RAWTENSTALL LOST OUT TOO

WHILST appreciating as always Scribbler’s reports on both local matters and Government papers, may I please bring two points to your attention that arise from the article in the Free Press of August 13?

Firstly, the Valley Centre site (‘Council needs Reel ambition to improve the Valley further’); it was not only Haslingden that lost an important facility when the old centre was demolished: Rossendale, and Rawtenstall in particular, lost the Astoria, which was believed to have been held by the Council on a peppercorn rent.

With it went the opportunity for an arts centre (including a sprung ballroom floor) and general meeting venue, facilities which have never been replaced.

Also, in a report for the Council about the same period, Consultants Nathaniel Lichfield advised that the population of the Valley was not big enough to support a cinema, nor, what the then Youth Council had asked for as well, a bowling alley.

This was when the land at New Hall Hey was still allocated for leisure use.

Secondly, the Government’s new relaxation on conversion of commercial premises to housing (‘New planning laws are a threat to high street revival’): this is not a free-for-all but has already gone through a long period of national consultation, which has resulted in a tightening up of the rules; appropriate space and ventilation, amongst other things, will now be required.

Also, these changes are subject to Prior Approval notices, which, like Planning Applications, have to be made known to anyone they may affect, and comments taken on board by the Council.

Rossendale Civic Trust is working with the national organisation, Civic Voice, to monitor and report on how these changes take place across Rossendale. Kathy Fishwick

Chair, Rossendale Civic Trust