How has town redevelopment become quite so divisive?
GOOD news for shopping centre fans – Historic England has lifted its objections to the proposed new complex on Rawtenstall’s town square.
Rather embarrassingly, the organisation piled in with concerns about the original plans after they were published by Rossendale council just before Christmas.
The organisation – whose opposition would have made it very hard for Rossendale council to push ahead with the new hotel/shops/cinema/spa/ bakery project in the heart of Rawtenstall – has now talked to the partnership behind the Spinning Point scheme, and changes have been made.
Regeneration boss Andy McNae describes the change in position from Historic England: “It has been fantastic to work with Historic England towards revised proposals for Spinning Point.
“Our priority has always been to create a modern, fit for purpose development which is complementary and sympathetic to Rawtenstall’s unique heritage.
“The design team is committed to getting this balance right and has worked very closely with Historic England to fully understand and respond to its concerns.
“This is an extremely positive step towards realising Spinning Point and, I hope, provides some assurance to local people that we are listening to and acting on feedback.”
The fact that Historic England wasn’t consulted before the plans were submitted to the council should be a cause for concern.
And as for whether local people feel the council is listening to them, I guess actions will speak louder than words.
While Historic England’s concerns made it nearly impossible for the council to push ahead with its plans, such is the legal weight the organisation carries, of equal concern to the council should be the fact the local chamber of Commerce has withdrawn its support for the scheme.
This is a very big deal for the council – and it shouldn’t have come to this. The whole point of the Spinning Point scheme, which includes a new bus station currently being built, is to help local businesses in the future.
But the views of local businesses seem to conclude that what’s being proposed is a waste opportunity, and misses the chance to better link up various parts of the town.
The lack of detail is a common concern.
It could be this, it could be that – it seems to keep changing.
Even Historic England’s objections have resulted in changes to the plans.
Surely that means the consultation process for the planning application should start all over again?
Organisations such as the Friends of Rawtenstall were left deeply unimpressed at the speed with which the bus station planning application was whipped through the council.
The challenge for Rossendale council is complex.
It is clearly driven by good intentions – to improve Rawtenstall town centre.
Other parts of the borough have paid a heavy price for that, not least Haslingden, which missed out on a new swimming pool to fund the purchase of the old shopping centre in Rawtenstall, which was then knocked down.
But it also needs to bring those who effectively run the town centre – the traders – with them on this project.
Time and again, there have been complaints of being ignored by the council, which looks bad when the council is not only deciding this planning application, but also a driving force behind the Partnership submitting the planning application.
It needs not only to listen, but to be seen to listen.
That the chamber of commerce felt the need to publicly pull away from supporting this project speaks volumes in itself – and not in a good way.
It’s no wonder the local Conservatives see the Spinning Point development as a key election issue this year.
Quite how something which should be so positive has become so divisive is remarkable in itself.