"Lifestyle living" sites?
 

OK. So the council have now announced proposals for a new three year plan for the regeneration of Accrington Town centre.

But before you all get too excited remember this is an HBC plan, so it is going to be long on smart phrases and buzz words, very long actually. But when it comes down to concrete proposals it seems pretty mundane, not to say tame, and merely reflects what they should have been doing for the last thirty years anyway.

To quote Michelle McKenna, writing in the Observer (p19) the plan contains the following stunning new initiatives "Key objectives are to strengthen the town's retail position, to enhance the quality of the environment, to improve access, movement and transport, to promote investment and business development and to become a visitor destination."

As I said, nothing they should not already have been doing for the last thirty years.

But Ms McKenna goes on " Strategy proposals put forward for Accrington town centre include identifying possible sites for 'lifestyle living' in the town centre, developing a tourism strategy and providing better facilities for visitors, including accommodation, restaurants and conference provision, expanding the quality of shopping on offer and developing Accringtons evening economy."

What does all that mean? Well the accommodation and conference provision will be covered by the redevelopment of the former Skill Centre on Eagle Street which the council are planning to buy. "developing Accrington's evening economy" means handing out a handful of 24 hour drinking licenses. How they are going to persuade quality retailers to move into the town centre is beyond me. It strikes me that if Accrington was such a good business prospect retailers would actually be banging on the door already, not limping away bruised, battered and broke.

This insistence on turning Accrington into a tourist destination baffles me. And as for Lifestyle living - well, words fail me.

Re: "Lifestyle living" sites?
 

Re: "Lifestyle living" sites?
 

Like so many of HBC's "lofty" ambitions all this is dependent on a mixture of government grants and european handouts. According to their own reading of their financial position it will be the end of next year (2006) before thay have anything like a few coppers jingling in their pocket, and then only if eveything goes according to plan and there are no unforseen circumstances - like a change of government or a crash in the housing market or the stock exchange.

Re: "Lifestyle living" sites?
 

They actually estimate that it will cost £2.5 million to complete the transfer of the Market Hall. The actual receipts for the transfer will be £3 million. The difference of £0.5 million could very well be eaten up by increases in costs by the time the transfer is completed. So HBC are not betting on any contribution to the budget as a result of the transfer.

For more details read the Corporate Performance Plan on the HBC website.

http://www.hyndburnbc.gov.uk/Your_Co...ce/corplan.pdf

Be patient, it is 100 pages long and takes an age to download, even on broadband!

Re: "Lifestyle living" sites?
 

Re: "Lifestyle living" sites?
 

It is current. Which is, I think, all that can be said for it. It does however contain quite a lot of useful sticks with which to beat the council, if you are any good at reading between the lines.

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You'll also need a stiff gin! Happy reading!

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Blimey HBC are rather ambitious with their ideas just shame nowt but f-ups actually happen, who'd be wanting to spend a week in accy [as much as i love me town] than somewhere in the lake district. Theres nowt much in accy for locals nevermind tourists apart from the usual fri nite brawls oh n a trip to Oak Hill Park zoo. They have the Globe Centre hospitality rooms n hotel facilities n i bet they barely fill them so why another.

HBC - off with the fairies again !

Re: "Lifestyle living" sites?
 

Errm, the last time I was in Oak Hill Park all the animals were gone, apart from the usual human ones that is. I think there might still be a couple of ducks around but that is as far as it goes.

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Oh i went about 2 yrs ago n there was still the goats, budgies, rabbits n ducks plus the odd wild squirrel or 2 or dozen lol

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We saw a squirrel today that looked like a cross between a grey and a red - but that's a thread wander.

What exactly is "lifestyle living"?

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lifestyle living?!?!?!? ...havent a clue what that means nor what it is, i just seem to be only exsisting atm lol

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Methinks HBC have got ideas above their station and their heads up their a**es!
Then again it might just be me in cynical mode.......still not got to grips with the therapy.:rolleyes:

Re: "Lifestyle living" sites?
 

Re: "Lifestyle living" sites?
 

Re: "Lifestyle living" sites?
 

Re: "Lifestyle living" sites?
 

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I'll let Busman know...!!!

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Re: "Lifestyle living" sites?
 

Re: "Lifestyle living" sites?
 

Hey, give me a call, I'll warm up your iron!!

(Sorry Busman!!)

Only joking!!

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Well, has anyone come up with a definition of what "Lifestyle Living" might constitute yet, because I can't wait to have a go at it.

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Re: "Lifestyle living" sites?
 

Re: "Lifestyle living" sites?
 

Did anyone go online with him? I wonder if there is a transcript anywhere. Also was it a conspiracy to put it on the same night as the Utd/Chelsea game hoping everyone would be settled down to watch the game?
You decide......

:)

Re: "Lifestyle living" sites?
 

Re: "Lifestyle living" sites?
 

Hmmm, scintilating it wasn't! However I noticed Tealeaf's question about Goldfish, that made me smile.

Re: "Lifestyle living" sites?
 

Re: "Lifestyle living" sites?
 

Re: "Lifestyle living" sites?
 

Perhaps a solution to the "Lifestyle Living" conundrum may be found on BBC2 this evening at 8:00pm, Called Speed Up, Slow Down it is part one of a six programme series dealing with lifestyle.

Re: "Lifestyle living" sites?
 

What what what?

Accrington? Tourist Attraction? Lifestyles?


I have a headache..

Re: "Lifestyle living" sites?
 

I still can't get on the Hyndburn life site. Just tried again and it rejected me. :D

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Maybe its trying to tell you something Lettie... :p

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Re: "Lifestyle living" sites?
 

You're probably right Vorlon24..:D

I need a favour from someone, maybe Tealeaf would be willing. If Mr Pope does another session on Hyndburnlife, could someone please ask him how fast does the government think a 65 year old nurse can push a defib trolley the length of a hospital ward????:)

Re: "Lifestyle living" sites?
 

Re: "Lifestyle living" sites?
 

Re: "Lifestyle living" sites?
 

I can't get on Hyndburn Life either. Not that I am that bothered......except I would like to know what tealeaf said about the goldfish.......was it something like 'if HBC owned a goldfish they would pawn it'????????

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I'm just nosey that's all!

Re: "Lifestyle living" sites?
 

Hi Margaret, try this link
http://www.hyndburnlife.co.uk/rounda...urnlife.co.uk/
might work, you never know;)

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Thanx Park...... managed to view the site......and all about the goldfish.
It cured my curiosity. Not a very interesting site, is it?

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Think I'll stick with Accyweb!

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No, not very, there's nothing really "live" on there except the forum an that's dead, mind you what do you expect it's related to HBC..............
:bleedht: :bleedht: :bleedht:

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Re: "Lifestyle living" sites?
 

Greg Pope, the Member for Hyndburn, who, by his own admission, cannot work out a train timetable and appears more concerned about the rights of Goldfish than is perhaps altogether healthy ('scuse me while I bang my head against the wall) Has said of the 50 minute question and answer session " It is a bit like a chat room and it generated democratic discussions"

He actually answered seven questions during the time allowed, not 41 as the Observer reported.

He is reported to be in "Talks" with Hyndburnlite to organise the next one, as though this were something that required a feasibility study and a shedload of consultants to arrange. it strikes me that if he took the views and opinions of his constituents half a seriously as he says he does, he would be spending more time in Hyndburn than he does in Westminster, canvassing those opinions!

50 minutes "democratic discussion"! There are days when you can feel the will to live just drain away.

Re: "Lifestyle living" sites?
 

And still we are no nearer figuring out what a "Lifestyle Living Site" might be, nor indeed why it, or they, might be something that we could conceivably have a use for.

Any suggestions ? ? ?