DISMAYED BY TROUBLE

I AM a little dismayed to see that the sort of troubles Bacup town centre has been experiencing (as reported in the Free Press), along with other town centres in the borough, are sometimes regarded as being low level in nature and perhaps being perceived as having a low level effect.

This is most often not the case.

Most of the shop fronts in Haslingden present a dismal appearance at night with shutters drawn against the very real prospect of a broken window.

How many years is it since you window shopped in Haslingden after the shops closed in an evening.

In my case I would guess not since around 1965.

My parents who ran a shop in Lower Deardengate for many years lived in nightly dread of a broken window which would wipe out the income they needed to live on for many weeks.

Petty pilfering of lead from roofs causes havoc.

I gained access to the ex British Legion a few years ago when it was up for sale and what was once the parquet wood dance floor resembled the Great Pyramid of Giza caused by the wood swelling and buckling from the deluge of water that had brought the ceilings down, the roof having been attacked by vandals.

This highly discourages any prospective buyers for such a property from taking on such a daunting project.

Because of this sort of ‘low level’ problem I am sure many perspective businesses look at the appearance of our town centres and move on to other climes with a more welcoming aspect.

Mindless vandalism to cars puts everyone’s premiums up, young and old alike, and many youngsters who require transport for their first job find it impossible to get a realistic quote.

It was such a pleasure to visit Woodstock near Oxford and walk around the town after the shops had closed peering in every brightly lit window.

It was then it struck me I hadn’t been able to have this forgotten pleasure in my home town for many years.

This is why I have great admiration for the people who have taken on our town, opening new businesses, planting flowers and cleaning up litter and mess with the conviction to try to lift all our spirits – well done to all you folks.

Dave Rothwell

Warwick Street Haslingden