Great news(!) The owner of Chicago rock plans to build a development on the land

The area around the town hall looks fantastic. The new 6th Form and College show shrewd investment and will attract people to the town. The council cannot make big companies come to a small town so they have looked at an alternative strategy of reinvigorating the market because they had no real option. Compared to other northern small towns we are doing ok. I was in Bury for work this week it's like comparing night and dark. The worrying thing will be n the next few years when the European funding is withdrawn and central government doesn't replace it. It's easy to knock the efforts of others without offering solutions real practical costed solutions).

 

My point exactly with Liverpool - large city with a large tourist base - attracts investment. I worry about lack of EU funding here - lot of developments have relied on this money - major reason in my opinion that Liverpool voted remain

 

Personally I think you need two things for any successful town or city:

The arts
Transport infrastructure

Everything else generally falls into place around it- the more successful towns and cities in the North have both of the above and do reap the benefits.

It seems those that struggle haven't had a focus on the above.

On a side note, the area around the old library is like stepping into another town or city, it looks fantastic and I couldn't be more important impressed.

 

I have to laugh when i see the posts on here and numerous other sites....re the state of the town centre ...the problem in the town is the council dont own most of the buildings in town or the land they stand on.....check planning department...they have their hands tied by law when attempting to compulsive purchase to develop...the private owners are getting rent from the present shop owners, so wont sell,so their investments are protected.
Whilst i agree the town looks shabby in parts the present council have their hands tied...the problems stem from the 60s , when the town centre ...was allowed to fall into private ownership...by the then present councillors... donnygate put to shame anyone .mmmm...your choice.....if you research the infomation is out there...