Is there any other UK town or city that has the ability to shoot itself in the foot quite like Preston?
The Tithebarn project has been talked about for over a decade, and is no nearer to being delivered. The funding for a much needed revamp of the flag market may be lost. And this week it was revealed that a £3million grant from the Northwest Development Agency for the regeneration of Winckley Square is now in jeopardy, following local objections from local residents to plans that would see a restoration of a once jewel in the crown location that is now, sadly, looking tired and decrepit.
But for as few as 1,000 objections, and some noise from local landowners, the Winckley Square scheme would have now been completed. However, it seems inevitable that in Preston, whenever something positive is proposed, there is always a group of naysayers to scupper the plans.
We have heritage extremists trying to win listed status for the monstrosity that is the city bus station; neighbouring local authorities objecting to the £700 million regeneration of the town centre; and a small but vocal bunch of cynics who I’m sure would find something wrong with a proposal to pave the streets of Preston with gold.
It’s about time that those who are positive about the city’s future and want to get on and do things worked more closely together. Next week, Downtown will be announcing the next steps in our ‘City Thinking’ campaign. Perhaps that can act as a catalyst for change.