Rawtenstall's new public square is 'new beginning' for town

2:00pm Sunday 7th October 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Chris Adams

The news square The news square

THE OPENING of Rawtenstall’s new public square heralds ‘a new beginning for the town’.

Those were the words of council leader Alyson Barnes after the open space on the former Valley Centre site was officially launched yesterday.

Brave Theo Bishop, 9, was on hand to cut the ribbon and declare the £2.5m development open. He returned from a life-changing operation in America in August which allowed him to walk flat-footed for the first time.

Community leaders throughout the Valley praised the launch, which coincided with the second Rawtenstall Annual Fair.

June Worsley, chair of organisers Rossendale Revival said: “It was absolutely fantastic, I really think it’s a fresh start, I’m thrilled with how it went.

“The feedback from stallholders has been really positive.

“This open space is great, I hope we get to keep it for a long time.”

Coun Barnes added that she was absolutely delighted with the spirit and atmosphere in the town over the weekend.

She said: “It’s good to see so many people out and about. We aim to make a visit to Rawtenstall a real day out. “We’re a traditional Lancashire market town, and we only have to look at the success of Clitheroe and Ramsbottom to see what can be done.

“We’re in talks with an artisan market group next week about bringing more of this sort of thing to the town.”

Former Hollies drummer Bobby Elliott unveiled a mosaic dedicated to the old Astoria Ballrooms which used to occupy the Valley Centre site.

Listing a host of music stars, including The Who, to have played the venue in its heyday, he declared: “A little bit of them lies here now.”

Mayor of Rossendale, Councillor Brian Essex, said it was ‘a privilege and honour to open this marvellous square’, before offering three cheers and encouraging visitors to ‘spend, spend, spend’. Former Rossendale Radio DJs Si Carvell and Peter Sweetmore played music and introduced live acts as hundreds of people flocked to the square throughout the day.

Comments (18)

2:26pm Sun 7 Oct 12

pip2pop says...

Wont be long before the drunks move in and it stinks of urine.
Wont be long before the drunks move in and it stinks of urine. pip2pop

2:51pm Sun 7 Oct 12

her from here says...

The Hollies performed in the Old Astoria that was demolished in the 60s, this is the site of the New Astoria,
2.5 million seems a lot of money for us to pay for a open space, at least there is somewhere for the kids to go with their skate boards
The Hollies performed in the Old Astoria that was demolished in the 60s, this is the site of the New Astoria, 2.5 million seems a lot of money for us to pay for a open space, at least there is somewhere for the kids to go with their skate boards her from here

3:03pm Sun 7 Oct 12

pip2pop says...

Spend Spend Spend.

What with?
Spend Spend Spend. What with? pip2pop

4:20pm Sun 7 Oct 12

theboxman says...

Revive Rawtenstall yeah at the expense of Haslingden as usual.These people and their 'revival',comments are in 'cloud cuckoo' land.Now close Hassy baths and finish the hatchet job.Also where is the hotel that was supposed to be coming to this site? £2,500,000 for this.What a waste of public money
The Haslingden councillors who voted for this money squandering white elephant should be ashamed of what they have achieved
Revive Rawtenstall yeah at the expense of Haslingden as usual.These people and their 'revival',comments are in 'cloud cuckoo' land.Now close Hassy baths and finish the hatchet job.Also where is the hotel that was supposed to be coming to this site? £2,500,000 for this.What a waste of public money The Haslingden councillors who voted for this money squandering white elephant should be ashamed of what they have achieved theboxman

4:31pm Sun 7 Oct 12

vicn1956 says...

Went to look at it today. My wife thought it was a skatepark! There was nowhere to sit.If you tried to walk across it you risked being knocked down by skaters or bikers. I couldn't believe it when I read it cost £2.5 million!!!!!!!!!!!
OK if there are market stalls on Sat. but honestly.
Went to look at it today. My wife thought it was a skatepark! There was nowhere to sit.If you tried to walk across it you risked being knocked down by skaters or bikers. I couldn't believe it when I read it cost £2.5 million!!!!!!!!!!! OK if there are market stalls on Sat. but honestly. vicn1956

5:36pm Sun 7 Oct 12

pdb951 says...

What a disgusting waste of money. Money robbed from Haslingden pool. How the hell do these idiot councils get away with it. This is a scandal
What a disgusting waste of money. Money robbed from Haslingden pool. How the hell do these idiot councils get away with it. This is a scandal pdb951

6:28pm Sun 7 Oct 12

Bacupbloke says...

How do councillors get away with it???
Well, the issue was well publicised before the election. So like it or not, the voters were given the choice and picked the party that spent £2.5 million on this tarmac wasteland. So the voters can be happy with their decision.
How do councillors get away with it??? Well, the issue was well publicised before the election. So like it or not, the voters were given the choice and picked the party that spent £2.5 million on this tarmac wasteland. So the voters can be happy with their decision. Bacupbloke

10:36pm Sun 7 Oct 12

her from here says...

TheReality wrote:
Bacupbloke wrote:
How do councillors get away with it???
Well, the issue was well publicised before the election. So like it or not, the voters were given the choice and picked the party that spent £2.5 million on this tarmac wasteland. So the voters can be happy with their decision.
Your quote as it were, is not a quote from any post above and the fact that you are called bacupbloke suggests your location and by implication your bitterness. Everyone knows bacup is a crap hole and no one in their right mind would put money in to it other than maybe to drop a large bomb on it! Having said that Rawtenstall is also a craphole and the "new" town centre is a disgrace with its modern lighting in a conservation area and its large and expansive tarmac areas. At least Ashcap Properties will make a nice little sum when the council sell it on, as that was part of the corrupt crappy council agreement we have.

The place is a joke! The design is less than poor and the whole thing is one big corrupt council scam!
Why have a go at Bacup, It's no different than any other town in Rossendale there is good and bad every where.
But only Rawtenstall has tarmac city it must leave a bitter taste in the mouth for people in Haslingden who could lose their swimming baths.
[quote][p][bold]TheReality[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Bacupbloke[/bold] wrote: How do councillors get away with it??? Well, the issue was well publicised before the election. So like it or not, the voters were given the choice and picked the party that spent £2.5 million on this tarmac wasteland. So the voters can be happy with their decision.[/p][/quote]Your quote as it were, is not a quote from any post above and the fact that you are called bacupbloke suggests your location and by implication your bitterness. Everyone knows bacup is a crap hole and no one in their right mind would put money in to it other than maybe to drop a large bomb on it! Having said that Rawtenstall is also a craphole and the "new" town centre is a disgrace with its modern lighting in a conservation area and its large and expansive tarmac areas. At least Ashcap Properties will make a nice little sum when the council sell it on, as that was part of the corrupt crappy council agreement we have. The place is a joke! The design is less than poor and the whole thing is one big corrupt council scam![/p][/quote]Why have a go at Bacup, It's no different than any other town in Rossendale there is good and bad every where. But only Rawtenstall has tarmac city it must leave a bitter taste in the mouth for people in Haslingden who could lose their swimming baths. her from here

2:46pm Mon 8 Oct 12

jack daniels says...

Can't quite make it out the public square from the photo. Is that it behind the white tent?
Can't quite make it out the public square from the photo. Is that it behind the white tent? jack daniels

7:24pm Mon 8 Oct 12

Good call says...

theboxman wrote:
Revive Rawtenstall yeah at the expense of Haslingden as usual.These people and their 'revival',comments are in 'cloud cuckoo' land.Now close Hassy baths and finish the hatchet job.Also where is the hotel that was supposed to be coming to this site? £2,500,000 for this.What a waste of public money
The Haslingden councillors who voted for this money squandering white elephant should be ashamed of what they have achieved
If your sick of the council squandering your money , less services for same money withold your council tax
[quote][p][bold]theboxman[/bold] wrote: Revive Rawtenstall yeah at the expense of Haslingden as usual.These people and their 'revival',comments are in 'cloud cuckoo' land.Now close Hassy baths and finish the hatchet job.Also where is the hotel that was supposed to be coming to this site? £2,500,000 for this.What a waste of public money The Haslingden councillors who voted for this money squandering white elephant should be ashamed of what they have achieved[/p][/quote]If your sick of the council squandering your money , less services for same money withold your council tax Good call

8:52pm Mon 8 Oct 12

ianloveday says...

sick of people banging on about haslingden pool, if people in haslingden are that bothered about the swimming then take a small trip to the brand spanking new marlpits in rawtenstall, the council did the right thing in using the money to knock down the valley centre instead of haslingden baths
sick of people banging on about haslingden pool, if people in haslingden are that bothered about the swimming then take a small trip to the brand spanking new marlpits in rawtenstall, the council did the right thing in using the money to knock down the valley centre instead of haslingden baths ianloveday

2:53pm Tue 9 Oct 12

GHH says...

Where are the litter bins?
Where are the litter bins? GHH

8:33pm Tue 9 Oct 12

rockylad says...

vicn1956 wrote:
Went to look at it today. My wife thought it was a skatepark! There was nowhere to sit.If you tried to walk across it you risked being knocked down by skaters or bikers. I couldn't believe it when I read it cost £2.5 million!!!!!!!!!!!
OK if there are market stalls on Sat. but honestly.
Fundamentally the right thing to do, but I think a lack of funds as forced the council to do half a job. The work done should have included measures to deter Skating (rows of cobble sets inlaid in the tarmac path) and maybe bye laws passed to make the area a safe place to walk in.
[quote][p][bold]vicn1956[/bold] wrote: Went to look at it today. My wife thought it was a skatepark! There was nowhere to sit.If you tried to walk across it you risked being knocked down by skaters or bikers. I couldn't believe it when I read it cost £2.5 million!!!!!!!!!!! OK if there are market stalls on Sat. but honestly.[/p][/quote]Fundamentally the right thing to do, but I think a lack of funds as forced the council to do half a job. The work done should have included measures to deter Skating (rows of cobble sets inlaid in the tarmac path) and maybe bye laws passed to make the area a safe place to walk in. rockylad

8:45pm Tue 9 Oct 12

Bacupbloke says...

Some interesting posts, but why are people so surprised. Labour kept their promises. It was the big pledge before the election.
What do you expect when only a handful of councillors have worked in the real world. The majority have backgrounds in education, the NHS. unions, voluntary work or local community bodies. Very few seem to have any entrepreneurial knowledge or financial skills.
Anyway, let's see how big a revival it brings over the next six months. One weekend is too soon to judge. After all, some people looked at the football tables and thought that Blackburn Rovers could keep their place at the top of the Championship. A month later reality has struck back. Ignore all the hype about this so-called town square and watch it become an even bigger eyesore than the Valley Centre.
Some interesting posts, but why are people so surprised. Labour kept their promises. It was the big pledge before the election. What do you expect when only a handful of councillors have worked in the real world. The majority have backgrounds in education, the NHS. unions, voluntary work or local community bodies. Very few seem to have any entrepreneurial knowledge or financial skills. Anyway, let's see how big a revival it brings over the next six months. One weekend is too soon to judge. After all, some people looked at the football tables and thought that Blackburn Rovers could keep their place at the top of the Championship. A month later reality has struck back. Ignore all the hype about this so-called town square and watch it become an even bigger eyesore than the Valley Centre. Bacupbloke

9:02pm Wed 10 Oct 12

pdb951 says...

Shouldn't it be called the town ROUND. It is not square.
Still a bag of s**t
Shouldn't it be called the town ROUND. It is not square. Still a bag of s**t pdb951

11:03pm Wed 10 Oct 12

Eye On The Valley says...

pdb951 wrote:
Shouldn't it be called the town ROUND. It is not square.
Still a bag of s**t
I think some of the people posting on here are perhaps forgetting what was there before? There was around £80,000 spent on the "square" (was that just an attempt at humour, pdb951, or did you really just think it was the round bit in the middle of the photo?) The rest of the £2.5 million budget was spent on acquisition and demolition of the Valley Centre and clearing the site afterwards. I think better negotiation might have reduced the cost of acquiring the site but, in my opinion, this was the right course of action and I fully support it. It's a 3 mile journey from Haslingden to Marl Pits.
[quote][p][bold]pdb951[/bold] wrote: Shouldn't it be called the town ROUND. It is not square. Still a bag of s**t[/p][/quote]I think some of the people posting on here are perhaps forgetting what was there before? There was around £80,000 spent on the "square" (was that just an attempt at humour, pdb951, or did you really just think it was the round bit in the middle of the photo?) The rest of the £2.5 million budget was spent on acquisition and demolition of the Valley Centre and clearing the site afterwards. I think better negotiation might have reduced the cost of acquiring the site but, in my opinion, this was the right course of action and I fully support it. It's a 3 mile journey from Haslingden to Marl Pits. Eye On The Valley

11:00am Sun 14 Oct 12

Sagacious 1 says...

Maybe Rossendale MP Jake Berry can help! Then again it's time consuming and hard work filling in expenses forms all day. Still a jobs a job.
Maybe Rossendale MP Jake Berry can help! Then again it's time consuming and hard work filling in expenses forms all day. Still a jobs a job. Sagacious 1

11:21am Sun 14 Oct 12

Bacupbloke says...

Sagacious 1 wrote:
Maybe Rossendale MP Jake Berry can help! Then again it's time consuming and hard work filling in expenses forms all day. Still a jobs a job.
This isn't a very sagacious view. All MPs of every party claim expenses.
Jake Berry was so annoyed by the planned spending on this tarmac wasteland that he asked the auditor to look at the process by which it had been approved. The auditor said that there had not been clear information.
So the leader of the councillor says that this audit is a waste of £20,000.
In her view nobody should dare to question her decision. As for the £20,000 it was exactly what Labour approved as a subsidy for late buses to bring bingo players back from Rochdale to Rawtenstall.
If people really don't like the new square then they should write or email to Alyson Barnes at the council web page. And by the way the next super events on the square aren't until nearly Christmas time. That must be getting great value for money.
[quote][p][bold]Sagacious 1[/bold] wrote: Maybe Rossendale MP Jake Berry can help! Then again it's time consuming and hard work filling in expenses forms all day. Still a jobs a job.[/p][/quote]This isn't a very sagacious view. All MPs of every party claim expenses. Jake Berry was so annoyed by the planned spending on this tarmac wasteland that he asked the auditor to look at the process by which it had been approved. The auditor said that there had not been clear information. So the leader of the councillor says that this audit is a waste of £20,000. In her view nobody should dare to question her decision. As for the £20,000 it was exactly what Labour approved as a subsidy for late buses to bring bingo players back from Rochdale to Rawtenstall. If people really don't like the new square then they should write or email to Alyson Barnes at the council web page. And by the way the next super events on the square aren't until nearly Christmas time. That must be getting great value for money. Bacupbloke

Comments are closed on this article.

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree