Tony Dobson

Hyndburn Conservative leader

SINCE I became leader of the Conservative group in Hyndburn, a number of my observer columns have been about my frustrations with the town centre and my labour colleagues who currently run Hyndburn council, I voiced my frustrations about a lack of vision, interest, passion and ability to resolve some of our issues.

I’ve received from a very successful and prominent business based in our town centre, who are looking to expand into other parts of Pennine Lancashire.

This company contacted The Burnley Council economic regeneration team (Hyndburn council doesn’t have one) they returned their call in 24 hours, they were extremely helpful and eager to bring new business to Burnley town centre, as part of an extensive package, they were offered shop front improvement grants (Hyndburn council don’t offer such help) they were offered capital equipment payback schemes (Hyndburn council don’t offer such help), they were offered free business rates for the first six months (Hyndburn council don’t offer such help) they were offered demographic information around footfall, detailed property lists and maps (Hyndburn council don’t offer such help) and I just have a general sense that Burnley’s economic regeneration team were absolutely passionate about improving their town centre, they have recently been awarded the most business friendly council in the country and by all accounts it seems that it is well deserved.

So my exasperation is now complete!!

The only difference between Hyndburn and Burnley is that it is a slightly larger council with a larger population but that is where the differences end, they are both Labour-controlled, they are both subject to reductions in funding, they are both accountable within a two tier structure, they both have very similar demographics !

For whatever political reason my Labour colleagues in Hyndburn sit back and see our town centre slowly die and believe a Town Square is i’s saviour.

I cannot understand or standby and watch.

I now believe that a large number of residents in the borough are questioning the excuses of ‘we’ve got no money, it’s the cuts governor’ now that I know what Burnley and other labour controlled councils are doing for their town centres.

Those kind of excuses are no longer valid and should be no longer accepted by you our residents.