A sweet way we could bring more people into Rawtenstall
SAD news this week that Ramsbottom’s Chocolate Festival risks becoming a victim of its own success.
Tens of thousands of people went to the weekend celebration and sale of all things chocolate in Rammy last spring, and it did become rather packed at times. Was it unsafe? I didn’t think so – I was more frustrated by the long queues for some of the fancy doughnuts.
But the fact that bus trips to the Lake District were stopping off in Ramsbottom en-route to Cumbria tells its own story – it’s an event which has put the area on the map, for one weekend at least.
Paul Morris, owner of the Chocolate Café and one of those involved in the festival, said: “Maybe all good things come to an end.
“It’s a shame but we have new businesses coming and I’m sure we’ll fill that gap with something new and more regular.”
Or maybe, if Bury council don’t see the value of the event enough to make it work in Ramsbottom, someone at Rossendale council should seek to entice it down the A56 and into Rawtenstall.
For one, there’s more obviously open space in Rawtenstall town centre – at least for now.
The town square opens up on to Bank Street, which could be closed for the weekend, providing far more space for the remarkably high variety of stalls which occupy Ramsbottom for the chocolate festival.
It would be a chance to show Rawtenstall off to the many people who know where it is, but haven’t thought to visit for a long time, if ever.
We’re at the end of the East Lancashire Railway line, yet how many people just sit on the train while the engine moves to the back of the train to pull them back to Bury?
Rawtenstall is about to undergo a major transformation, costing many millions of pounds.
It’s one which is not without its critics.
Indeed, it’s pretty much divided opinion in the area.
It’s also a transformation which relies heavily on new businesses and investment being attracted in the second phase.
If ever there was a time to be investing time, effort and maybe some money in events which prompt people to come to Rawtenstall then it’s surely now.
There has, of course, been some progress on this front.
Farmers markets and the clog market both make use of the Town Square, and recently we had the funfair back in the town centre.
But everything Ramsbottom has achieved in recent years – the new businesses, the new reputation as a place to go at the weekend – is waiting for Rawtenstall too.
It has an attractive town centre – hopefully the new development of the bus station will enhance, rather than detract from it as some people fear – and a collection of independent traders any small town would be proud of. It has a market which could be the dictionary definition of hidden gem, and a selection of cafes which combine to make it a nice place to go.
But for the town to prosper, more people need to know about it.
There is a risk the new Aldi/Marks&Spencer development on the edge of town actually puts people off coming into Rawtenstall town centre – even though it almost certainly is bringing more people into the environs of Rawtenstall.
If ever there was a time to poach a chocolate festival which might be feeling a little unloved five miles up the road, it’s now.
Now’s the time to be giving people a chance to rediscover Rawtenstall.