Tories take a dim view of new Rawtenstall Valley Centre lights

11:00am Friday 28th September 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Chris Adams

NEW street lighting installed at Rawtenstall’s redeveloped Valley Centre site goes against the council’s own conservation guidelines, say borough Conservatives.

They have accused Rossendale Council of ‘double standards’, after it took businesses in Bacup to court over a similar rule breach.

Deputy leader of the Conservatives in Rossendale, Coun Amanda Milling said the council was ‘cutting corners’ to get the project up and running by its due date of October 6.

She said: “It beggars belief that the Labour-run council are forcing shop owners to change their shutters to meet the requirements of the conservation area policy, yet they go ahead and blatantly do something in breach of these guidelines.

County Coun Tony Winder said the lights being replaced were put in place thanks to an English Heritage grant almost 15 years ago.

He added: “It appears that the local council decided to choose these modern fittings to save money, although they were offered the choice between this modern lighting and ones which would conform to the requirements of a conservation area and matched the existing ones.”

Rossendale’s portfolio holder for regeneration, Coun Andy McNae, admitted that cost was the issue with upgrading the heritage lights.

He said: “Clearly we would have been keen to have heritage lights in place but only if that had been an affordable option.

“Lancashire County Council is responsible for the lights. It has made a general policy decision to use the basic modern-design light fittings where replacements are required.

“When we enquired about using heritage lighting for the work on the former Valley Centre site the county council did give Rossendale Council the option to pay for upgrading to ornate fixtures ourselves.

“However, this would have cost an additional £13,000. We do not have that money available in our budget.”

Comments (7)

11:29am Fri 28 Sep 12

bluebouy says...

typical tories, saying one thing in rossy and doing another in preston
typical tories, saying one thing in rossy and doing another in preston bluebouy

4:07pm Fri 28 Sep 12

The Roomster says...

The Tories in Rossendale don't deserve airtime about the Valley Centre, given that they pontificated and prevaricated for years whilst in control without actually doing anything to address the problems

Also it's more than a bit hypocritical to criticise the saving of £13k whilst nationally their millionaire bullingdon club chums are stripping billions out of public finances and handing juicy contracts to no mark outfits like G4S!!
The Tories in Rossendale don't deserve airtime about the Valley Centre, given that they pontificated and prevaricated for years whilst in control without actually doing anything to address the problems Also it's more than a bit hypocritical to criticise the saving of £13k whilst nationally their millionaire bullingdon club chums are stripping billions out of public finances and handing juicy contracts to no mark outfits like G4S!! The Roomster

7:16pm Fri 28 Sep 12

her from here says...

A rule for us and another for the council they can't pay £13,000 to conform with their own to their own guidlines it's not a lot to do after spending £2.5 million of money earmarked for Haslingden Baths
A rule for us and another for the council they can't pay £13,000 to conform with their own to their own guidlines it's not a lot to do after spending £2.5 million of money earmarked for Haslingden Baths her from here

8:08pm Fri 28 Sep 12

JayEss says...

At least something has finally been done about the valley centre.

Shame the money was instead of upgrading Haslingden baths.
At least something has finally been done about the valley centre. Shame the money was instead of upgrading Haslingden baths. JayEss

12:10am Sun 30 Sep 12

Eye On The Valley says...

The Roomster wrote:
The Tories in Rossendale don't deserve airtime about the Valley Centre, given that they pontificated and prevaricated for years whilst in control without actually doing anything to address the problems

Also it's more than a bit hypocritical to criticise the saving of £13k whilst nationally their millionaire bullingdon club chums are stripping billions out of public finances and handing juicy contracts to no mark outfits like G4S!!
On the contrary, Tony Swain and his administration did much of the groundwork for the acquisition of the Valley Centre to happen. I find it quite pathetic how both opposing parties practice petty politics and mud slinging - there are more grown-up spats going on in school playgrounds.
[quote][p][bold]The Roomster[/bold] wrote: The Tories in Rossendale don't deserve airtime about the Valley Centre, given that they pontificated and prevaricated for years whilst in control without actually doing anything to address the problems Also it's more than a bit hypocritical to criticise the saving of £13k whilst nationally their millionaire bullingdon club chums are stripping billions out of public finances and handing juicy contracts to no mark outfits like G4S!![/p][/quote]On the contrary, Tony Swain and his administration did much of the groundwork for the acquisition of the Valley Centre to happen. I find it quite pathetic how both opposing parties practice petty politics and mud slinging - there are more grown-up spats going on in school playgrounds. Eye On The Valley

5:34pm Sun 30 Sep 12

pdb951 says...

If the council have flouted regulations the people who took the decisions should be prosecuted and fired
If the council have flouted regulations the people who took the decisions should be prosecuted and fired pdb951

7:03pm Sun 30 Sep 12

Eye On The Valley says...

pdb951 wrote:
If the council have flouted regulations the people who took the decisions should be prosecuted and fired
Apparently, street lights are a "permitted development" and do not NEED to comply with conservation area regulations.
[quote][p][bold]pdb951[/bold] wrote: If the council have flouted regulations the people who took the decisions should be prosecuted and fired[/p][/quote]Apparently, street lights are a "permitted development" and do not NEED to comply with conservation area regulations. Eye On The Valley

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