Council is often picking up pieces
IT’S easy to blame the council for pretty much anything that goes wrong here in Rossendale.
But sometimes, it’s worth remembering that the council is picking up the pieces, rather than causing the problem in the first time.
Take, for example, eyesore buildings we all complain about.
We tut at the council for the state of town centres but the council, generally, doesn’t own the buildings which are in disrepair.
The old Woolworths store in Bacup is a good example.
The millions being spent on regenerating Bacup’s heritage is great news for Bacup – but it only takes one or two eyesore buildings to really pull the look and feel of a place down.
The owners of the building now have just a few months to sort the building out, or the council will have the option to do the work, and bill the owners for it.
Coun Christine Lamb, cabinet member for regulatory services, said: “It is not fair on businesses, residents and visitors who have to put up with it. I’m pleased that the work to improve the building, which should have originally been completed by now, will finally be carried out.
“We will consider legal action, where appropriate, if commercial property owners do not look after their buildings.”
I think there are few people who would disagree.