When Burnley played Blackburn I was going to do a piece about why Burnley had to do a little more than win the thing. It was a little opportunity to re-address the balance in the eyes of the watching world.
You see, it’s quite difficult round here to say where you’re from when discussing such things with ‘outsiders’. Seeming nobody has heard of Colne, our closest reference point is obviously Burnley. Unfortunately this sets the alarms bells ringing immediately as most people equate the town with racist thuggery.
And they have a point. As a business we tend to say we’re closer to Manchester, or even Harrogate if they sound particularly well-to-do. We don’t like having to do this, but our experience tells us that it simply isn’t worth the derisory tone you hear in their voices when you mention Burnley.
But, they failed to win and we also failed to shake off the idea that we’re a bunch of half-witted thugs. Even Peter Schmeichel looked positively perturbed.
The only decent thing from a business point of view is that it’s cheap to operate from this part of East Lancashire. We’re also connected to the rest of the country via the M65, which we’re just at the end of. It’s quite easy to get onto to the M6 and then you’re sorted. (It might be a good while yet until we flagrantly tout the border controls through Yorkshire though.)
It’s obviously easier to hang this area out to dry and tar us all with the same brush. Yes, there’s money being thrown at the area in the form of various European regeneration grants, but will a spot of sandblasting and the odd new state-of-the-art playground placate the natives and change perceptions? I’m afraid it runs a bit deeper than that.
It requires effort. And, when you look at the differences between Burnley, Nelson, Barrowford and Colne – four towns within 4 miles of each other – you can easily see where money combined with effort has benefitted some of the communities. Barrowford has come along in leaps and bounds over the past ten years and is an area where a few of those who want to get out of Nelson go. It’s arguably quite a fashionable little place and is most definitely thriving.
Just round the corner is Colne, which is possibly one of Pendle Council’s major tourism triumphs after and its . They’ve managed to stage one of the world’s bigger blues festivals there over the past few years. Don’t ask me how or why – all I know is that it works tremendously well.
If you go in the other direction out of Barrowford, you’ll immediately hit Nelson. Frankly, it’s a hell-hole. Burnley is a bit like Nelson, but on a larger scale. But, despite all the problems, efforts are being made and money is being spent.
So, as you can see, this area can be (and should be) defined by alot more than just Burnley. So can it’s people. Yes, we have our fair share of undesirables, but I’d like you to find me a place that doesn’t. Yes, we have a fair bit of work to do, but at least we’re aware it needs doing.
Personally, I want to be able to say that we operate from round here and that I come from somewhere near Burnley. I refuse to be sneered at for coming from an area which I’m immensely proud of. It’s my home when all said and done. However, the same indignation is afforded to those who give reason for the sneering in the first place.
(Cap Doff: )
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