A booming manufacturing sector in Hyndburn could help turn around the fortunes of Accrington town centre, it has been claimed.
Business bosses say Accrington’s manufacturing industry is currently experiencing a boom - and could be key to providing the well paid jobs needed to lift the town following a number of retail closures.
It comes after we reported in last week’s Observer that 97 per cent of the 3,000 people who responded to our online poll believe the town is in decline.
Mike Damms, president of East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Mr Damms said: “A runaway success story has been Accrington’s manufactures. They are growing and expanding and are providing well paid jobs that can benefit the borough more widely.”
The heads of three Hyndburn manufacturers, which employ more than 400 people locally, have said that the town is ‘perfectly placed’ to become a ‘powerhouse’ of manufacturing.
Prime Minister David Cameron visited the borough last month where he spoke of the importance of manufacturing as a key driver of economic recovery in towns like Accrington.
On his visit he met staff at Hanson Brickworks, which reopened earlier this year in a £1.4m move, creating nearly 40 jobs.
Stephen Harrison, director of the brickworks which create the famous Nori brick, said: “The knock on effect of places like Nori is massive for the town centre, manufacturing can drive things forward.”
Malcolm Blackwell, director of James Dewhurst Ltd which was founded in Altham in 1935 as a small weaving operation and now turns over £40m per year, is adamant that the town can come out of its current malaise.
He said: “There are a few straight forward reasons why the town is such a success.
“There’s a good labour pool, it’s a nice place to live with easy links to the motorway and perfectly placed to reach the rest of East Lancashire and Manchester.
“There’s no reason why it cannot become a powerhouse.”
Tony Grimshaw, director of What More UK which exports products to 54 countries and employs 223 people, said: “There is brilliant support from the council and East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce for business.”
He added: “Accrington has all the right ingredients to bake a brilliant economic pie.
“The success of manufacturing in the region will have a knockon effect for the town centre, with the majority of our staff living locally.”
The Observer is running a ‘Back our High Streets’ campaign following our survey – with the results featured in last week’s four-page special.
The town centre has been reeling this year after flagship retailers Marks and Spencer, Homebase and Morrisons have all announced they are pulling out of the town since the turn of the year.
