FEARS OF BANKRUPTCY

I AND a lot of people are worried that the council will bankrupt Rossendale.

When shopping centres throughout the UK are struggling and owners are being forced to cut rents, as retailers (major chains and independents) struggle Rossendale seems hell bent on completing this scheme against the flow of opinion and headlines and with borrowed money.

More than £9,000,000 if the figures are correct.

Following the failure of the original scheme they seem to have had a foolproof plan B all the time. A Spa...exactly what we have all been clamouring for for years?

Housing and a bus station, quite some distance in the rain from where the genuinely clamoured for Metrolink Park and Ride scheme would naturally be sited.

The regeneration of Rawtenstall (at the expense of other parts of the Valley) has been largely led by people setting up their own ventures and risking their own capital, efforts and futures.

There is no need for further retail space and a bus station where they plan it, if a bus station is even needed at all.

More and better shelters throughout the valley would suffice and be appreciated by the people who use them.

The housing is supposed to “mop up” this loan, so much needed affordable accommodation it isn’t.

The old shopping centre having been demolished is now an open and much used Civic Space where the panorama is mostly great Victorian Sandstone Architecture and enhances the town.

Honestly go there and look around you.

The Spinning Point development is not natural stone and would be banned in any other development in the valley, but that is a detail.

If the Council wants a shopping centre Kirkcaldy has one up for sale (reserve £1).

Inadvertently the Council finds itself in a great position with a fabulous, inviting, clean open space and a potential link to Manchester’s expanding Metrolink system at minimum costs and risking very little.

I hope they do go to the site, stop, stand, look around and reflect on what they have now. Phil Taylor via Facebook