The quality of a town can be judged on its people

“Housing” does appear to be happening in various areas of town.

“Jobs, industry, education, shopping”. These four are particularly interlinked. Any new industry coming to a new area or one here thinking of expanding, or a new “store” coming (the town authorities are well experienced regarding stores) - these people are surely going to have checks made, most of which will be made without warning.

A year or so ago there was an article in the Express remarking about the approaches into the town looking good. It is to be hoped they don’t come along St James’s Street from the Westgate roundabout to Marks & Spencer. It’s not very good.

Local papers are a good check on an area. We are OK there, you are fair, not like the Dailies, always grumbling and trying to make a “political point”, no praise.

Interests, behaviour, recreation, sports and professional football. The standard of the people walking about the town and the quality of the stores already here, and industries, all matter. The services from local industries etc, transport availabilities. Railroad to and from airports.

“Education”. This is a very special concern, when judgment is being made on results. This, after all, rests on what has gone before, right from even before a child starts school. It is no good complaining about bad manners - politeness, time-keeping, personal application, loyalty, these all come from the earlier years before attendance at school begins. They come from example as much as the use and understanding of language does.

We probably have the best language in the world for expression (even without the use of foul words). All the things mentioned are not directly educational subjects, they are taught by what we see, hear and read, the good and the bad. The quality and attractiveness of a town or city rests with the leadership and us the people.

A.F

Burnley