Make the most of our wonderful market

IN his plans for the town centre, Coun McNae talks about the attractions Rawtenstall already has, including Marl Pits, the Whitaker, Ski Rossendale and the market.

Surely now is the time to work out how to make the most of our market, which is a wonderful part of the town centre?

In this respect, there’s perhaps something to be learned from the work going on in Haslingden to make the market there a central part of community life beyond the regular market activities.

I love shopping on Rawtenstall market, but can’t help but think the traders and shoppers would be much better served if they were more central in the town centre.

At the moment, it’s rather cut off at what some would say is the quieter end of Bank Street.

Does the big new development offer the chance to move the market to a more central location in and around the Spinning Point development?

That would put it closer to the new bus station – surely a good thing – and closer to more shops?

That in turn would free up space at the end of Bank Street for some sort of development, maybe residential, or more parking.

As we know, the peculiar thing about the Spinning Point development is that, in the short-term at least, a project designed to bring more people into the town leaves us with less parking than we had before.

Not the end of the world, but a little odd.