All The Best To You Graham
 

Today's Lancashire Telegraph has a report on our MP about Malaria, google it for yourself, even though I agree with him in everything in that report on humane grounds, shouldn't he be firstly concerned with the larger problems of Hyndburn?

So far since he has been elected, media has spot lighted his admirable concern for missing grids and now Malaria, both of great concern to all of us, no, really we should all be concerned, well, perhaps 5% of us will grasp what I mean even if I don't.

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

Hyndburn has probems??? Nah not having that.:rolleyes::D

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

Graham who? Wouldn't know what he looked like if he came up and gave me a Liverpool kiss. Does he even live in Hyndburn? I used to see Greg Pope's puss in the paper now and again but this bloke is like the Scarlet Pimpernel.:confused:

All The Best To You Graham
 

You are quite right, please excuse my ignorance, if Hyndburn had problems, Graham would apply all his time to sorting them out, that's why he was elected.

As it is we can be grateful that he can spend his time on everything except us.

All The Best To You Graham
 

He was taught by Jaysays mate, to appear in the local paper as often as possible saying something even if it meant nothing.

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

Is your mp new labour, old labour, lib dem or conservative?

All The Best To You Graham
 

Good question, I'll ask him next time I see him, 95% of us don't know.

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

Less are you sure it's only 95%?

All The Best To You Graham
 

I'm not even sure that 95% of us know what 95% means.

But nine and a half times out of ten any statistics I produce are guess work so that must mean something, hang on, that means I'm committing to what could be facts, to avoid embarrassment pretend I'm a politician that's only a year from election time, that way it isn't a fact only a promise I can renege on.

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

You've really lost me now :)

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

I must be superior to you lot, cos i'm in the 5 Percent.:D

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

he prommised transparancey

must be working coz no ones seen him

lol only kidding....

like hes known for keeping his word lmao

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

Awww..give him a break....according to his twitter account, he's spent the majority of last month knocking on doors in the nailed on victory of Wythenshaw so that EdM can give a 'winds of change' speech believed by the 3 people disgusted about the benches in Hyndburn.

He's also been knocking on doors in his two strongholds of Peel and Baxenden, which he does from time to time, to hoodwink them into thinking that he actually cares what they want from government....wonder if he's told them he's a whip who forces people to vote for the party against their conscience? Somehow I expect it didn't come up in the spiel :eek:

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

Only 28.2% voted, very poor that

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

Another aimless post. I have said numerous times what the priorities are. Business, education, housing, transport to start with.

Hyndburn has the second highest voter contact rate in the country. 51.6% We can canvass everywhere (including Manchester!)

I am quite frankly surprised at how little you know about your borough and what is happening.

Graham suggests helpfully starting the morning with a stiff coffee. It helps you stay awake and alert.

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

Less. Post your address and I'll come around. Let's see what your made of! I am sure the hot air on here will be deflated somewhat. Get your neighbours around for a brew and Q&A??? Lets see how many real friends you have?

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

A politicians definition of deflating 'somewhat'...that would be ignoring the actual question 'somewhat'..not much point in organising a Q&A if you ain't going to answer....

Graham Jones MP ‏ Feb 11
UKIP driving around Wythenshawe in a foreign car (painted UKIP purple) and talking about British jobs.

Levets Feb 11
please let me know which British cars you would suggest then. This will be interesting

Graham Jones MP ‏
Britain makes cars employing 10,000's of British workers. Just not Renault...

Levets ‏Feb 11
what like Vauxhall, Ford, Rover, Mini ... We make 'foreign' cars yes! Name a mass produced British car?

Graham Jones MP Feb 11
Labour's car scrapage scheme saved UK automotive jobs. UKIP buy French cars.

Levets Feb 11
typical politician... Off at a tangent! I asked you to name a British car he could of chosen? You can't!

[end twitter quotes]

Its only an aimless post if it doesn't hit a target..in this case it obviously did

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

I had no idea we had a Malaria problem here in Hyndburn......... I will need to get a new malaria net and stock up on some more insect replenent with DEET in it....

Seriously though, I have lived and worked in parts of Africa saddled with Malaria, it is nice to see our MP taking time to look at this, there are no problems in Hyndburn, the Arndale is always busy, Whitebirk Retail Park is booming and of course there is little or no unemployment in Hyndburn or any local issues that need his input.

It is good to know our MP is doing such a great job.

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

I'm only having a coffee if i can claim it back on expenses;):D

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

Graham, what make of car do you drive?

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

Never mind the nets and repellent get on the gin BG.:D

All The Best To You Graham
 

Graham you are full of it, what has meeting you, or counting my 'friends', (good grief, your acting like a child on face book) have to do with me no longer considering you fit for purpose?
Every time you come on site you manage to do the impossible, that is disappoint me even further.
You didn't read the thread and reply with a witty or accurate defence of your malaria news bite.
You instead ignored that and used a planets worth of juvenile hot air yourself, is this really how a competent MP should display himself on the WWW? I don't think so, do you?
:)

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

No, it isn't how an MP should conduct himself...certainly not OUR MP.
And in post 16 he is using semi threat to demean a member....perhaps he learned this technique to keep other Labour MP's under control......typical whip behaviour.....juvenile.
I am disappointed.Not for the first time either

All The Best To You Graham
 

Not quite true Margaret, post 16 wasn't a threat just another example of why I won't be voting for him next time if indeed Labour actually choose him as a candidate (of course they will).
I had great hopes when I voted for him in the last election, but broken promises and his attitude towards the common man leave a great deal of regret for having put trust in this politician.
:(

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

An old chap once said to me, "Yeh can trust NOBODY 100%!!! its a thing i pondered fer many moons, but came to the conclusion its spot on.;)

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

I wonder why he's only been 'liked' three times out of 1,104 posts? Just a thought.:D

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

Perhaps because his party's biggest fan C'mon rarely comes out of the Tory thread to read anything that isn't posted by him?
https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/i...Pkj0dXruK-Omcg

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

Don't reckon Cmon reads much thats posted by himself??:rolleyes:

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

I think our MP has forgotten his roots and has had his head turned by the lights of the big city.
His repsonses will certainly not make him any friends on here, or influence the people who might once have voted for him.
But then I guess he is Ok with that 95% of us don't really appreciate politics anyway(?)

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

If ever there was n instance of putting ones foot in it?.:rofl38::rofl38::rofl38::rofl38:

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

I've found him a new avatar:-
http://hdclarity.com/wp-content/uplo...2trdg_4001.jpg

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

Is this the new 'Browngate'?

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

Or one of the 95%?:D

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

Our Graham can't even remember where he lives....

Labour MP Graham Jones? Online XXX Blunder - Guy Fawkes' blog

Total plonker :D

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

From the comments I read regarding the online xxx blunder, that 95% figure is looking decidedly iffy! :D

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

I have read the 184 following comments that were displayed - many are quite hilarious - thanks for a good chuckle.

How will he wriggle out of this bloomer? :D

All The Best To You Graham
 

95% of him will deny any knowledge, the other 60% will claim it was misinformation that he copied & pasted from AccyWeb!
:)

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

No argument from me that C'mon is rubbish at punctuation and usually goes off at a tangent halfway through a comment. My points are that maybe we should not dismiss a valid argument simply because it is poorly made using questionable copy/pastes, and... that at least he stimulates debate.

You guys are right, we all know that most current politicians are in it for themselves, and that our votes are pretty much meaningless under the current party system. So what do you guys advocate?

a) Constantly saying 'they are all bottom feeders', spoiling your vote papers or not voting at all.
b) Saying and doing nothing and allowing them to ride roughshod.
c) Slam someone who highlights issues as a trotsky who never said anything when his lot were in power.
d) Think that there is nothing you can do and wait until you die, forgotten, on a hospital trolley in a corridor, waiting for a drink of water.

To paraphrase Burke..'all that is needed for the political class to triumph is for the ordinary people to do nowt'

We should highlight their failings, show them for the liars they are ( e.g. I have personally spoken to people in XXX and many have told me that immigration is important to the economy, 95%, I will faithfully represent the people etc..etc..). We should make post after post on every form of social media reinforcing these failings.

If enough people listen and read maybe we can effect change, the alternative is to choose one of 'a, b or c' above and end up as a 'd'

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

Well, I have already said what I do in respect of voting.
What do you suggest.....seeing as voting is pretty useless anyway, and that democracy is just an illusion?

What is it that we have to do to get politicians to sit up and take notice that they have been rumbled?
Most politicians are from the privileged classes.....they are career politicians. They want to network, to feather their own nests whilst in office, and make sure that once out of office they have plenty of lucrative options to follow as a result of their time in office.

Their aim has absolutely nothing to do with making our lives more comfortable, they care nothing for the plight of the little man.....his life does not touch theirs, other than when a vote is needed.

I will say this as often as is needed, and on whatever platform I can use.
They are all the same....no matter what colour of banner they travel under.

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

Wasn't it good of him to warn us in advance that his post was pointless?

Anyone notice how he no longer seems keen to post on site anymore?

Is it something 95% of us have said?
:confused:

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

Gone to Twitter!!, Perhaps 95% of locals dont read that crap?:D

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

Cashy, I think you might be right. I don't do twitter or FB(both seem to be popular - maybe that is why I don't use them) Also, I think he has forgotten his roots.......and that is a very sad thing to have to say.

I think our MP cares far more about what the party can do for him than what he can do for the people he left behind...those who supported him with their votes.
Why else would he make glib comments...the ones like the 95% one.
I think he has also come to the conclusion that he is better than us, now he has seen the Metropolis.
The great political sea has taken him away. But he may come in on a tide some time in the future.....washed up. Unelss the people of Hyndburn have very bad memories, that is.

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

Ah Well, no great loss for us then.

A great advantage for him though, no doubt either he or some unpaid minion will be administrator and censor the 'twits' erm I mean 'tweets' posted, something he couldn't and never would be able to do on AccyWeb, once he says something on here it stays for the world to see.

I'm contemplating a theory, could it be that metal theft & malaria sound bite publicity are his reward from his party because he not only toes the line but like a good lickspittle forces more honest men to toe the line as well?

Somewhere deep in New Tory headquarters a darkened room, and whispers can be heard,

1st voice 'That Jones fellow, he's almost intelligent'.

2nd voice 'Yes that could be a problem'.

1st voice 'Why should it be a problem bigger dimwits than him have gone a long way'

2nd voice 'Exactly, we need to keep him close, we can't allow genuine progress to interfere with our over all plans'.

1st voice 'True, true, this could be tricky I've heard the man has erm' principles'.

2nd voice 'Rubbish a nasty rumour spread by his constituents, he fooled them alright'.

3rd and more authoritative voice 'Do what we always do, make him a whipping boy and to keep him happy we'll give him a few simple tasks that will keep his name in the paper making it seem like he's doing something'.

1st voice 'We could put him in charge of stolen man hole covers'.

2nd voice 'Do we need someone in charge? We don't get that many in my Uncle's scrapyard?

3rd voice 'Yes, grids a nice one, but we also need something with a humanitarian angle to it, though it must be an impossible task...'.

1st voice (excitedly) we'll give him Malaria, that's humane, impossible & basically only exists were the Ni', I mean Dark men live.

3rd voice Excellent let's head to the commons for a few free beers & whiskey chasers.
http://www.talkafrique.com/wp-conten...ontrolling.gif

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

did you have a glass to the wall Less? :D
I think you have nailed it there.......wouldn't it be nice to think he is being manipulated and bamboozled in the same way he bamboozled his constituents?

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

twitter and facebook are easier to manage when someone asks a difficult question..

unlike here where you cant delete or edit what you say once the time limit has passed or even remove them that ask pesky questions

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

from this diagram it looks like the lib dems and UKIP are doing most of teh work fighting malaria not labour :D

http://www.talkafrique.com/wp-conten...ontrolling.gif

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

My son visited me the other day and I told him I wasn't impressed with our MP as, unlike Greg Pope, he invites contact from constituents but doesn't bother to respond to concerns outlined in emails. He and my son share the same birth year, thus they did meet occasionaly and said son thinks GJ is a very upright honest and caring man.

I've never met the man but, judging from his entry in Wikipedia, it seems to me that he has had a lot of help along the way.

After seeing the many spelling mistakes and grammatical errors on his website I'm surprised he specialised in desk top publishing. Here's his bold statement yesterday :rolleyes:

<<New taxi licensing regualtions will undermine public safety in Hyndburn.>>

.

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

How the mighty have fallen.

The General Chat section used to have dozens of contributors every day, now we're down to about five, all of whom are like baying pack animals. None of you have anything positive to say and look for petty negatives in absolutely everything. There are no solutions offered up, just the same tired old rhetoric the like of which Garinda used to latch onto and use ad nauseum (95%, 95%, 95%...).

The daily debate on here used to be fantastic, generally balanced arguments from people with lots of different viewpoints, now it is simply spite for the outside world.

What a shame, what a bloody shame.

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

Ken, when posts contain solutions to anything do the local politicians listen...or have they, like the people in the capital caught the same deafness disease?

There is current concern about the building of a new bus station. This is something that will affect locals greatly...especially the locals who are not rich enough to have their own transport. This new development will take trade away from the centre of town....it may just take trade out of the town altogether.

If there is a bus in the station with a better destination than Accrington town centre, people are going to get on it and explore what another town has to offer.
Now, they walk round the market before they choose that option
There was great debate on here about the subject......ideas and solutions were offered up...has anyone taken one jot of notice?
I doubt it very much.

If you do not like the forum anymore, then no-one forces you to come here.
It is a public forum where people can say(within the rules of the forum) what they feel.
Most of what is posted about our MP has some basis to it...... he has come on here and made some pretty scathing(and in my opinion - and I know that is pretty worthless) juvenile remarks....the silliest of which was the 95% one...it was obviously a figure plucked out of thin air and fooled no-one, but irritated many of those who put a cross in the box for GJ.
I speak for myself, I am disappointed in our MP...in the same way you are disappointed in this forum.......the difference being that GJ was elected to represent us.

Oh and just an aside I do not think that describing the members od the forum im such colourful terms(baying hounds) does you any favours either.
I say this with the utmost respect

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

I intend no disrespect to you either, Margaret. In the past we have had some very good debates between ourselves.

The fact is that the 95% figure which people on Accyweb seem to use as Graham's defining moment was not plucked out of mid-air at all, it was from a YouGov poll asking what people's primary concern was (at that time). Only 5% of people put Europe down as the number one problem, that place was taken overwhelmingly by the recession. With the recent UKIP surge I suspect that the poll will have changed somewhat but it doesn't alter the fact that Graham was right AT THAT TIME. Latching onto it and using it as a stick to beat him with shows a staggering lack of imagination, it was three years ago.

If anyone can hand on heart say that he doesn't work harder as a Hyndburn MP than his predecessors then I would politely ask you to open your eyes a bit wider.

If finding petty social media mistakes and typos is the best people can do then he isn't doing that bad a job.

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

I don't miss those daily exchanges of insults that used to be a regular feature here.

I suppose many logged on to watch 'a good scrap' and 'put their oar in':rolleyes:.

There may be fewer threads, but what there are are 'civilised'.

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

In response to the bus station debate, my own personal feeling is that it is a good move and will not only give a better hub for the bus service but also tidy up a scruffy area of the town centre.

I still fall back on my previous question of why developing Whitebirk is badly needed because there is nothing in Accrington but moving the bus station 200 yards will kill it stone dead.

No one has yet given me an answer.

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

'Ello Mozzer! Thought you'd shuffled off somewhere due to your lack of input. Still, it's nice to see you back amongst the "Riffy raff" chucking your tuppences about. :s_aim1:

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

Yes it is a shame, it's a shame that one of our local politicians that used to be a regular poster can only come on site acting like the proverbial pot just to call the site the kettle.

You and your mate are of course welcome to come on site and give us your views, however don't assume for one moment that we won't reply to you letting you know when those posts have been decorated with an over generous amount of bull shiste usually about 95% more than the man in the street can stomach.

Treat us as if we are your equals rather than talk down to us and you will find us far more generous with our applause for the work you claim to do on our behalf. Until you change the way you use the site expect nothing more than the criticism you deserve.

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

95%, 95%, 95%....

A clear explanation has been given in public in writing by two elected representatives and the replies insinuate that it is a lie and that politicians are the ones who don't listen.

1-0 to the internet.

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

Is that the best you can do?
You criticise us for using your mates infamous 95% which you claim was a figure from a poll. Elsewhere on site I asked for a link to this poll as my own searching couldn't find it. Being an open and honest politician did he provide the link?

No he didn't but like you he is ready to put people down rather than provide what is asked for.

As for 95% you seem to be using it quite a lot in this thread, boringly repetitive aren't you?

As already stated you are just being the pot that calls the kettle black, (am I allowed to use the word black in this PC world of ours?).

The ball is most definitely in your court, post something useful for the members to mull over or shut up, your wasting server space.
:lamer:

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

Yes Ken we did have some good debates....it is just a shame that we don't have them anymore because I come here and you don't.
Yes your life is busy, I expect too busy to come and enlighten us.
My life is busy too...I am working harder now than when I was employed......but I still like to come and see what is happening on AW.....I don't do FB or Twitter......so I guess I gain from that.

As for your comment on the bus station I think that many people have given answers as to why the re-siting of the bus station will affect the town in a negative way.....but I do not expect anything to come of what we have said because I think the deal was rubber stamped and it was a 'done deal'. Rarely do protests, petitions, or representations make any difference to deals such as this.

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

To tidy up a scruffy area it is necessary to move the bus station?
So a scruffy area cannot be improved without this move?
Blackburn Road from the Viaduct towards Blackburn is a scruffy area too....is anything being done about that?

Whitebirk is an eyesore. The retail outlets on there are a waste of space...knock them down...build houses.

Accrington town centre is almost dead on its feet anyway......the new bus station will be the last blow that means it will never get up again...and if you cannot see why then you aren't looking very hard...in fact if you can't see it is because you are averting your gaze.

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

In the same post I am being asked to look hard at Accrington because it has scruffy areas but reading disparaging comments about an improvement scheme which will tidy up at least one of them.

I go to Accy every Friday for my weekly shop and am never disappointed, it is far better than Blackburn and I get breakfast there too. Pennine Reach is not the be all and end all but why must everything which sets out to move with the times be looked on with such disdain?

I'm looking forward to it and all the transport improvements that go with it. In Rishton we get a new junction which everyone has screamed about for years. It just makes sense to do it holistically.

I doubt I am going to win any arguments about what Accrington has to offer but at least my head is not buried in the past like those who yearn for days gone by and assume that things are worse than ever before.

Think back, times weren't as rosy as some would have you believe.

All The Best To You Graham
 

No one says things are rosy, however, we don't need bombastic politicians coming on site just to tell us we are always wrong and only they have the intelligence to understand what is needed.
They really should read some of their own posts to realise they come across as a little bit thick and extremely arrogant.
You wish for encouraging posts? Then why don't you and your mate come on site with a more positive attitude towards the members?

OR

If you don't like what is being said, perhaps it's your attitude that needs to change not the rest of the site.
Now, please sit back and consider, not what the site can do for you but what you can do to improve your attitude towards the site.

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

I hope they move the Jobcentre 200 yards nearer

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

Ken, I am glad you shop in Accrington every Friday...and that you find that experience such a pleasure. (all I can say is you must be mightily easy to please).
I am glad that Rishton is going to get a new junction.... that will win you some brownie points the next time there is a local election.

My 'disparaging' comments about what you see as an improvement scheme, are because I do not see it as any such thing.
This 'improvement scheme is going to take trade away from the areas such as Little Blackburn Rd, Peel St, Infant St, Abbey St,the GPO - that place where many of us oldies go to collect our pension, Church St...and of course the Market Hall.

200 yards is not a long way when you are young fit and healthy......if you don't use public transport then it will have very little impact on your life.
for those of us who are getting on in years(and I happen to be one of those) and who use public transport(I happen to be one of those too) that 200 yards may just be a step too far...especially as when you have shopped you need to go back down to the bus station with your heavy bags to get the bus home.

I don't live in the past....but I can use the past as a reference point and I can use the experiences it gave me.
Those experiences might just have made me a bit cynical....I have listened to stuff like this before. All about improvements which would make the town better...make our lives better.....but most of them haven't.

This in my opinion is one of those that people like you want to tell us is progress...well I am here to tell you that because something is moving it isn't necessarily progress....you can go in the wrong direction as well as the right one......and this one might be moving but I'll leave it to you as to whether I think it is progress.

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

It has been plain for a few years that the few people who are still on this site now view me primarily as a mindless mouthpiece politician rather than any sort of autonomous man. I have dipped my toe back into the water this morning to try and offer up my view and answer a point or two and been unceremoniously dragged into the mire by the overwhelming air of negativity.

There is absolutely nothing positive coming from a single one of you. Forget me being a politician for half a minute and look at yourselves and the miserable outlook on life that you all seem to have.

Doom, gloom, shake shake the room.

Count me out of your world, it was a mistake trying to post anything that hinted at something somewhere not being all that bad this morning, I apologise unreservedly and will take the remaining rays of sunshine elsewhere.

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

Above is the post which you started the day with, please explain in simple terms so that even I can understand, where is there even the smallest touch of positivity in that arrogant post?

You came back on site just to have a go, well, you had your go, you have continued in this not very well thought out vein throughout the day and you now want to spit out your dummy and tell us you want nothing more to do with our world.

Here's a bit of honesty to stick in your craw, you stopped being in our world the day that you got yourself elected having used the site for free canvassing. Then suddenly instead of talking to the members Mr. High and mighty, you talked down to the members rather than discuss topics with them.

If I lived in Rishton I would perhaps consider either standing against you or supporting someone that isn't as shallow as you have proved yourself to be.

Somehow I don't think you will be missed.
:rolleyes::)

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

I have not said you were a mindless politician....and I haven't seen anyone else say that either.
I am sorry that you feel that my responses to you are mired in negativity.
It just so happens that I don't agree with your view of the development...so of course you are going to term it as 'negative'.
Positive would be if someone actually listened to the concerns being expressed and saw them for what they are...and that is, valid and genuine concern.
Concern for businesses who are having a hard time of it anyway. Concern for the elderly and the infirm who actually use the transport system.......but no, it appears that these concerns can be swept away with the dig that we are standing in the way of progess...or harking back to the old days...the days when the town was seen as being better(probably because it was).

If you go it will be sad...but it is your choice.

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

Since your posts are offensive, have one back

This is typical of the quality of our political class nowadays...one person...count that again..one person out of four who replied...has given him a bit of grief and he takes his ball home...Pathetic!

Oh and as someone who has lived here a lot longer than a johnny come lately from Rishton...regarding you earlier comment about hand on heart who has worked harder.......

Ken Hargreaves....

Never toed the party line
Stood up to Thatcher
Fought for his constituents in Hyndburn not some faraway XXXX land that the current incumbent apparently resides in.

And he was a Tory..your pseudo-socialist mate can't hold a candle to him for workrate, integrity or honour.

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

"Why must everything which moves with the times be looked on with such great disdain?" "Everything" isn't, Ken, but when changes are made for the worse, then folk are understandably critical.

We once had a thriving outdoor market; it was a unique structure which is actually mentioned in books on Modernist architecture but far, far more important, it worked, attracting shoppers from far and wide and creating a thriving retail environment. After forty-odd years, it was understandably a little "tired", but all it needed was some renovation. Instead, the council demolished it and built a pathetic, Mickey Mouse travesty of an outdoor market which struggles to attract customers in anywhere near the numbers of the old market.

Similarly, the venerable old Market Hall - the jewel in Accrington's crown - was hugely popular with shoppers, and simply needed some renovation work. Instead, the council ripped the heart out of it and made it an empty, echoing travesty of its former busy, bustling self.

However, the past can't be undone and we just have to live with consequences of these changes. What amazes me is that you and your fellow councillors seem incapable of learning from past mistakes and are hellbent on inflicting the lunacy of the new bus station on the town. I have yet to come across anyone outside the cozy confines of the council chamber, either resident or trader, who thinks this is a good idea. As Margaret has said, building the bus station so far from the town centre simply makes it easier for people to change buses and go shopping in another town. The sad thing is, maybe it's my imagination, maybe it's wishful thinking, but on my last three visits to the town, I've detected the first, fragile, green shoots of recovery - a few more people around and not as many impolite requests for dosh and ciggies! And, strangely, Ken, I understand why you like shopping in Accy with its quirky little shops on Warner Street, independent coffee houses and elegant Victorian buildings which have long been demolished in other towns. All this will be killed stone dead by this unwanted bus station.

So, instead of having a go at ordinary members of the public on here, I suggest you and the rest of the council direct your venom towards Lancs County Council to dissuade them from this madcap scheme!

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

Nail on head Margaret

It's a typically political stance at all levels local and national of 'we know what is good for you'

Yes I'm biased as unlike 99% of the councillors my livelihood depends on it. Why should I be positive about something which is going to wipe away the business I have spent 4 years building up and has only recently started to show some signs of 'getting there'.

According to all the 'experts', we won't be affected by the innovative idea of a car park in front of us. You might think there would be a constant stream of people parking up all day, but as the council car parks aren't managed people will park here all day.

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

A point worth making .

The active members of this section of Accy Web are few in number .

Some of the anti-Graham Jones posts which appear on a regular basis are not motivated by politics but by personal animosity towards Graham Jones.

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

I have no animosity towards Graham Jones.
I speak as I find.......and will continue to do so.

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

.
With hindsight I regret my copy and paste, although I still think somebody should have used the spell checker before publishing several items on the website. He is a product of the education system at that time which thought it better for youngsters to "express themselves freely" without the need for other considerations, thus he doesn't know the difference between, or the appropriate place to use, "their", they're and there".

Having watched him speak in the Commons several times and also seen a couple of his videos I know he isn't concerned where his arrows fall or whether they're all falling in the right place

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

I've had conversations with a some from within the council chamber who don't think it's a good idea. You can bet they haven't mentioned in council though.

I must admit having a smile when Ken goes on about everybody living in the past and not embracing the present or future. I wonder if the same issue is brought up in council meetings ;)

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

I don't quite get that. How can you let something that will be so detrimental to the town pass and not open your mouth and say something?
It is a good job I am not on the council. If I didn't agree with something I would be telling them and also why I didn't agree.

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

Which we do. Regardless of what people think goes on at HBC there is a lot of debate on a huge range of issues and Councillors of all colours agree and disagree on all those topics. This is why we have cross-party committees.

I have only ever seen one person fervently for something whilst in control and then fervently against exactly the same thing when out of power. The item in question was the new bus station.

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

I am really glad to hear that. I would be very disappointed if I thought that people who had a voice to make difference, did not use it.

I do wonder though if those who make decisions like this, actually use the services.

I think that those who drive cars, those who are young and fit....who have no problems which restrict their mobility will not be in a position to understand or appreciate the concerns of those who do have these problems.

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

There is currently a public enquiry underway regarding the whole thing, par for the course on something this big but it will allow both sides to put forward the argument on a level and impartial playing field. I haven't been along myself but I believe it has been well attended.

There is an LT article on it this week somewhere.

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

I'm not quite sure which logic is applied when you build a new bus station to replace the old one with a space for more cars. If we need space for more cars clearly the buses are redundant.

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

I really don't think the decision will be overturned....they rarely are, regardless of what the local people and businesses think.

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

Correct, just adding more money to the bill

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

Yes, well of course. That is a given. This may be a bit cynical, but I think they do this as a ploy.....just to make us lot think someone has taken the concerns into consideration....but it is all cut and dried really.
Nothing will change and nothing will happen other than what was set to happen at the outset.

Re: Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

Well, there we go, you come on site spit you dummy out tell us you aren't going to be part of our world anymore and within hours renage on your promise.
what other sort of false promises and falsehoods have you put on site just to advance your and your parties aims?

If you are going to go then go, but don't blame us, you joined the thread deliberately to stir things we tell you you are a phony because you are a phony.

now, do what you promised and go.

That way in another ten years AccyWeb won't exist, if you are correct.

personally I think the site will still be here but you will have forced your voters into making you a forgotten memory.

Shape up or ship out. For everyone's sake.

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

Well after reading through this "Arrogant" tripe you have posted Ken Moss,which admittedly surprises me, I can only say,Yeh got a damn cheek saying members live in the past, Something you know sod all about "First Hand" cos yeh aint lived around this neck o the woods,2 mins.:rolleyes: Its the old story of "I know better than you oiks" well got news fer yeh sunshine, yeh know sod all, only what yeh been told.:rolleyes:

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

I only liked your post cash because you tell the honest truth, all his rantings must be to put the site down.
Maybe they plan yet another expensive alternative along the lines of accy life?
Kill off the free alternative first?

Well somehow I suspect AccyWeb will outlive his nasty little remarks, after all its managed to keep going despite having the horrible members that keep questioning his and others important decisions.
The guy is full of it, my regret is I believed he was on site and up for election to do good for all of us, just like I was fooled by our MP when I voted for him.
:(

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

i used to drive to blackburn because accringtons town ceter traffic system is a pathetic joke designed by a man who at the time didnt even hold a provisional driving licence so had no concept of traffic or drivers needs which led to the god awfull mess we have now.

i no longer bother shopping in blackburn either becuse the same idiot from what i heard got let loose on their town center traffic system and anyone who has used it will be familiar with the drive half a mile to get 30 foot away if you were allowed to turn right as you used to be able to.

bad public transport isnt what killed our town center the system in place was and is more than adequate for bus users what killed our town off was and is junkies,alcholics,bad traffic,the destruction of our market hall, the destruction of our outdoor market,endless amounts of charity shops, way too many betting shops and not one decent pot to pi$$ in when yuor in need of a pee.

so far burnley hasnt been infected by this clown and although not a great shopping enthusiast accrington can learn a lot from burnley because i went there the other week and although they too have a poundland it was nice to see plenty of variety in shops and improvemts been made to make it even better.

sorry lancsdave i know you have a shop in accrington but id say it was hyndburn council that has let you down in a massive way and a bit of a kicking from LCC as well regarding the traffic issues

i have been a member of this site for some time and as well as seeing it mentioned on here i have seen the smackheads problem myself every single time i have to go and collect something from the post office and it is a complete joke that the issue has remained untackled through two councils both con and labour.

mind you folks theres malaria in other counties needs sorting first so please be patient XXX ington town center will be sorted one day

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

I haven't said anything about knowing better than anyone or tried to be arrogant about anything and I don't see why someone has to be as old as the sun to see what is right in front of them.

A few short years ago on this very forum there was a discussion about how Broadway was stuck in the 70s and the town centre needed investment. It has had plenty of investment in the short time I have been on the Council but whatever is done people seem to have a jolly good whinge about it.

The intrinsic value of a town centre to me is not how shiny it is but what shops there are and I don't see how any Council can be held responsible for shopping habits and private enterprise.

Town centres are changing, they have always changed and I remember full well people talking thirty years ago about how Preston, thriving as it during the 1980s, was a mere shadow of it's former self. Those same people are now talking about how good things were thirty years ago.

Accrington is clearly no different but you must know better because I'm just a wet-behind-the-ears immigrant.

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

It seems to me,like the "Village Idiot" would know better than you Ken.:rolleyes: also talking down to people is arrogance in my book. sod all to wi age.

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

Hands up all those who went to the public enquiry.

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

well iv known a few market stall holders and met people with shops in Accrington and although this was under the conservitive rule when the town was starting to decline rents and rates were increased and by the time some concessions as little as the were got applied it was too little too late as most people had been forced out of buisness.

if i am correct i think charity shops dont pay as much council tax ,rates etc which would explain how they spread like a cancer in our town center while other self employed people folded

there was absolutely no need to demolish the outside market to build what is now Game,poundland and teh other shops in the new build that is there.All them buisnesses could have opened in the arndale as there wa splenty of space because they too were closing hand over fist

so yep councils can be blamed for driving out buisness and making a town center unappealing to investors or companies because the coucnil allows charity shops to run rife .

mind you it was hyndburn council who allowed whitebirk to be built which is where all the big names out of the arndale ran to which benefited blackburn not accrington

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

I was going to but got off the bus at the wrong place.
:(

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

You have been "getting off" at the wrong place for years Less.

*DP smirks his smirk © *

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

I can't see why they don't rip the scruffy market stalls down, put the bus station back to how it used to be before they cut it in half and have the market down the middle of Broadway three times a week. At least the town would still be accessible to everyone, including the elderly and the disabled.

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

Far too sensible...and they'd have to admit they were wrong in the first place!

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

If you look at the thread about this development, you will see that this was one of my suggestions too.
This would also increase the footfall in the little used Arndale, and it would give the air of a bustling town.
Perhaps people would even walk through the market hall as well.
The stalls of the market on the Peel Street side need not even be moved to Broadway there is enough empty space in the Market Hall...the traders would be under cover(real cover) and that place would stop looking like a mausoleum.

Just in case Ken is still looking at this thread.....I would like to ask if this post is positive enough for him....and also whether it constitutes solutions??.....Since he seems to think my posts are mired in negativity.

Just another aside too....personally, I would knock down any retail outlets on the Whitbirk estate and use the land for something more useful.

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

has there been a bribe to have the bus station relocated?

i only ask because tesco got to build in a ridiculous location for the mere price of a roundabout and if so if this relocation gets blocked will said bribes have to be handed back

someones benefiting from this relocation and it isnt the town center but boy is it convinient for the supermarket

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

if whitebirk vanished the likes of currys and pc world would be begging to get back into the arndale which would attract other big names back

a bit like how the reverse happened when dixons and currys legged it from teh arndale so did all teh rest

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

Yes, and that is why I suggested that those outlets should be knocked down and the land used for something else.

Apparently when a store like Tesco moves in they make a payment to the local area(I can't remember exactly who it goes to) but it applies to anyone......so not exactly a bribe or a bung.....but they would want the town centere to move nearer to them...for obvious reasons.
The new Bus station development cannot even be called an interchange as these are usually like Bury - linked.

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

Therefore destroying more small businesses. Little by little, Accrington is becoming a wasteland. Whoever is in charge of these changes certainly doesn't give a monkeys about the town or its people. Money talks and seems to be a lot more articulate than the folk that have to live there to the powers that be. The arrogance of the council is staggering. The people might just turn out to be the mouse that roared , sick of being dumped on. I hope so.

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

Strange isn't it? Plenty of folk of various ages put forward positive thoughts, but no doubt our Ken will be back (even though he claimed he wouldn't be) yet again with his 'I know better than thee' attitude to put everyone right.
What a shame he acted like his mentor and treats us like morons, still, if 95% of us are morons, we will find the companionship far more comforting without him.

By the way Ken, I wasn't born here either, but if I'm patient, I'm sure I will be accepted as a local just give it 100 years or so, as long as you don't make folk uncomfortable with your imagined superiority.
:)

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

Like a car park maybe? Surely it'd be far more useful than having those shops situated where only those who have their own transport can get to them? :rolleyes:

Re: All The Best To You Graham
 

Just a theory, well, really it's far less than a theory, more of a flight of fancy that perhaps our Ken has realised that what you bite off might just be more than you can chew?

He's spent two or three years as a Councillor and now regrets the responsibility he needs to live up to?

Why else would he come on site to call everyone else?

He possibly knows he's failing and would prefer to come on here blame anyone other than himself, after all, he didn't exactly post with an attitude that would naturally gain him browny points from the free thinking members of the site.

Perhaps it's time we act as sympathetic carers as he rocks himself to sleep in his shower cubicle sucking his thumb and cursing all in the world for problems he's brought on himself?

Oh, my Dear Ken, please don't take this as me giving you a personal insult, give it a few posts maybe others will add to it and make you feel more popular.
:mosher: