Let’s look at the positives
Hopefully the furore about the “demise of Accrington” has abated sufficiently for residents and shoppers to take a considered view why the town appears to be on an unending downward spiral.
Three major names have decided to leave the town – Morrisons, Homebase and M&S.
I know for a fact that the Arndale owners, local council, councillors and our MP have bent over backwards to try and get a change of decision from M&S.
B&M Bargains have agreed to move into the Homebase unit and are retaining the shop on Union Street.
There are things that could be improved in the town, as in many, many other towns, but there are also many positives that we all should maximise. There is significant investment happening to address transportation links and key town centre heritage buildings and assets.
One major high street name is about to open (Sports Direct) and M&S will find a new tenant for their unit. What residents of the town have to realise is that shops, large or small, are businesses and the decision to invest in a new location is based on profitability and not whether the town “deserves” a Primark or Debenhams etc.
Accrington is a relatively small town surrounded by larger catchment areas. We have to recognise what we have and capitalise on that and then, perhaps, the bigger players will view the town differently.
We also have a great range of independent shops offering levels of service that you will not get on the bustling, sterile high streets. Free parking is another bonus the town has to offer.
One thing the town appears to have in abundance is a sense of despair that only fuels a self fulfilling prophecy of doom.
So where do we go from here? From my position with the Chamber of Trade, I know there are positive things planned for Accrington for 2015. Not just the bus station and investment on Blackburn Road, but events planned for Easter and throughout the year. One essential component is support from residents, shoppers and visitors.
The remedy for Accrington’s shopping issues is in your hands. Support your local shops and help us to flourish and invest in your town. Make Warner Street even better and encourage retailers to fill the vacant Victorian Arcade units.
Jim Saron
Vice President Hyndburn Chamber of Trade
Civic pride is key to success
Let me start by saying I love Accrington, but the long term future and prosperity of the town centre is something I am sure all of us want to see improve, sooner rather than later.
However, I can’t help sensing that our civic leaders have almost given up. Or maybe can’t see the wood for the trees?
I do not want in any way to score cheap political points. I know wholeheartedly that our beloved town can and will recover.
I speak as someone who has traded in this wonderful town for the past 36 years, starting as a 16-year-old market trader. I only stood at the market for two years until I opened my first shop, called The Eye Shop in Warner Street. Since 1987 I have traded on Church Street in the town.
I was also elected to Hyndburn Council in the early 80s and witnessed at first hand the dilemma of ‘should a new Arndale centre be built?’ I for one, in this very newspaper, warned of it becoming an ‘empty concrete jungle’.
By the time the Arndale was being built, I had left the council to pursue my career in retailing and opened in dozens of Lancashire town locations. This ‘experience’ of establishing shops in competing towns helped form my theory today of what and why Accrington is facing the future it is.
On the council then, as today, there were very few councillors with direct business or retail experience, and that for me is the starting point for the current problems.
Accrington is by nature a traditional market town, which oozes civic assets and grand and fabulous buildings.
We must all sign up to a sense of ‘civic pride’, which also means taking account of both the views of shoppers and traders.
This newspaper has to be congratulated on acting as the conduit for the new and exciting vision for Accrington.
We must be prepared to go back to the drawing board, like Blackburn is doing now, and start to strategically plan for the future.
It’s never too late to turn around our great town – but we must be prepared to do whatever is necessary. Then, maybe, we can get a town centre we to be extremely proud of – “Because Hyndburn Deserves Better!”
Kevin Horkin
Conservative Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Hyndburn
Centre had so much vitality
Thirty years ago I accepted a job offer at a chartered accountants on Abbey Street in Accrington, which was my first experience of life in a small Lancashire industrial town.
At that time both my wife and I were struck by the vitality of Accrington town centre. It was alive with activity.
Thirty years later Marks and Spencer have told us they are moving out of the town, which is clearly the end of Accrington town centre as a shopping destination of choice.
So what is going on here? It is deeper than just M&S withdrawing. We are seeing the effect of a major change in our shopping habits.
When I compare the apparent wealth of the population in 1985 to now, I see a population today which is far wealthier than it used to be. By and large, we are spending more money than we did in 1985 but we are spending it differently. We now carry out our weekly shop at a supermarket or online. We can easily access Manchester City Centre or the Trafford Centre, which has far more choice than Accrington could ever provide and also gives us a more exciting day out.
All of this has led the population of Accrington to abandon Accrington town centre and as they have left, the charity and pound shops have taken over. This has led to a further reduction in the footfall at the remaining shops and the downward spiral has gathered pace.
So where will Accrington town centre go from here? Remember Accrington is not alone in this. For hundreds of years a town centre has been defined by its shops. I suggest this is definitely changing. But as to what will emerge in its place, I have not got a clue. Will it be some desperate, windblown location comprising semi-derelict buildings or do we have the opportunity to construct something entirely new to take us through the next 100 years?
I have made my own New Year’s resolution. If M&S value my custom so insignificantly as to close the store, I shall pay them back in the same coin. I shall never buy anything from M&S again.
I invite debate.
Mark Schofield BA (HONS); FCA
Director Haworths, Chartered Accountants, Accrington
