Riding roughshod over the people’s views

I was reading in the Burnley Express about the move of the General Post Office to WHSmith in Charter Walk when I got to the paragraph where Burnley Council leader Julie Cooper says: “This is a huge disappointment”.
Burnley Wood Training and Community Centre on Springfield Road.Burnley Wood Training and Community Centre on Springfield Road.
Burnley Wood Training and Community Centre on Springfield Road.

“I’d hoped the Crown Post Office would listen to our concerns”, she goes on to say sadly. “It has chosen to ignore the people of Burnley.”

I thought, that’s a bit rich, coming from somebody who, some time ago, stated in the Express that she, or they, meaning the Labour Party, would listen to the people of Burnley. But she and her party chose to ignore the people and children of Burnley Wood and Burnley as well. They are fighting to keep their community centre open in Glebe Street.

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The powers-that-be have said the area is well covered for that. Coun. Cooper said their needs are met elsewhere. Is she referring to the building known as Terrace Fields, which, I believe, is not fit for purpose? I believe there is one toilet for everybody. Also, there is no disabled toilet and the upstairs has been condemned by the fire authority and there is no safe place for children to play outside.

I also have it on good authority that Keepmoat, the developers, have said to Burnley Wood Youth and Community Group they could incorporate the building into the plans. Julie Cooper overruled this. This woman and her party are riding roughshod over everybody. The group who run the centre are dedicated in what they do in keeping the kids off the streets of Burnley Wood.

Also, there are other groups that use the centre. If an area is redeveloped, buildings like the community centre should be replaced like for like or with something better and people should not have to use a dilapidated, old Methodist Church. I have faith in the developer they would keep the building as it is and not bulldoze it. If only the council can see the errors of their ways.

J. Boys

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