Comments & responses
LGBT support/advice
- Eddy, November 19, 2009I would like to see more support and advice available for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Blackburn with Darwen. There doesn't seem to be any sort of community provision on a local level for issues such as homophobia and anti-LGBT hate crime, discrimination/bullying, coming out, sexual health etc.. I think this is particularly important for an area with such a high proportion of ethnic and religious minorities.
Energy reserves
- Charles, November 13, 2009Any strategy for the future needs to be mindful of depleted energy reserves, very little oil and gas.
Religion free schools
- TheQuibbler, November 10, 2009I look forward to a time when our kids no longer have the prospect of having their heads filled with the superstitious medieval voodoo that denominational schools promote. Education and religion should be kept separate. The French have the right idea! In 2030 I would like to see the abolition of all faith schools of whatever flavour as soon as possible. Organised religion in all its guises and its attendant cultural baggage is at the root of much of the division in this town in my opinion.
Re: Religion free schools
- Alex, November 19, 2009Teaching religion in schools is completely counterintuitive and confuses children. In science and mathematics lessons they are taught that to understand the world, we must observe and record it, and that materials and energy behave according to a very strict set of rules. If they are then taught that unquestioning faith in one or more invisible sky fairies is a virtue, how are they supposed to make sense of the contradiction? I speak from experience; I spent much of my schooling in christian schools and even when, as a child, I asked scientific questions about the specific events in the bible, or commented on the apparent contradictions between science and religion, teachers gave the sort
Re: Re: Religion free schools
- mlsyouth, November 25, 2009I think teaching religions in schools is quite effective especially in blackburn with darwen as it is a multi-faith society and it is important for people to learn about other faiths, cultures and religions.
Re: Religion free schools
- Greggors, November 10, 2009Quite right. My stepson could not get in the same school as his step brother at his school BlaCKBURN because he was not Catholic, the headteacher disagreed with the decision but said it was the policy of the church and the board. An education system free of faith is what the Council needs to look at for kids entering the school system.
Darwens Future
- Marcy Marc , November 10, 2009I am immensely proud and passionate about the town in which I live. I also feel a great responsibility to preserve the towns heritage for future generations. I have lived in Darwen all my life and have no intention of leaving. I am only young, 26 years old, so the next 20 years would be very relevant to me and my future Family. I would like to see more development, more support for the Market traders, more support and extra curricular activities for the teens to pry them away from the inevitable 'street corner' syndrome. I think the new Leisure Centre and Academy in Darwen is fantastic and would like to see similar projects. I would also like to see the Darwen Music Live festival return
Re: Darwens Future
- Alex, November 19, 2009Agreed on the Darwen Live festival, the quality has dipped severely since Darwen Music Projects relinquished control of it. I would also like to see the return of the Blackburn Mela and Arts In The Park. After its second year, the Celebrate Blackburn festival has done virtually nothing to get Blackburners interested or involved in the arts. Regarding Blackburn Barracks, I understand this will be an unpopular stance, but I don't see the problem with demolishing it. It's not a particularly pretty building, and keeping its not insubstantial mass there just for its historical significance seems a little needless when a blue plaque or a memorial in a well used and visited area may serve exactly
2030 in Darwen ?
- Tell it how it is, November 9, 2009It is warming and chilling at the same time to see an image like that of Marjorie Ross in post war Britain. Warming because of the unity and culture it represents and Chilling because in a mere 50 years we have lost everything. For all those people reading this you are probably like me someone who cares, my vision of Blackburn with Darwen is grey one, it is a vision of a landscape overwhelmed by the biggest physical symbol of Islam - The Mosque. Marjorie is typical of the types who have seen change, change of a kind which is not permitted to be spoken, one which the majority of her generation loath. I hope we can hold on to the culture and unity that once gave us our freedom.
Re: 2030 in Darwen ?
- BwDAdmin, November 27, 2009We now have a dedicated discussion around Community cohesion. Visit it and tell us what you think.
Re: 2030 in Darwen ?
- Greggors, November 10, 2009It is a shame that you single out one religion for criticism. There are churches of all faith across the borough each one preaching peace and belonging. The one thing that has made this country great is its willingness to welcome all cultures be them Poles in the 50s, Irish in the 50s and 60s or Jews from Europe during the Nazi regime. Having Mosques is not the problem - people using religion to make a political point is. You are welcome to your views and I respect what you say but please do not take things out of context. The biggest problem facing our borough is deprivation - tackling that from an early age should be what is driving the powers that be.
Barracks to be demolished!
- cindymeller, November 9, 2009Future, what about the history??? I cannot believe that the council is going to buy and then demolish the Barracks on Canterbury Street, Blackburn! All that history of the building, i.e. East Lancs Regt and the Accrington Pals, wiped out to put a road through it. Disgusting.
Re: Barracks to be demolished!
- Tell it how it is, November 9, 2009Absolutely right, the Barracks will become just another number on the list of eradicated history in this borough.
Re: Re: Barracks to be demolished!
- Greggors, November 10, 2009Is not the problem with the borough that we have preserved some ugly buildings just because they are old? I refer to the ugly monstrosity that sits at the bottom of MOntague Street next to the old Byroms supplies - why the hell are people trying to preserve that???
PRIDE AND RESPECT
- Gail, November 9, 2009People need to be proud of where they live, and have respect for it. I don’t believe that people in Blackburn or Darwen do have pride or respect for the area. Litter is rife, neglect prevalent. Both towns have lost their identities (as old industrial towns can do) but there is nothing pulling the communities together. Where is the community spirit and sense of belonging? People are calling for Blackburn Rovers to be a centre point or focus, which is fine if you like football, but what if you don’t? The area needs more of the things that pull people together – football, galas, concerts etc, etc. There is no one size fits all, some people like football, some don’t so that cannot be th
Re: PRIDE AND RESPECT
- Greggors, November 10, 2009I think the point being made is not just about football but sport and leisure in general - it is things like this that can be enjoyed regardless of social status or race. I'm not a great footie fan but I recognise a sport that is worldwide has its foundations in our town which is something we should celebrate and encourage people to the area.
Safe active and clean
- Charlie, November 8, 2009Whatever our towns look like in 20 years time my only hope is that they are safe and clean. We need to recognise that our lives will be totally different in that most of what we want to do will be able to be done at home by computer. Therefore, inactivity and lardiness will be a massive problem. Therefore we need to address this now in planning for 2030 and ensure that the benefits of recreation and sport are taught to youngsters right from nursery age.
Rovers
- Big Sam's Moustache, November 3, 2009The town should do more with Blackburn Rovers and make the club the focal point of the whole borough. We have a top premier league team which towns much bigger than us envy (Preston, Leicester, Newcastle, Bristol etc). Why not have a major sports development centre in the middle of town where kids can be coached. Get the youngsters off the street and active playing football. The club should be doing more with the asian community too - very few asian people go to the match yet they make up a large % of the borough. Sport brings people together so this should form a basis for any vision for the future.
Re: Rovers
- Charlie, November 8, 2009Great idea, there is nothing for the kids at the moment so how can we complain if they hang about on street corners? What about having centres of sporting excellence on our doorstep? Football academies, top notch athletics facilities and proper rural cycling tracks. If it was me I would develop a centre of excellence for triathletes as we have the perfect environment for triathlons.
Sport
- Joker Soaker, November 3, 2009We are told we are the unhealthiest and fattest bunch in the UK here in Blackburn and Darwen. Surely any planning for 2030 needs to have some emphasis on access to sport and activity? How about a highly developed cycle network? Better provision for cyclists to shower at work? What about more sport provision in schools and qualified sports coaches? We also have some great countryside on our doorstep, can we not promote the area as a centre of sporting excellence?
Re: Sport
- Peter Agnew, November 4, 2009Good point this, one of the biggest problems facing our borough is the health of our children. I would urge the powers that be to ensure any vision has a strong focus on sport and is linked to Blackburn Rovers who have a history we are all proud of.
Re: Re: Sport
- Fat boy, November 8, 2009What do you mean more sport??? If I want to get fit I will do so without do gooders forcing me to plod round a gym. I like beer and I like fags and I like kebabs. If I die before 2030 then so be in but it will have been my choice. If we want a serious vision then cut crime, clean up the streets and sort out the town centre. Don't start issuing me with free running shoes LMAO
Re: Re: Re: Sport
- Greggors, November 10, 2009In the words of Delboy "what a plonker". Just because you want to kill yourself does not mean we should not try and stop children picking up the bad habits of people like yourself.
Re: Re: Sport
- Greggors, November 5, 2009How involved are Rovers in shaping any future vision though? Surely they have long term strategies beyond staying in the premiership and beating Burnley lol
Transport
- Joker Soaker, November 3, 2009If we are serious about preparing our borough for the future then we need to prepare for a time in 2030 when oil will be scarce so people will rely upon public transport to get about. The council should be doing more to provide battery power points for electric vehicles and working towards having its vehicles gas and battery powered. Only by taking a lead on these green issues will the Council be able to convince the public to follow suit.
The future
- Greggors, November 3, 2009One key difference that could be made to the borough is to have in place iconic pieces of artwork on all the main thoroughfares into the town. We have some but what about something like the Angel of the North?
The future
- Greggors, November 3, 2009If we are serious about creating a town for the future we have to address the elephant that sits in the room - namely cohesion. Whether people like it or not, people do not want to be forced to live in a racially mixed area. I believe yes promote the benefits of a racially mixed society but do not enforce mixed schools or neighbourhoods. You do not need to mix neighbourhoods to address cohesion issues. There are parts of the borough where races live side by side but racism exists. You need instead to address the issues that fuel racism namely a feeling that one set of people get more than others. This is obviously not the case but people need to see it isn't. You also need to address the myths
Gridlock
- Alex, November 19, 2009Blackburn and Darwen need to change their views on transport to prevent the road system being crippled with the rise in car ownership and population. Huge investment must be made in bus and rail infrastructure and schemes must be put in place to encourage drivers to use alternative forms of transport, including walking, cycling and public transport. Building more, wider roads is not the solution.