Coun Marlene Haworth

Opposition leader

THIS will probably be my next to last column before the local elections take place where I will be standing for re-election in St Oswald’s ward, and over the next few months I will hopefully be out there meeting as many residents as I can or at least speaking to them on the phone.

I’m happy to have some good news to report at last - all the covid restrictions we have endured over the last two years will be lifted within the next few weeks and we can get back to living our nearly normal lives, but our heartfelt thoughts should also be with those people whose lives will never be the same.

The levelling up bid for £20m will soon be completed and ready to present to Westminster later in the year this will enable us to start bringing our town centre into the 21st century and, as a member of the board who have been responsible for putting the bid together, I must say it’s been very interesting reading your ideas on how we can improve our town centre.

Unfortunately it will be impossible to please all of the people all of the time, but I can say they have all been looked at most carefully and some of them will be going into our ten-year plan for the borough. Thanks go to all those people who participated in the survey.

The country’s economy is growing much faster than anticipated and all the residents I have spoken to are beginning to feel cautiously optimistic that the country is well on the road to recovery. The tourist trade is growing finally and record bookings are being taken for trips abroad now that the covid rules have been relaxed and we no longer need to take those expensive tests or isolate when coming back into the country - although we still have to fill in locator forms and show proof of vaccination.

Finally last week on behalf of the residents in Oswaldtwistle, I was honoured to plant a tree in Rhyddings park to commemorate the Queen’s platinum jubilee.

Seventy years on the throne - what a wonderful achievement. Like some of you I remember (just!) the day of the coronation with all the street parties that took place, a memory of a great day, lots of cake and jelly and a wonderful young woman who has served us so well over the years and hopefully for a few more yet.

Stay safe and well and hopefully I will be speaking to you all again after the local elections - maybe even before.