Padiham Pound Pledge launch shows town's back in business

Children from Padiham Green and St Leonard's Primary Schools

Residents, traders and local schools came together to boost business in the town following the devastating Boxing Day floods.

Padiham mum Heather Beardsworth started the “Padiham Pound Pledge” with a Facebook page, and within hours it had attracted hundreds of supporters.

Heather said: “The response from the public and schools in Padiham has been brilliant.

“I just felt something needed to be done to help all the small independent business that had been badly affected by the floods.”

Padiham Green and St Leonard’s Primary Schools also got involved by holding non-uniform days with the money raised being spent on vouchers in local shops, as well as being put towards the Padiham Flood Fund.

Lyndsay De’ath, Year 6 teaching assistant at Padiham Green, said: “We changed our curriculum so the children could learn more about the floods in every subject.

“The children wrote newspaper articles, learned about the history of the River Calder and made graphs on the height of the river.”

Padiham councillor Bob Clark and former Burnley MP Gordon Birtwistle also praised the community spirit.

Coun. Clark said: “Although the floods were devastating, there have been many good things come out of it, not least this initiative. I think it’s splendid. It shows the true spirit of Padiham.”

Susan Sanderson, who owns Mooch Cafe in the town centre, said she was overwhelmed with the support of locals following the floods.

She said: “Everyone has been really lovely. The day after the floods lots of people came in to help us clean up. We had to rip up the carpets and remove all our soft furnishings and stock.

“The Pound Pledge is fantastic and a great incentive.”

Matthew Robert from Colne Tyre Centre explained how the business had acted as a drop-off point and delivery for donated goods.

Victoria Holland from Vanilla hair salon also praised the Padiham people for their help.

Discount retailer The Original Factory Shop is due to re-open on Thursday.

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PHOTOS: Burnley & Padiham hit by floods

Padiham rallies to help flood victims