BECOMING GHOST TOWN

REGENERATE – (verb) Improve, to improve a place or system by especially by making it more active or successful.

Isn’t that what local businessman and councillor was trying to do (‘Plans for outdoor seating area for Pals cafe refused, Observer July 20’)?

Rejected on the grounds of “visual amenity” it would spoil a direct vista to the market hall is complete rubbish.

Clare Cleary’s remarks about it being completely inappropriate for the conservation area with its Astroturf, and her further remark about the colour scheme of black and blue are not in keeping with ‘what we are trying to do’.

Yet the council conservation officer had no objections.

Her job is to promote the town by bringing in businesses no matter how large or small.

The idea for the Astroturf was to protect the flagstones from potential coffee or tea stains.

I’ll go as far as to predict once the flagstones have been cleaned when the workmen have finished that within a week or so there will be stained from people carrying take away drinks from other establishments and chewing gum.

Councillor Howarth said approving the scheme could lead to a “nasty precedent”.

Is a café culture town square with seating area not what this town needs? If this was the case we could have a bustling and vibrant square.

Look at Preston, Blackburn, Burnley and Manchester, which has these kinds of amenities these towns are vibrant go ahead towns with shoppers.

Accrington can’t attract shoppers with this backward attitude.

Many local people no longer shop in Accrington, they are going elsewhere and who can blame them?

This local councillor and café owner was trying his best to attract back lost shoppers.

But with the Clare Cleary’s blinkered attitude this town sinks slowly towards becoming a ghost town with no prospects of improving.

Only councillor Steve Button had the common sense and visual attitude to support it. A.P. Moxham via email