chosen for Mary Portas pilots - Telegraph

I bet it was thinking a new town centre Tesco was a good thing, and highlighting the fact on our application, that swung it.

Old ginger Bob positively hates them.

Oh well, nevermind.

There'll soon be new non-story pipe dreams, planted in the press, to get all excited about.

:rolleyes:

Re: Portas Pilot
 

:eek::eek::eek:Whats Nelson got the we haven't, well never mind we could be in the next wave of 15 to be awarded later, but I'm not holding mi breath.:rolleyes: (maybe because I can't really):D

Re: Portas Pilot
 

If this is all about deprivation then surely it should be what have we got that Nelson hasn't - Accy is too good to be included?

I see that several of the winning bids mention street art and street theatre "putting the fun back into town centres". Is this what shoppers really want when they're in town? If so, perhaps the undesirables who it seems are putting folks off from shopping in Accrington could be rebranded as "street performers"? :eek::rolleyes:

And yarn bombing? mentioned by Liskeard, one of the winners, as part of a "vibrant arts scene. WTF is that all about?

Yarn bombing - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Re: Portas Pilot
 

Oh we've been there, done that.

http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/f...art-55321.html

Knitty Nora was paid to take up residency in Accrington Arts Centre, whoops, meant Market Hall, crocheting gonks.

:rolleyes:

Re: Portas Pilot
 

Thanks for that, I'd no idea. It was obviously a roaring success, sorry, can't be ar*ed to read through 50 pages of that thread to find out.:(

Re: Portas Pilot
 

I didn't agree with it then and I still don't now.

If we're to invest money in town centres then we need something long term, not a one off gimmick.

Re: Portas Pilot
 

Don't worry.

I'll summmarise the thread.

Most people thought it was a load of old balls....of wool, and the project shouldn't have been part funded by the tax payer.

Mind, it was slightly more appreciated by us philistines, than the Chav Mob Stomping About community art event.

:rolleyes:

Re: Portas Pilot
 

Must be okay when you can turn your nose up to 100 grand, maybe if some of the assets which were sold of and sacrificed on the altar of the globe centre, had have been put to use on improving the Town Centre maybe it wouldn't be such a state now

Re: Portas Pilot
 

Benches maybe ? :D

Re: Portas Pilot
 

Don't start.

Germany's a bit too far for the Deputy Leader of H.B.C. to travel to easily, to tell you to keep your gob shut, because the gypsies didn't make off with the benches that were removed, and damaged beyond repair, as part of the 'experiment' to rid Accy of alkies.

;)

Re: Portas Pilot
 

Awe I don't know Rindi, maybe she could take in the deutschland on one of her retail therapy trips:rolleyes:

Re: Portas Pilot
 

But HBC are international aren't they ? Surely Germany is within their scope ? I mean, come on, who was it who bombed the Lanky Chippies ? :D

Re: Portas Pilot
 

Well ya I mean Germany is much nearer than the sub continent:rolleyes:

Re: Portas Pilot
 

Another 'source' story.

You have evidence, of course?

Re: Portas Pilot
 

you have evidence to the contrary, of course:rolleyes:

Re: Portas Pilot
 

No, but I'll happily admit it.

Others won't, they'll just post something that may not be true on the internet over and over.

Re: Portas Pilot
 

I moved from Nelson to Accrington for a better life, which gives you some idea of the state of Nelson :D

Re: Portas Pilot
 

See you bypassed Burnley:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::D

Re: Portas Pilot
 

Having never been to Nelson I'm not really in a position to judge so it's good to hear from one who knows.

Re: Portas Pilot
 

Er...yes, of course.

Your little chum, the Deputy Leader of H.B.C.

I was informed yes, I was correct, irreparable damage did occur, whilst the benches were removed, during this 'experiment', undertaken to rid the town of alkies.

No, I was incorrect, no one told the gypsies to come and take them away afterwards, as my source had said happened.

Unannounced home visit.

Stomp, stomp. stomp.

Thud, thud, thud.

Bang, bang, bang.

'Ve demand das silence'.

I felt like poor Anne Frank.

Re: Portas Pilot
 

I hope a fellow Labour councillor is a reliable enough source for you Kenneth?

They wouldn't tell porkies.

Re: Portas Pilot
 

You did eh? :rolleyes:

Re: Portas Pilot
 

Yes.

I even swallowed my gold tooth, before being brought down from my hidey-hole in the attic.

;)

Re: Portas Pilot
 

We also failed with the bid for money to upgrade the Victorian arcade...not doing too well are we?

Re: Portas Pilot
 

Sarcastic comment warning.

Why not fill in the funding application for them next time and see how well you get on?

End of sarcasm :rolleyes:

Re: Portas Pilot
 

Still, the council provided the press with a few headlines, whilst there was a small chance their bids might be successful.

I've sold my story, which is being published next week.

'How I'm going to spend my lottery millions - If only I'd won it, or even bought a ticket.'

:rolleyes:

Re: Portas Pilot
 

You said that so charmingly.

You're booked.

We'd like you for the voice-over, on the next film.

:D

Re: Portas Pilot
 

It's back up the Khyber Pass, for Carry On Kenny.

Re: Portas Pilot
 

Why so defensive?

Do all local government funding applications now fall under the community arts umbrella?

Re: Portas Pilot
 

Statement of true fact is sarcasm?:confused:I don't think so, but my comment is.:rolleyes:

Re: Portas Pilot
 

A monkey could have been trained to do it.

Without the li'l ape boasting, and thinking having a brand new, town centre Tesco, was a winning idea to be included in the bid.

Ol' ginger Bob ain't too keen on them.

Indeed, part of her idea for this scheme is to take planning control away from local councils, when it comes to town centre superstores.

Seeing as the promise of riches beyond their wildest dreams, subject to plans being approved, might sway their decisions.

As if.

Re: Portas Pilot
 

Give me lots of warning please as I am currently very busy :D

Re: Portas Pilot
 

My guess is that local government funding application will fall under whatever umbrella is needed so they fit the application requirements.

Re: Portas Pilot
 

Would you like to fill in a few, I am sure it could be arranged?

If she is so good at knowing how to fix our towns why is everyone else not just copying her. I guess she is just TV hype like that annoying super nan, you know the one, the perfect example of child nutrition.

Re: Portas Pilot
 

As I've already said, ol' ginger Bob certainly knows her fashion labels, and can knock up a good window display.

Is she the saviour of western world's economy?

Nah.

Which makes the council, and the local press getting all giddy about the bid, look a bit premature, and silly.

Re: Portas Pilot
 

That wasn't a sarcastic comment Neil. It was just a mention that we had failed on that score too. I wasn't sure if people knew as it had not been mentioned
I know that these applications are not easy....and that there are many places who are in line for the money....money that doesn't seem to come our way very often.

Re: Portas Pilot
 

You really do need some help feeding the residents of Pets Corner in Rhyddings Park Neil:D

Re: Portas Pilot
 

Your so right about this type of application not being easy, you certainly have to jump through hoops to get a lottery grant. The blind society spent quite a lot of money having a bid for funding for refurbishing their Bank Street premises and got turned down, its very hard work unless that is your a group looking after the rights of asylum seekers and money seems to be thrown at them:rolleyes:

Re: Portas Pilot
 

What happened to the swimmers who couldn't swim up Broadway because wet weather had been forecast?

Re: Portas Pilot
 

I'm sure we're all looking forward to it being rescheduled, now it's not so slushy, and cold.

It was quite a few grand in funding, that had been secured to hire the non-swimming Yorkshire clowns.

It'd all be a bit of a waste, if it didn't happen soon.

Publicly funded community art projects are held in very high esteem by the good folks of Hyndburn.

http://www.buddy-icons.info/img/smile/1608.gif

Re: Portas Pilot
 

Did they not mention the blind asylum seekers they help? ;)

Re: Portas Pilot
 

Think it might have skipped their mind at the time:rolleyes:

Re: Portas Pilot
 

Well it seems that very little of the Portas scheme money has actually been spent - I wonder if Accrington would have done any better if it had its share?

BBC News - High Street retail fund 'barely touched'

Re: Portas Pilot
 

woulda probbably bought fake burgular alarms for the fake shop fronts

if hyndburn hasnt applied for a share of this pot then why not because empty shops have been a problem for years infact if we must have fake shop fronts let this pot pay for them not HBC money

Re: Portas Pilot
 

We applied twice. A video was posted on YouTube about the first one.

Re: Portas Pilot
 

The winners were towns even worse off than Accrington ie Nelson. Not quite sure why Nelson are worse off as according to a councillor on a different social platform the new bus station they got increased footfall significantly, it's true because a Transdev employee told HBC that in a meeting :rolleyes:

Re: Portas Pilot
 

so the problem isnt that councils arnt applying its that government have a pot of cash set aside for renovation of shops but wont actually give any of it away

maybe now its been highlighted on the bbc they may be under pressure to get rid of some and a 3rd application sent ?

Re: Portas Pilot
 

As Ken says, an application was made. See post 1 of this thread for the video, narrated by his own dulcet tones.

No, the councils have the money, they just aren't spending any of it.

Re: Portas Pilot
 

sorry i was under the impression that the big pot was set up and it wasnt been used ie: been applied for but ken pointed out that hbc has applied twice which i then assumed were failed applications.

to be fair central government cant be blamed for the towns demise its all at the hands of HBC who shot the town through its heart when they built whitebirk industrial estate,teh arndale and then slaughtered off small traders with high rates/rents.Not to mention the new farce of an outdoor market.

i hasten to add most of the dammage was done under the last lot but one thing that does need addressing is teh maundy grange issue because even if this new bus stop does bring people to accy they wont be coming twice if they get harrassed for spare change and spare ciggies

Re: Portas Pilot
 

Yes Susie it appears they have only spent around 17% of the £10 million the government allocated

Re: Portas Pilot
 

Most of the damage was done between 86 and 2000 that's when the rot started, there was money there to be spent but it was thrown at the Globe Centre, instead.