For anyone driving into Darwen from the motorway direction, the main road especially from the filling station looks dreadful.

Boarded up empty shops falling into decay, the Engineers still empty and looking a mess - why would anyone come to this town?

Cinema? No, there isn’t one; shoe shop? No; clothes shop? No; bank? Only one but that’s due to close; haberdashery shop? No.

Why don’t the council let the empty shops, rent free for 12 months to individuals that actually sell nice things?

Let’s encourage people to come and shop here. They could then stop and have a coffee in our expensive area outside the market and gaze at our expensive bird.

We need to do something to bring people in. It could be so lovely.

Christine Baggaley