what would you do ...
 

this is the spugsters idea .. and told me to put it on here and leave it all up to you :D

Now there has over time been a few discussions,disagreements,the odd argument etc over what Accy needs to make it a better town. So here is a hyperthetical question to chew on were no idea is mad sad crazy or bad but there for the purpose of views.
"If Accrington/Hyndburn landed a £75m bonanza to re develop the area with the inclussion of a tourist attraction how would you go about it if the project was your baby"?
It cannot be for a year only but a lasting tribute to the area and its people and might create footfall in the town for traders. Oh and despite its failings you cannot get rid of the council, but they do have limited input without bias as they will be needed.
£75m may sound a lot but in this day and age it is not.
Enjoy.


about .....................





so excuse the spellings its him ....:D:D:D




by the way this came about with a discussion between us .. about the kelpies .... i'll stick pics up later .. ive a train to catch and i'll be back in sunny lancashire later ... :D

Re: what would you do ...
 

Goodness gracious, that is a really hard one Jen.
It will be interesting to see what the responses are.
For me, maybe it would have to centre around the Accrington Pals Regiment.....because I tnink there is a lot of interest in the history of the Regiment.
It would have to be more than a museum....perhaps something interactive.
It is always more fun doing things than just looking at something.....although a permanent exhibition would be an idea. It could include something of the background of the lads who gave up their lives.....the kind of work they left.....and this would again be able to incorporate something of the industrial background of the town.
It would need to be central to the town, easy to access and suitable for all ages.
But there my ideas dry up. How to do it? Where to put it? How to run it? How to promote it?
Promoting it could be done a bit like the 'Coronation St' experience.
Get schools involved!
That is my two pen north.

Re: what would you do ...
 

This subject has already been flogged to death on Hyndburn Chat.

Re: what would you do ...
 

Aye but be fair walter. theres quite a few on here dont do facebook.

Re: what would you do ...
 

I assume building a castle on top of the coppice and putting a moat around it is out the question?
If there is anything left I'll open a Accy pals/cotton Museum and level the woodnook area to make space for car parking.

Re: what would you do ...
 

I don't do Hyndburn Chat so I wouldn't know anything about it.

Are you saying that it isn't practical, or there is no call for it? Or that it wouldn't work?
What is your thought on the subject....and I am asking this in the knowledge that you are an expert on the subject, and with respect for that expertise.

Re: what would you do ...
 

Well you've got me thinking anyway....but could only comment on what I personally would like to see which may not suit another single soul.

Here goes.
1: A blue plaque up to commemorate Beryl Formby (Ingham) was born here and entertained here. I was successful in getting Beryl and Georges picture up in Spoons at least.
2: I would like to see some of the town shops embrace more traditional themes, perhaps part of the empty high street, a row of shops.
3: Can we loose some of the endless charity shops all selling the same old stuff only to wind up in overflowing land fill we all fit the bill for.
4: A miniature steam railway running around the town operated by model rail enthusiasts. (I know I'm already bonkers) Do away with buses driving through town centre.
5: Annual amateur film screenings in our local cinema showcasing local film makers.
6: Saturday morning 'Senior' Cinema. Many cinemas throughout the UK offer this and provide tea/coffee free including bic bics.
7: More street entertainment at weekends.
8: Town Hall showcasing local talent...Once a month perhaps.
9: Celebrate Accrington History Day (annual event)
10: "The Great Northern Pie Day" Invite all local businesses or groups for a day event in town.

Best I could come up with.

Re: what would you do ...
 

I actually wouldn't go with the Accrington Pals as a theme ... id go for something a bit broader .. what is hyndburn known for .. you need something that would be something a bit different .. something to stand out .. and will last 20years down the line that someone will want to still come and visit ...

Re: what would you do ...
 

so come on then Jen...what is this something broader.
What is Hyndburn known for...not much because Hyndburn is a relatively new invention.
Accrington....Nori Bricks. Tiffany Glass Eubank Carpet sweeper
Clayton...Blakes Vitreous Enamel...being the halfway mark on the Leeds/Liverpool Canal, Dr Lovelaces floating soap.
All of them gone, except for Haworth Art Gallery and the Canal

All of these are itty bitty things...none of them would inspire anyone to come to find out about them....whereas with the Pals regiment there is much interest from those interested in military stuff, those interested in social stuff and it could easily encompass the areas industrial heritage. Is that not broad enough?
Only asking :D

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This is my answer to the question when in apeared on facebook
After they've spent 74 million on consultants and a few backhanders they'd probably ave enough left to clean the flags properly, an put a few angng baskets up

Re: what would you do ...
 

Well, why would you spend all that money on Consultants.....to have nothing left to effect the changes that would benefit the town?
That makes no sense at all. It might be what happens in some places, but I would hope that there is enough local knowledge and expertise to do something of this nature.
That isn't to say that local contributors should not be paid......they should, but my guess is that they would be much more realistic in terms of their services.

But it seems as though this idea has no running value....So I will leave suggestions to others.... They may come up with something that would find more favour.

Re: what would you do ...
 

You forgot about the lawyers. They have to be brought in to advise on health and safety issues ... like hard hats, safety glasses, and steel-toed boots for kids playing conkers:rolleyes: ... and on possible lawsuits, just in case someone gets a whiff of second-hand smoke from the little steam locos MrPastry mentioned.;) That'll be at least another 75 million smackeroos.

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You've got the right idea Eric, :D Margaret takes things too seriously.
Just one thing thgough, most Borough Corps do overspend on consultants, meeks one wonder what sort of staff they employ if they need to consult.

Re: what would you do ...
 

all this came about because we were talking .. and I was talking about the helix .. where the kelpies are .. and said something like this would be perfect for accy/Hyndburn .. the kelpies have attracted people from all over the world to the area .. Falkirk council have set up a bus route .. repainted certain bus stops pink .. and called it the pink bus route .. and a bus goes to the helix/the kelpies, Falkirk stadium, Falkirk wheel, Callendar park and the train stations and bus station ... and people can hop on and off the bus and visit the attractions .. bringing money into the area more people shopping in Falkirk ..

The Helix | Activities

so what did we come up with ... concentrate on the industrial heritage of Hyndburn .. build it at huncoat .. you've got all the spare land up there ..transport links for the A56 and the M65 .. you could do a bus service between that, the Haworth art gallery, ossy mills, the bus station .. any other ideas ..

Re: what would you do ...
 

Knock it all down and build houses. We need affordable houses not a town centre full of skanks

Re: what would you do ...
 

what makes you think that I take things too seriously?
And should the future of the town be left to those who do not take things seriously?
Decisions about the town have long term consequences as we have seen by what has been done over the years.....much of it to the detriment of the town.

Jen much as I love the sculpture of the Kelpies, they are in the right spot......and I'm not sure something like that would make Accrington a tourist attraction.......bu then what do I know?

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I'll stick up fer me steam trains with countersunk lines obviously to please the health and safety folk.

Re: what would you do ...
 

the kelpies are a leisure park .. hows about a miniature steam railway .. you can ride on around the park .. taking in different places .. do a boating lake .. nature reserve ... im not saying a sculpture of kelpies in accy .. wouldn't suit .. but what about a sculpture of a spinning jenny ...

Re: what would you do ...
 

Definitely agree on the overspending. In Kingston, our council is spending megabucks studying whether or not we need a third crossing over the Cataraqui River in order to get traffic moving efficiently between the old city and all the new development in Kingston East. It's a no-brainer, particularly for those commuters who are stuck in traffic during the morning and evening rush. A few thousand bucks and some common sense ... something which seems to get less "common" every year ... would generate the correct answer. The money wasted on bs consulting firms should go to the actual construction of the goddam thing. Even the siting of the bridge is obvious to anyone who cares to take a glance at a two dollar map!

This seems to be turning into a rant:D Money should not be wasted on hot air and thousands of pages of beautifully illustrated expensive horse manure, whatever the project, in whatever communitiy.

Re: what would you do ...
 

No Jen, I didn't mean that a sculpture of Kelpies wouldn't work.....I meant that any sculpture would not be a draw...... Or at least, I don't think it would.
Certainly not the way the Kelpies and the Helix is a draw.....wasn't there once a Zeri plan to make the site of the power station at Huncoat a racetrack, and a leisure park.....it didn't happen.....why?
Might it have been that it wasn't deemed viable?

I'm not sure what would do it for Accrington......the market used to be a good draw, but not any longer.

Re: what would you do ...
 

Miniature steam railway would be nice and I like the ride around to see different things as well especially to entertain and educate the youngsters. Workings of steam, local history etc.

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why not? people travel to see the angel of the north .. mount rushmore in America ... the one in rio de janiero .. nelsons column in London .. eros in piccadilly circus in London .. sir matt busby at old Trafford .. sir tom finney at preston north end ... greyfriars bobby in Edinburgh .. the duke of wellington statue with the cone on his head in Glasgow .. Eric Morecambe statue in Morecambe .. andy gormleys statues on Crosby beach ..

Re: what would you do ...
 

Yes they may go to those places, but Jen, most of those places have more than one thing in their favour.
They are multidimensional.
So they build some sort of edifice on top of ......well let's say the Coppice.
There isn't much else to keep them here.
Tom Finney and Preston.....a city, shops, a market.
Nelson's column....is in the capital city.....so lots of other tourist attractions. Good restaurants, pubs, historical buildings.....river cruises.
Likewise for Edinburgh.....lots of lovely places to eat, architecture.
Old Trafford.....well to some that is a shrine to football.
I haven't heard of many people going to Morecambe just to see the Eric Morecambe statue.
Crosby is on route to another city with lots of history and culture.

I may be wrong but I really don't think it fits into the category of the places you have cited Jen.
A statue here would probably be scrawled with graffiti in no time at all.......now maybe that sounds very negative, but I see it as being realistic.
Sorry, but that is just how it seems....unless there is more than that then we would just be throwing the money away....if we had the 75 million that is.

Re: what would you do ...
 

£75 million doesn't go far but- the Coppice?
It's got to earn its keep, make a profit even. Pull people in from a distance.

An adventure park? Cable car to the top, lots of frightening ways of getting down again, slides, those pulleys on ropes you hang on to and scream, one of those army style training courses, scaled down for children, paint balling in the woods, build a water world into the slopes with heated pool, surf rider.
Glass the quarries over to make an even bigger Eden Project, attract the Greens and tree huggers, a wheel like the London Eye, so you can see Pendle, the Ribble Valley, Accrington and if you're the right age just ignore the views and sit and cuddle in privacy for a half hour. Lit up at night, visible all over Hyndburn, discos for young teens and older ones in the Eden replicas so the place hums even at night, a tropical holiday night club(not much for them to do in Accrington at night?). Lots of car parking.
Most of all keep the Council out of it, leave it to local enthusiasts and franchised companies to steam it up.
I think I may have just spent £750,000,000 but Hell, think big!

Re: what would you do ...
 

I'm a steam freak myself.:D

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i think the best thing that could be done with the coppice is leave it alone.There used to be a very distinctive spread eagle pattern visible for miles then some idiot messed it up by planting loads of trees all over the gaff.You dont need fancy stuff to make use of the coppice anyone who grew up around here will have fond memories up the coppice as a small child or even as a hormonal teenager ;)