FACEBOOK COMMENTS
Small and independent businesses in Hyndburn hit by a huge hike in their business rates are set to share in a six-figure council relief scheme. (website, September 29) Stuart Mcdonald: Say goodbye to the few remaining independent shops left Nadine Alderson: What was I saying? All goes back to the councils. The government they are pushing the area into poverty! Jodie Travis: The government brought about a revaluation of the rates. Some businesses lose out. Therefore a find has been set up nationwide to be distributed locally to those businesses with the largest hikes. Says it all in the article. James Goodwin: Probably to pay for that pavement that is not needed Carole Taylor: Just what struggling businesses in the area need!
POLICE sting catches dedicated community volunteer who thought he was talking to 13-year-old girl (website, September 29) Kamran Khan: It’s high time a more stringent punishment than a jail sentence is put in place. Far too many on the streets. I fear for the future of our children.
CAT owner says pets not safe after three killed on roads and another shot by an air gun (September 28) Diana Cleeve-Evans: Its so sad to hear about all these poor defenceless cats, used as target practice by one sick individual with obviously only one brain cell and totally devoid of any compassion. It’s completely alien to right thinking people. Gary M Hough: Our cat was recently knocked down and had to be put to sleep, either on Burnley Road or nearby - unfortunately cats that go outdoors are useless at using pedestrian crossings - plus they can’t reach the button to press it either. Jackie Rawstron: Folk really need to be more worried that someone is walking round with an air rifle shooting animals, let’s hope it’s not a child next eh? Alix Dickinson: My first cat was knocked down last year (first male). Will miss Salem forever. Sweet boy. My heart goes out to you all. Diane Baldwin: They need to bring a law out to protect them poor animals.
A MULTIPLE occupancy house to help the homeless was approved despite a petition (website, September 28) Vicky Griffin: This lot need to give their heads a wobble. They all need to experience sleeping rough. Maybe just maybe they will have a change of heart. In this day and age people shouldn’t be sleeping on the streets in all weathers. Maybe they should go and talk to these rough sleepers and get their story as to why they are homeless. Even if they do have drug problems, something has caused them to go down that road. Possibly mental health. Its about helping these people off the streets. Give them somewhere to live, they then would be able to work on getting their lives back with SUPPORT. Then back in to work. Have this lot even thought about doing voluntary work with the homeless, obviously not. Research first before discriminating people that have alot less than yourselves. Nobody asks to be homeless. Judith Addison: I was on the Planning Committee. None of the documentation nor the 5 minute presentation by the developer made any reference to the accommodation being for homeless people. Planning Application 11/17/0301 was entitled “Change of use from warehouse/ workshop (B8) to 17 bed HMO (C4) with new openings.” From a planning viewpoint, the application related to conversion of a warehouse to a House in Multiple Occupation, i.e. bedsits. Who the accommodation was intended for wasn’t deemed to be of relevance for planning purposes. Informative Note 8 at the end of the Decision Notice says, “The House in Multiple Occupation hereby approved will require a Licence under the Housing Act 2004 which is issued by Hyndburn Borough Council as the Local Housing Authority.” One of the “statutory consultees” on the application was the Council’s Housing Strategy & Policy Manager. Her written comments stated that there was little detailed information in the application and that possibly the rooms were too small. She also stated that there was no information on the proposed use of the accommodation, e.g. what age group it was intended for, whether the rooms were for rent or sale and whether the facility would be used as “supported accommodation”. She said that management of the building was an issue and asked whether there would be a manager on site. She stated that whilst this might not be a planning issue it was of “significant concern”. Another “statutory consultee” was HBC’s Environmental Protection Manager. He supplied a Guide for Landlords of HMOs outlining the amenity and space standards that would be expected. He said it was difficult to tell from the information submitted whether all the rooms complied with the space standard.
FAMILY hit by third theft in 12 months after ‘lowlives’ target van. Fed up Ruth Whittle and Anthony Thorpe shared CCTV on social media following the break in (website, September 27) Mandi Frankland: I had my house burgled 3 times in one year. Once on Xmas day. Could never afford to replace what I had worked hard for. Jarvis Henry: This is sad, I guess these thieves deserve to mop the Atlantic Ocean for the rest of their lives. Joanne Blackmore: This is awful, such a lovely family too. Hope they catch the lowlife scumbags xx Nigel Dutton: I had my recovery truck stolen and it ended up in Accrington, scumbags. Jade Thorpe: Disgusting. Can’t have nothing these days! Mand Stozy Jnr Remind me again why we pay council tax?
NEW plans have been unveiled for £2m sports hub at Higham’s Playing Fields (website September 26) John Brindle: Looks fantastic, somewhere for the kids to train in a multi sports venue. Should be a great asset to the area. This sort of project works well in other towns and brings in revenue. Of course you won’t please everyone. Lisa Hacking: That’s brilliant! There’s not enough facilities for young people to practise and play sports. Wish we had the same where I lived. Every winter it’s a struggle to find a pitch for the junior teams to practise on. There simply isn’t enough to go around. Combats anti social behaviour if there’s places children can use at night. They’re more likely to get involved rather than cause problems. Just need to make sure the lights are turned off when not in use and there’s extra places to park for visitors. Steven Lee Hacking: Good for kids but not for the residents Lisa Hacking: There’s always going to be something less than perfect, but it might even create some revenue or jobs for the town... Thomas Lindsay: I’d rather have a few more cars drive down my street than teenagers outside on a weekend. Catherine Louise Finn: One in three houses has dogs.. I personally and a gaining number of younger people have no plans on having children so personally this does nothing for me or my family. Thomas Lindsay: How are lights bad? I bought my house and one of the positive is its right under a street light, my better half gets out of her car on a dark night into a well lit area and walks to the door in a well lit area. Surely having a well lit street is a great thing with young ones about Catherine Louise Finn: The lights from Stanley blind you if you’re walking up at the coppice after dark... Neil Mooney: With the amount of electricity flood lights use I can’t see them being on when not needed Josh Woodstock: About 100m further down Thorneyholme road is a fenced off area of wasteland ideal for dog walking which leads to woodland further down. Rob Russell: That’s the point all these dog walkers and low impact joggers are missing, it’s not 100 yards before the next, more suitable venue appears. Michael Larner: I have kids, but even if I didn’t I’d applaud something for kids to do. If kids have facilities to expend their youthful energy then anti social behaviour goes down. This has been proven time and time again in towns all over the country. Yvonne Pilkington: We’ve already got Accrington academy and sports centre. Hollins are crying out for it, cause there’s nothing up there. I live around Thorneyhome and I don’t want the hub. It will spoil the area and increase traffic and noise. Rachel Louise Hargreaves: It’s good for the children I’m sorry it’s about keeping kids of the streets to be fair so it’s a great idea x Steven Lee Hacking: That will go down like a dog toilet for the locals. Traffic. Noise lighting. Poor people having to put up with that. Shame on you Hyndburn Council Jac Latham: Looks amazing. Be a great addition to Accrington. I’m a footballer parent so it would be hugely beneficial to my children. Jonathan Holden Greenwood: I really don’t understand why people are against this. Walk your dog somewhere else. Ian Greenwood: Looks good