Graham Jones
WITH Parliament in recess it’s been an opportunity to look at some key local issues.
I have received a considerable amount of correspondence about the distressing fires in Great Harwood and I have asked that all the relevant agencies involved meet to discuss the aspects of this ongoing problem, and work very closely together to reach a solution.
Accrington town centre remains the local Labour Party’s second biggest challenge. Through their majority on the Council, Labour are now consulting on a £3million facelift of the Blackburn Road corridor.
The council inherited decades of poor decisions such as knocking down the concrete market, bundling eyesore 2-16 Broadway (which we covered with a Pals banner) and building the Arndale amongst many that left Accrington in a poor state. The latest being the previous administration’s decision to relocate the bus station.
The £3million refurbishment has some basic principles that should have been adopted decades ago. Get rid of street clutter, keep things in character ie stone, keep things simple and quality build.
£1.3million was spent by the previous Council administration on Broadway and who can say that was money well spent?
Another poor decision in a litany of poor decisions.
Some shops are being asked to go back to retro signage and Peel Street is being redone to maximise new extra car parking, approximately 45 new bays.
There are wider issues that aren’t being tackled within the Heritage Lottery grant such as reductions in edge of town retail space and encouragement of town centre residential development above the ground floor.
Employment remains the number one issue.
We haven’t done enough of promoting local businesses which is why I and my Labour colleagues were delighted to see the first annual local business awards established.
With our Olympic success in Rio I am sure we are all proud the formal garments were made in Altham by Simon Jersey.
Junction 6 continues to develop and Hyndburn’s Labour council has come along way with the development of the largest industrial estate in Lancashire. The new owners are in advanced discussions with businesses looking to locate there.
Whilst Parliament has been closed I have continued to make progress on several issues.
As Parliamentary Labour Party chair for Culture Media and Sport, I’ve continued to campaign against the government’s privatisation of Channel 4.
I have also continued to work hard against the closures of our libraries.
The Council and I have worked on building up community capacity so libraries due for closure can be kept open with public volunteers. In Rishton and Clayton that seems to be succeeding and the one library I am most concerned about is Oswaldtwistle. If you want to get involved please get in touch.