Tony Dobson

Conservative leader

YOU may have seen in this newspaper or on social media a plan by Accrington Stanley community trust to bring a £2m sports development to Hyndburn.

Originally the trust envisaged that the perfect site for the redevelopment would be right next to the Accrington Stanley ground on Livingstone Road.

That site is leased from the council by three individuals on behalf of the Accrington Amateurs.

The trust approached the three individuals and tried to persuade them this development was not only good for Hyndburn but also for Accrington Amateurs.

Two of the three individuals were convinced but the third, who represented the ladies teams, still needed to be convinced.

I even met them myself down at Accrington Sports Centre to talk through the possibilities. During this time the trust were in constant contact with our Labour-controlled council and after many months of conversations and concerns around losing the finance, my Labour colleagues offered the trust Higham’s playing fields as an alternative.

So, why am I telling you all this?

Three reasons really; Firstly, Hyndburn Conservative Group has never discussed this proposal and would never make a decision about it because we are not in control of the council.

Secondly, at a recent meeting apparently my name was quoted in certain circles and I just wanted to clarify the position.

And thirdly, this project is a good example of my frustrations with the controlling group.

The ideal place for this development was at Livingstone Road but it needed the intervention of the council leader to go and talk on a one-toone basis and make the case for this development for our borough, convincing the ladies that they would be safe in this new arrangement.

Instead what has happened is that they have just sat back, months have passed by, the money has been at risk when what it needed was proactive, business-like leadership.

I just wish my Labour colleagues would do me a favour and focus on the issues and opportunities in our borough in a business-like, proactive, enthusiastic and passionate way – which means I could spend time writing my column congratulating them instead of having to always highlight their inadequacies.