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Leaders Viewpoint June 2010

Published Thursday 24th June 2010 in Council and democracy news

Tomorrow (Saturday 26) will be a great day to be in Hyndburn. It will be a day both to celebrate and commemorate.

A range of Civic Celebration events will see us playing our part in national Armed Forces Day. Veterans and serving members of the armed forces, accompanied by the Mayor, Civic dignitaries and the British Legion will be led by the Accrington Pipe Band in a procession through Accrington at 12 noon, in order to pay their respects to all those who have fought, and are still fighting for, our freedom.

This will be followed at 12.30pm by a special outdoor service to commemorate Armed Forces Day at the Accrington Pals memorial at St James Church.

As I said, it will be a day both for celebration and commemoration as earlier in the day from 9.50am we will mark the reopening of Accrington's historic market hall which has now been brought bang up to date with a £2 million makeover, with an official hand over ceremony.

I've said it before, but I'll say it again, the Market Hall is Queen Anne on the outside and Mary - Anne on the inside, so I'm thrilled to bits that the inside now lives up to the promise of the outside.   The market will be decked out for the occasion and a swing band will add to the party atmosphere, plus there will be children's rides on Broadway.

Saturday really is the day to be in Accrington - so please come and join us.

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We have also been involved in supporting our injured service men and women recently when Council staff collected almost £150 for this worthy cause.  The money was raised to support the fundraising campaign launched by 18 year old Bethany Scott from Rishton, who along with 10 others, did a charity walk    raising over £300 along the way.

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Another organisation we are pleased to support is the Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Parkinson's Support Group who I presented with £250 from the Cabinet Action Fund recently. The group meets every other month on the first Saturday between 11.30am - 1.30 pm. They bring food, and enjoy a shared Jacob's Join lunch together, and offer help, support, and friendship to those with, and those with family members who have Parkinson's disease.  Their next meeting is on 3 July, for more information about the group call Gary Martin on 01254 383 950 or email garinda@fsmail.net.

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Speaking about the good work of voluntary groups, if you're looking for something to do with the children over the Summer, then why not take them along to the summer holiday activities taking place in Rhyddings Park in Oswaldtwistle?  Come rain or shine the Friends of Rhyddings Park will be there every Wednesday afternoon from 1.00pm and 4.00pm with a range of different arts and crafts activities for all.   The fun starts on 21 July so don't miss it.

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And finally I'm delighted that David Cameron has decided he is going to step back from the political correctness this country has lurched towards over the last 13 years of a Labour government.

You know the sort of thing I mean, the daft sort of rules that has seen restaurants declaring tooth picks unsafe and schools banning children from playing conkers.

But just a word of advice, I've been trying to deal with these sorts of issues for years now and political correctness is notoriously difficult to stop.

So I won't hold my breath and will no doubt continue to bring you further examples of political correctness in the future.