M&S Accrington
 

M&S In Accrington to shut in the spring all food staff will moved to new store in Rawtenstall

Re: M&S Accrington
 

Thats almost right, here is a link to the story

M&S Accrington store to close - Accrington Observer

Re: M&S Accrington
 

Just another nail in Accrington's coffin. Sad, but inevitable as the town declines further and further into the abyss which Hyndburn Council has unerringly created by it's apathetic approach to the needs of those they purport to represent.

Re: M&S Accrington
 

Thats what i call "A nail on the head";)

Re: M&S Accrington
 

Devastating, maybe Ossy Mills will do the same as when Woolworth's shut down, and take on the vacated unit.

Re: M&S Accrington
 

Mrs P unconsolable....... no more £10 meal deals !!!

Re: M&S Accrington
 

What a bomb shell. Cannot understand why they think Rawtenstall will be better than Accy. I think it will have a great influence on the takings at other shops too sadly. Hope M&S live to regret the decision.

Re: M&S Accrington
 

i think M&S should be commended on sticking it out as long as they did.It wasnt too long ago they nearly went bust like woolworths and they could have easily shut the accrington branch but decided to keep it going

its just a pitty the council didnt support the traders and continues not to support them by allowing the town center to fall further and further down the crapper

where are all these councilors that pointed fingers at the tory lot saying they could do a better job?

could you imagine walking around accy considering starting a buisness never mind finding teh desire to keep on going?

how lancsdave has put up with it as long as he has ought to get him a medal

Re: M&S Accrington
 

Because the most frequent bus service out of Accrington is the one to Rawtenstall :)


No medals needed, I have a plan, unlike the council :)

Re: M&S Accrington
 

has anyone told the council that "operation stand in a meeting patting each other on the back like nothings wrong" isnt working ?

or has operation "stick your head in the sand" been given the green light ?

all joking aside dave its a bloomin shame the coucnil offers no support at all for people trying to make a honest living

Re: M&S Accrington
 

It seems to me that nobody on Hyndburn council gives a monkeys about Accrington town centre. What a wasteland it has become from the days when it was a thriving little town. Is it something to do with the big supermarkets that surround the town now? Money talks when it comes to big business and ,I think, the little man can go and swivel in their eyes. Whats the point in the new bus station too? Accy is in its death throws.

Re: M&S Accrington
 

from postings on facebook at least one councilor has made the effort to talk to the traders its just a pitty the mojority of them arnt the same

if at least 51% of councilors were willing to do something they could but sadly it seems not enough of them have a say so get outvoted

Re: M&S Accrington
 

To take shoppers to Rawtenstall!!

Re: M&S Accrington
 

Accrington needs a sparkling new bus station so it can be admired as we all leave to shop in neighbouring town's. Can't wait for the Manchester train service to come too. So much to look forward to... :pain30:

Re: M&S Accrington
 

I can't see 1) people catching the bus to the valley in any great numbers or 2) it even figuring in M & S's plans, ld.
Be interesting to see how big a car park they will build if any.

Re: M&S Accrington
 

What use will any car park be when they will probably do similar to what they have done to the existing car park, turn a third of it over to disabled spaces that are always empty because the disabled don't need them, with a blue badge they can park were they want.
:rolleyes:

Re: M&S Accrington
 

I look forward to the new (mega) pound shop.

Re: M&S Accrington
 

Guess where it's going...not the 'High St', but a...retail park.

Guess which is the only 'shopping' town in the area without one. Blackburn and Burnley councils (whilst building their own), hornswaggled our council into spending money to stop the only viable one we could have had. Bet M&S would have been one of the first to open up on there.

If you destroy a market with character and replace it with a few stalls situated in a wind tunnel open to the elements, if you 'renovate' a quaint old market hall and remove its atmosphere, if you destroy a massive free car park and replace it with a leaking, stinking, concrete monstrosity, if you plan to cordon off the centre from cars and move the bus station, if you fail to accept that most people prefer retail parks for a variety of reasons, if you have constant roadworks on access routes, if you remove benches instead of drunks whilst actively encouraging the latter under the guise of 'charity', if you have to resort to wallpapering shop windows to give the appearance of bustling...

If you did any one of these the town could be in trouble..

When you incompetently do them all the town is screwed beyond hope..is anyone seriously surprised that yet another shop is moving out?

Re: M&S Accrington
 

Which car park has 30% disabled spaces?

Re: M&S Accrington
 

Its a sad loss but never crowded always seemed a short cut from arndale to broadway by mos people ?:mad::mad:

Re: M&S Accrington
 

How long did that last?

Re: M&S Accrington
 

Is your plan as cunning as a fox what used to be Professor of Cunning at Oxford University but has moved on and is now working for the U.N. at the High Commission of International Cunning Planning?

Re: M&S Accrington
 

What are you people on about when you moan about Accringtons tiny almost pedestrianised bit, it must be one of the easiest towns to drive around. Have you been to Blackburn? Try and get near the shops in your car. Burnley is the same and they are both doing well. We have more free parking than anywhere I can think of and it's so handy and close to the shops.

Re: M&S Accrington
 

Yep Dave is moving Giftprint into the empty M&S store
It will be Giftprint superstore :D:hidewall:

Re: M&S Accrington
 

It is not surprising with Accrington in 'managed decline'. The food was too expensive for the average Accy consumer, and when looking for a pair of new trousers a couple of years ago they had none bar slacks aimed at older people and school uniform.

It wasn't the best M&S, and for an improved one Accy probably isn't the right location. Maybe we could have a B&M Superstore like Preston, a double B&M offer would be exciting.

Re: M&S Accrington
 

Might not be as daft an idea as it sounds Mick. It works at Ossy Mills. The Arndale could use Ossy Mills as a model and move some of the smaller shops into the one bigger shop. Would probably increase footfall for many of them and could reduce shop owners overheads.

Obviously there will be pro's and con's like with everything

Re: M&S Accrington
 

Call it all you want but M&S is the only thing keeping the Arndale open. They were the Arndale's proof that big name shops were viable in Accrington. When it goes it won't be long before the Arndale closes.

Re: M&S Accrington
 

Or Hyndburn could do what Chorley did, and they don't have an M&S but a full shopping centre now.

BBC News - Chorley Council avoids cuts with profits from Market Walk

Re: M&S Accrington
 

I,m sure our fantastic Clowncil can magic money to buy the Arndale, after all they magiced money for the new not needed bus station.

Re: M&S Accrington
 

They can borrow off the PWLB at much lower rates than a private investor and the income would pay it off, even make a profit. The bus station is different as there is no direct income.

Better than everyone going to Blackburn, but it would take a lot of viability work etc I assume.

Re: M&S Accrington
 

arndale shouldnt have been using m&s as an example all the arndale did was build right onto the side of M&S it was there way before the arndale

the arndale claiming m&s as its proof is like me sticking a shed onto the side of buckingham palace and claiming im royalty

Re: M&S Accrington
 

"Coun Clare Cleary, chair of the Accrington Town Team, said: "This has come as a real surprise to me. It's a flagship store in the town and a good employer."

Really? The surprise is that M&S stayed in Accrington for so long, when everything around them was failing. I remember thinking 25 years ago 'What is a store like M&S doing in a small town like this?

An M&S spokesman said: “We have given the closure of our Accrington store a great deal of consideration and it is not a decision that we have taken lightly. "The new store in Rawtenstall will offer a much bigger M&S food offer and an improved shopping experience and free parking."

Has anybody at Hyndburn ever spoken to M&S to discuss providing more space and "an improved shopping experience" in the borough?

If not, why not? Seems the Council is reaping what it sows.

Re: M&S Accrington
 

Until the free rent ran out ?


It would be a good idea, but doubt anyone can make it happen. Not sure the council would be too keen on it, effectively creating another indoor market, but for retail establishments :p

Re: M&S Accrington
 

HBC have nothing to with the bus station, it's building or the financing of it. It's LCC and Pennine Reach.

All you do by writing inaccurate posts like this is make people oppose HBC even more - or was that your intention?

Re: M&S Accrington
 

They used to have before they flogged it off.

Report to: Cabinet
Date: 14th September 2011
Portfolio: Resources
Report Author: Ian Hoole, Corporate Property Manager
Title of Report: Proposed Bus Station, Crawshaw Street, Accrington

2. Recommendations
2.1 It is recommended that Cabinet agrees to dispose of the Council’s interest in land at
Crawshaw Street, Accrington for the purpose of constructing a new bus station on
terms to be agreed by the Executive Director (Resources) following consultation with
the relevant Portfolio Holder and notes that the Leader of the Council will be asked to
delegate authority to the Executive Director (Resources) for this purpose.

If you can't baffle 'em wi' brains baffle 'em wi' bullsh1t

Re: M&S Accrington
 

It would have been embarrassing for HBC if LCC had served them with a compulsory purchase notice or whatever they are called. I do think HBC had no choice but safe face by going along with the whole barmy scheme

Re: M&S Accrington
 

Point is they intend to expand the pedestrianised area...many traders think this will lose them business, try asking around or at the very least doing some research..people do not like carrying their shopping around...they want to dump it in the boot and shop some more. Neither Blackburn nor Burnley markets are doing 'well'..their satellite retail parks are doing good business, and thanks to HBC destroying Whitebirk, so is the Mall in Blackburn, and shortly so will a certain retail park in Rawtenstall..

Plans approved for controversial Accrington bus station scheme - Accrington Observer

So does this mean that HBC are totally impotent when faced with the might of LCC?..Whats the point of voting for impotent councillors?

Despite all your hard work over numerous years, LCC decide that Rhyddings Park would be an ideal centralised industrial estate.....wanna save face Neil?

Re: M&S Accrington
 

For anyone wanting to try an keep Accrington's "high street alive"

https://www.change.org/p/m-s-change-...crington-store

Good luck with that :p

Re: M&S Accrington
 

Homebase going too by all accounts.

http://www.accringtonobserver.co.uk/...arebar_twitter

Re: M&S Accrington
 

I've decided I have no sympathy for M&S, if they can no longer afford to trade in Accrington it is obviously their own fault.

Had their decision makers actually taken a walk through our town centre over the past few decades they would have seen that the only route to follow would have been diversification. No longer do we need quality products at a reasonable price when we can get complete sets of cutlery, tool kits, toffees and various other low quality items for just a pound, they would soon have realised that because of the low, low prices once we got these items home we didn't get upset when these items broke after using them the first time, we'd just chuck them in the bin and make a note to pick up another one next time in town.

Perhaps they are pulling the plug because of other factors such as rising cost of wages or the inevitable strangling increases of business tax?

Again I say, take a look around you Mr. M&S, do what the shops that have cornered the clothing market of Accrington have done, yes, that's right declare yourself a charity, No Business tax and no wages bill because you will be staffed by volunteers.

Maybe, just maybe, if you have really good accountants you could even get yourself written off as a tax loss if you continue to supply clothing and food of the quality you are doing just re-name yourself as:-

Re: M&S Accrington
 

Presumably when Poundland announce they are quitting Accrington, it's time to give up

:(

Re: M&S Accrington
 

What does all that tell you? It tells me that the majority of people don't want markets anymore for their main shopping. Only the few that do moan about them being rubbish now.

When it comes to roads yes, HBC have little or no say. You need to speak with your LCC councillor. All part of the our 2 or 3 tier local government

Most parks in Hyndburn are protected from being built on but never say never. It would be good if LCC took a bit more interest in our parks and put some more money in, after all LCC get the biggest chunk of our council tax to play with

Re: M&S Accrington
 

it would be nice if LCC took some interest in road surface conditions and road safety as well neil but it aint ever gonna happen they simply dont give a crap

Re: M&S Accrington
 

Here's another thought, just suppose one of our serving Councillor's or perhaps a locally based MP was to follow up on this idea of M&S leaving the area?

Perhaps this is part of a plan?

M&S perhaps don't want to leave the town but, costs to the council are too much, now obviously there can be no favouritism in commerce, (yeah right), so an announcement goes out, shock horror and surprise from the public face of the town trading councillor then a sudden super hero steps forward, stop, decease, says he or she, this is silly we can work it out, M&S are then granted one off never to be repeated concessions, the politician involved is shown to be the hero of the people in a very important year for votes and thus gets publicity and browny points what would we end up with?

The same old M&S and the same old politician, after all whoever gets to keep M&S, from whatever party would be treated well in the press.

I don't mind keeping M&S BUT if this fantasy even comes remotely true, lets not be fooled into keeping the same old politician/s!

Can't Happen?

Won't Happen?

Hasn't someone already mentioned what happened with the old Woolworths site?

Nah, your right, couldn't happen again M&S aren't a local influential family firm.
:rolleyes:

Re: M&S Accrington
 

I can more or less pinpoint Spring 1999 when they stocked the women's section with black clothes as the year I stopped regularly entering M&S. I thought it had been on the whim of the manager so drove to Blackburn and was met with a massive wall to wall sea of black - very impressive if you're not wanting to reflect the colours and joys of burgeoning Spring. I notice their new store will only be selling food. The penny must have dropped that nobody is willing to pay more expensive M&S prices for exactly the same foreign imported clothes stocked in neighbouring shops.

If anyone has seen an arrow on a signpost on any Accrington Road with the words "Town Centre" or "Shopping Centre" you've got better eyesight than me. All County Council Highway Departments have got more say on local roads than the people who have to use them. I'm sure the LCC are really pleased with themselves that their blueprint for the runoff traffic from the M65 to flow freely through Accrington via Eastgate and Burnley Road without being tempted to stop at any shop window display has been so successful.

On the face of it, it doesn't seem that any town councillor in the last 4 decades has had any business acument because all they've done is kill off what was once quite a successful little market town.

Re: M&S Accrington
 

Not just any funeral supply wear,

THIS is M&S funeral supply wear!

Re: M&S Accrington
 

It lasted until a suitable offer came in, Store 21.

Re: M&S Accrington
 

Can't remember, but when we were in Accrington there used to be a sign pointing to the toilets in Dutton Street

Re: M&S Accrington
 

So the assumption there would be that Accy is only fit as a Shiite house??? :confused:

Re: M&S Accrington
 

That would be good if HBC could actually do anything. Rent is set by the Arndale and I believe they already had a special long term lease. Business rates are set by central government so again HBC can't reduce them.

Re: M&S Accrington
 

Not too long ago it was stated publically that WHS were going to close - allegedly the rental on the premises were then re-negotiated and so they are still there.

Re: M&S Accrington
 

M&S leaving has nothing to do with rents, they were paying almost nothing anyway. They are moving to a new store that is appears will be selling food with no clothes and will have a café. This appears to be a total change in direction from the store in Accrington and we might see it elsewhere in the future.

A petition has been created which in my opinion is a waste of time when you consider this change of business model

Re: M&S Accrington
 

A waste of time so far as I'm concerned also, M&S will do whatever M&S consider is best for M&S.

However, can you not see that others are being given a chance to appear to do something, twit's will be twittered, faces will be booked, accyweb will be accused of having a negative attitude to all that is being done on our behalf towards keeping this keystone store from becoming empty, hands will be wringing faster than creams can be applied to prevent friction burns and what will happen?

M&S being peed Orf will leave but all those whose seats that depend this year on being seen to be doing something at least once within their voting term will attempt to give that appearance, they will fail, they will blame anyone else other than themselves for that failure...

95% of them may even show up on site to tell us how we put the mockers on what could have been their triumph.

Good luck M&S look after yourselves and your shareholders thanks for staying as long as you did.
:hidewall:

Re: M&S Accrington
 

Oh our MP has been booking his face for a few days..stating how he was against the bus station, the arndale, the removal of the car park and Black Bull, pulling down the market etc..etc.., dropping in the occasional platitude to responses from the party faithful, glibly stating that it wasn't his fault despite HBC being labour run for around 2/3rds of the last 40 years of incompetent decisions.

Still at least it looks like he, and not one of his interns, has written his status because it actually mentions Accrington as opposed to the usual mythical 'xxx' constituency he represents..

For those of you without facebook..this is journalism at its laziest because its pretty much a few facebook comments turned into an article..

POOR DECISIONS: Hyndburn MP fears over downfall of Accrington (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Wonder why he didn't use the opportunity of going first on PMQ's to actually ask about his constituency instead of what EdM (or one of his goons) told him to ask?


Meanwhile our Council Leader is keeping his gob shut, probably because he doesn't want stuff like this bringing up...

Blackburn finance chief: 'We don?t want to be an Accrington? (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Especially the bit about creating jobs being a priority...how ya doin' on that front then mate? :confused:

Re: M&S Accrington
 

Well thats very odd, i'm sure Graham once told me the New bus station was a good idea.:confused:

Re: M&S Accrington
 

Are you 95% sure about that? :evil:

Re: M&S Accrington
 

I'm 95% sure he has mentioned his pro bus station status on this site during one of his, 'you know nowt I know what's best, how dare you think you have an opinion' rants.

Though I am 100% sure I ain't going through all his past posts just to prove it.

:)

Re: M&S Accrington
 

Ooooh! look for once an accurate percentage.

:D:p;):):hothothot:alright::hehetable

Re: M&S Accrington
 

Homebase are going now !!!

Re: M&S Accrington
 

Do try to keep up:-


http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/1128041-post39.html

:D

Re: M&S Accrington
 

Those are your words Dave, not mine. In times of need, that sign was more helpful to certain members of the general public, than any sign pointing to the town centre, or the shopping centre.

Re: M&S Accrington
 

I haven't seen the proposals for the area around the very ugly bus terminus structure and the high walls which are necessary to hide the backs of buildings but as it's usual these days to cater for pedestrians I imagine Union Street will be closed to traffic. I wonder how much money taxis drivers will lose if it is.

M&S Accrington
 

They could always sell some of the roads they think they own if they start to feel the pinch.

Re: M&S Accrington
 

I know Irene, it's just me juggling an innocent phrase for some comedic gain. :)

Re: M&S Accrington
 

He did but not where it is going

Here is what he said in 2011
http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/937974-post8.html

He also thinks car parking on Peel Street is a good idea

http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/938141-post34.html

http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/938259-post44.html

This quote of his backs up what I keep saying

Re: M&S Accrington
 

so a labour county council a labour council and a labour MP cant get things sorted between them or even get talks between them going?

what hope is there really when 3 groups all under the same flag cant work together

Re: M&S Accrington
 

LCC has no overall majority at the moment. The Lib Dems were in bed with the Tories then from what I remember jumped ship and sucked up to Labour.

Re: M&S Accrington
 

Well as I said, handwringing, pleading awful, this weeks Obbo, reporting how a minor Councillor wishes to talk with M&S hoping to talk them around!

It will only happen if M&S wish it to happen, the Council know this, our M.P. knows this, that's why he isn't poking his nose in, (any chance of success he would have front page news about his negotiations).

As I've already said, thank's M&S for staying as long as you did, WHAT can we offer you to persuade you to stay?

Our Council know there is nothing they can offer, perhaps, just perhaps you may consider loyalty from the folk that had no other choice than you?

Come on M&S, stick with us, people are permanent, we need decent stores just as you need loyal customers.

Re: M&S Accrington
 

Just read this fro the article about the Blackburn finance chief;

So there is a plan then, wonder where it's hidden :confused:

Re: M&S Accrington
 

So now I know where to go next time I need to buy a niche.

:confused::confused::confused:

Re: M&S Accrington
 

Clare Cleary is in the Cabinet and portfolio holder for Town Centres, it's sort of her area to speak to M&S. The idea was to ask what their reasoning was, not to bargain with them as that would not only be monstrously unfair on other retailers but also way outside our remit as it's not even our building. It was pointless right from the word go as they had clearly already made up their minds but I don't hold with this idea of 'no point, don't try'.

That said, the Councillors aren't doing enough to keep Accrington alive either so it seems.

What surprises me more than anything else is that we have traders in Accrington talking the town down themselves and blaming everything on the Council. God above, never mind the acumen of Councillors, where's your business model? Bad advertising for the town ain't going to bring people flocking to the town centre.

If more people accentuated the positives instead of constantly saying how crappy everything is then more people might actually come here. I shop there every week and wouldn't go anywhere else.

And for the record, Blackburn's road system is a nightmare. For all those who have said how much better it is than Accrington just try driving there on Saturday.

Re: M&S Accrington
 

Traders talk it down quite probably cos the council have never done sod all about the undesirables that frighten pensioners by their behavior,nor have the police force, to whom its ruddy pointless reporting anything depending on who it is committing offences, the sooner people like you ken face reality,instead of defending the indefensible, the sooner yeh may just get yer credibility back.:rolleyes: By the way if i had a business that was being affected i would talk it down.

Re: M&S Accrington
 

Then maybe my view of the world is just different to yours. Personally speaking, I like shopping in Accrington and can see all of its positives. I can also see that shopping habits have changed and there is no miracle cure which will see the streets paved with gold as they apparently were in the 1970s, despite what certain would-be MPs are saying.

I don't see the streets awash with either drunks or needle-brandishing druggies (not that I'm denying they are out there) and I don't see how moving the bus station 200 yards and putting a car park on Peel Street is going to damage the town centre more than a retail park at Whitebirk.

I've never shopped in Morrisons and have been in M&S once (even that was only to spend a gift voucher). These places are not the be-all and end-all that they are being peddled as. If I'm brutally honest then I think that Homebase is massively overpriced and hasn't moved with the times which is why it is shutting down stores everywhere. Morrisons also did quite poorly over the Christmas period and is reining in developments nationwide, as is Tesco.

People decry Poundland and the charity shops as if that's all there is but it's not true and the ones which are there are busy all the time which proves there is a market for them. Truth be told I wouldn't say no to a Primark here myself.

I'll say it again however, there is only so much money to go around.

So here's the question: how are commercial decisions the fault of the Council?

Re: M&S Accrington
 

Our council wastes money. They do not listen to the electorate. Ask Graham Jones or June Harrison about a £2000 Christmas Tree.

Re: M&S Accrington
 

When i have i ever said commercial decisions are the fault of council, please highlight?:confused: I also shop in accy 3/4 times a week, mind i am usually down early, like quite a few pensioners, n i see em frequently, everyones aware the streets are not paved with gold n thats n arrogant assumption by you. But still i have come to expect that.:rolleyes:

Re: M&S Accrington
 

I really cannot see how telling the truth about a place can be seen as talking the place down.
If they all said it was 'milk and honey' think of the disappointment it would create for those who thought that Accrington could provide a half decent shopping experience.
the new bus station is going to be a marvellous addition to trade(but it will be trade elsewhere...not in the market,the Arndale or on Broadway).... it will take folk out of town to places that do provide a half decent shopping experience

Re: M&S Accrington
 

Ken, Can I have a pair of those rose tinted glasses that you must wear when you walk around the market, on Broadway and in the Arndale?

Re: M&S Accrington
 

Perhaps the fact i go down yon quite a few times a week and nearly always spend a couple of hours or more yon, makes me more likely to witness what actually does go on, Mr Moss must be one of the 3% that really has no idea?:rolleyes:

Re: M&S Accrington
 

Oddly enough its about 7 months since Ken Moss last posted n that was in Anything Goes, Wonder if the fact the elections are getting nearer,has any bearing on this visit?:rolleyes:

Re: M&S Accrington
 

Ooh! You owd cynic! :D

Re: M&S Accrington
 

Taken from the Observer, who no doubt have totally misquoted Cllr Parkinson;
I presume by traders talking the down town, you are referring to me. I've asked a simple question, "What are the plans" ?. Our business model as you refer to it has been totally disrupted by some planks in Preston moving the bus station, and the local council & MP leaving them to it. When we ask what the plans are we get told "We THINK it's going to be a car park". So basically it's still in the thinking stage, and we have to wait and see.

97% of people in a 3,000 person survey think the town is in decline. That may be perception, or it may be fact, but it's what people think. A lone trader being negative hasn't made them all think like that, jeez I probably hardly know any of them that answered the survey.:mad:

Re: M&S Accrington
 

a new bus station designed to keep people from town center and a new train line to take the rest to manchester even faster than before and more regularly

things are looking up dave i dont see your problem

oh .. you have a shop in the center of accy and are trying to earn a living i see

all i know is if that i was a trader in accy and the council saiid it had my back id buy a stab proof vest like the police wear

Re: M&S Accrington
 

Lots of town centres probably in the same boat. If all their councils think the answer is to stand up and tell everybody not to be negative then I'll concede I'm in the wrong.

There's a reason I don't want in work in marketing, advertising or politics ;)

Re: M&S Accrington
 

Here's a quote from the leader of Rochdale Council in December

Here's the full article in case any councillor thinks I've omitted to quote the part where he said traders are to blame for talking the down town

Rochdale Council slashes business rates to boost town centre - Telegraph

Not quite sure how they have managed to reduce the business rates unless the council are subsidising it

Re: M&S Accrington
 

dont be negative is political speak for we havnt got a clue what were doing or what we should do

you point out their mistakes and your been negative

you suggest ideas they get ignored

you ask a serious and relative question and you get ignored

basically dave politics is been able to ignore and put the blame on to others for your failings

its a bit like me kicking you in the nuts and telling you not to be negative when you howl in pain.There is no bright side but i expect you to find one

Re: M&S Accrington
 

I think it was in December that I suggested we would soon be having the politicians back on here posting again - an election is in the air:hehetable

Re: M&S Accrington
 

Traffic problems on the M62 today and Mrs Garmin routed me through Heywood and down to Junction 2 on the M66.
Heywood what did I know about the place other than it's home to the excellent Phoenix Brewery?
The main road through, A58 what a revelation. Plenty of shops and not too many empty derelict eyesores. Blackburn Road Accy or Union Road Ossy not.
I don't know if there's a link to Rochdale council and they are benefiting from reduced rates as mentioned by lancsdave #84 but it was bright and bustling.
Our council burghers need to get up there to see for themselves and find the USP by talking to their Heywood counterparts.
Don't think they are served by the railway and pretty sure there's no bus station but people were very much in evidence.
Just a thought finally, why do we need a bus station smack bang in the centre surely a dropping off point somewhere strategic would suffice?

Re: M&S Accrington
 

Welcome back Ken, I do hope you can stay a while, at least, as cashy pointed out until after the next elections!
We've all been running around like headless chickens for such a long time without your & our glorious M.P.'s guidance.
Oh how popular I feel, after such an absence you choose one of my humble posts as an example for you to set the record straight.
Meanwhile forgive me, my memory may be a little out of skew, but wasn't one of your last posts telling us how the mighty had fallen,
the site going to rack and ruin? We are still here, will you be after May? I do hope that as well as us the folk in Great Harwood have seen through your and our glorious 95% M.P.'s thin veneer of BS and look closely at whom they next vote for,
I know I will.

Re: M&S Accrington
 

Just idle curiosity while looking at discussions about Accrington on the net. Lo and behold, a link for Accyweb is in there and what a surprise to see that the same old faces are saying what a terrible place it is, a dying town, why can't we go back to the golden age of the 1970s etc etc.

Strangely, I see the same comments on forums about Blackburn, Darwen, Preston, Chorley and probably anywhere else if I cared to look. The truth is that certain people in every town just enjoy a jolly good moan day in day out, never enjoying a single gasp of air and refusing to see the world as anything other than a place created by vile politicians who live in big houses and claim expenses. They trot out the same little homilies over and over, quoting and misquoting to suit their miserable little diatribes whenever the (bad) mood suits, never venturing beyond their own front door and then wondering why 'no one ever listens to me'.

I am not sorry for one moment that I enjoy living, shopping and socialising in Accrington and I read all the comments online half-smiling and half-pitying because it seems painfully obvious to me that quite a few people have all lost the ability to see anything positive. As an example, in the past 12 months I have ventured into shops, pubs and even a smashing little tea room then told people how good they are.

I may well be considered to be wearing rose tinted glasses but I at least it keeps me spending money in Accrington and if I can persuade just one person that they should do the same then it's good advertising for the town.

Listen to yourselves, you're taking the Mickey because I'm trying to talk the town up!

Re: M&S Accrington
 

No Ken, not talking the Mickey, but just telling it how we see it.
I am only prepared to give my own true opinion of a place......how I perceive it.
This is not necessarily how you will see a place as our needs(because we are individuals) are different.
If you think that Accrington has improved in any way over the last few years then I fear that you are deluded.
The outside market is a ghost of what it used to be.....and of what it could be.
The Arndale is littered with empty units.....but hey soon we will have a bright shiny bus station, which will make everything alright....Except it won't because it is in the wrong place, it is unnecessary because there will be nothing to get the bus into this town for
That is MY opinion......I suppose you consider me one of the doom mangers, the usual suspect because I cannot see the Accrington that you see(despite going into the centre almost every day of the week).

Re: M&S Accrington
 

It is all very well knowing of a nice tea room.....but a nice tea room needs nice shops and a good shopping experience in the town to complement and support it.
I do not know who you are trying to convince when you talk of the joys of shopping in Accrington....yourself or us.
Personally, I like to trust the evidence of my own eyes rather than the words of someone else.
The Emperors New Clothes doesn't cut it for me.

Re: M&S Accrington
 

lol silly me i didnt realise people were moaning about the same things over and over again for fun


i thought they were moaning about the same things over and over again because over and over again the council fail to address them

i dont arf feel daft

silly me

Re: M&S Accrington
 

I am really rather glad I left the town in 1970, although at that stage the shopping areas were a going concern.

Tal

Re: M&S Accrington
 

Accyman, we are supposed to sit nicely, quietly and believe what our local representatives tell us.
We are not supposed to use our eyes to see what is really happening......and certainly not our mouths to protest at the way things are going, because we cannot see how good the place is.
Good....as in good compared to what?
The Observer took a poll of people in the district recently. The vast majority felt that the town had gone downhill....but yet our local representatives think otherwise.....so of course they must be right......and all those polled were just moaning and being negative about the wonderful market(?),the fabulous shops(?).The thing is, if we can be bamboozled into thinking, believing, that everything is hunky dory, then the local representatives need expend absolutely no effort in doing anything to change the problems that we might think are apparent in our town.

Re: M&S Accrington
 

I wish that I had done the same thing!
In the early seventies we applied to go to Oz.....I got cold feet and we cancelled our application.:(

Re: M&S Accrington
 

You haven't been saying much on here - but now that the election is getting closer we are once again blessed with your comments

Re: M&S Accrington
 

You're putting words into my mouth. All I have said is that in a changing world I can still look for the positives rather than focusing on the negatives.

If you think that this mythical 1970s version of Broadway is ever going to come back then I'm afraid you're mistaken. Shopping habits have changed drastically.

If Broadway was so perfect before why am I hearing tales of complaints about a concrete monstrosity that many people were glad to see the back of? I'm not the only one with rose tinted specs, it seems.

Re: M&S Accrington
 

I'm not up for election and a few posts on here is not going to sway anyone but nice of you to think that.

Back in the old days when I was in opposition I could come on here and have a decent discussion. The moment I became part of the ruling group the entire forum seemed to suddenly view me as The Enemy and discussions became a lot less fun.

I miss the fun of it, truth be told.

Re: M&S Accrington
 

No, I never mentioned your name.
And I do not hanker after the Broadway of the seventies, because I am intelligent enough to know that it can never be that place it was then.
Back in the seventies the place was thronged with people...It could be again, but of course it won't be because no one want to listen to those who are concerned about the decline of the town.
As for the rose tinted specs..I wouldn't mind borrowing yours.

Re: M&S Accrington
 

I have never ever seen you as the enemy. I have always seen you as an intelligent and balanced poster, who contributed a valuable point of view to the forum....but you disappeared.
Ok sometimes life does get in the way of posting. No one knows this better than me