Today your Accrington Observer launches a campaign to make this a happy Christmas for our town-centre traders.
Independent businesses have been hit hard in recent years by a double whammy of the decline of our shopping centres and the recession.
Now we are urging readers to make the most of our towns this Christmas to breathe new life into our shopping areas.
As part of our weekly Shop Local campaign we will put the spotlight on the many unique shops, family-run businesses and market stalls that bring life and character to Hyndburn’s shopping centres.
But we will also be shining a light on the issues that will affect our shopping areas in the years ahead. These issues range from the plans for a new bus station on Crawshaw Street, a planned £2m scheme to restore historic features to Blackburn Road, the redevelopment of Junction 7 Business Park, the sale of the Accrington Arndale Centre and plans to develop the town’s Victorian Arcade, believed to be the oldest in the country.
We will also be focusing on the vibrant shopping centres at Great Harwood, Rishton and West End, Oswaldtwistle.
The Shop Local campaign will keep you up to date with developments in the town centres as well as encouraging debate on the future of our town and the exciting things in prospect.
We want shop owners to keep us posted on new staff, openings and relocations, charity events, anniversaries, awards and offers. And we want reader views. This is a chance to have your say about what you want to see and the issues for shoppers.
Hyndburn Mayor Colette McCormack, who owns two shops on Warner Street in Accrington, said:
"I am fully behind the Accrington Observer’s Shop Local campaign and I think it is a brilliant idea.
"Once businesses are lost then they are gone for good. People here can support their businesses, even if it’s only a little bit each week.
"I think there’s a lot of people that don’t realise what businesses are here in Hyndburn.
"We need people to open their eyes and see what great things we have to offer."
Council leader Miles Parkinson said: "The council is supporting the Shop Local campaign and anything we can do to try and encourage residents to shop locally in the borough. Small independent shops and retail chains are important for the area and for jobs and the last thing we want to see is a business leave the borough.
"We need to do all we can to help businesses in this stiff recession."
John Grimshaw, of B & E’s stall in the market hall, said: "I think the campaign is a great idea and hopefully it will help improve the town centre and promote the shops and businesses that are here.
"It’s especially important in the build up to Christmas and we hope we can get a good response."
