If I were asked if Blackburn with Darwen is a better place than it was 15 years ago the answer must be yes.

The success of developments, such as the Mall, Cathedral Quarter, with more to come and record crowds for the Festival of Making have all inspired confidence in what’s possible.

The Festival of Making helped put BwD on the map locally and nationally special thanks should go to all participants as well as home grown organisers, Wayne Hemingway and Christine Cort.

It’s clear that towns don’t live by shopping alone. They need to be interesting and possess beauty, charm, romance and fantasy. We’ve seen what can be done, so it’s time, to harness this abundant creativity to banish, mediocrity and ugliness for good.

A renewed sense of identity and purpose is essential. For millennia the Blackburn area was a focal point, for the whole of East Lancashire giving its name to the Blackburn Hundred, or ‘Blackburnshire’. The return of the ‘Shire’ in spirit, could mark Blackburn as champion, incorporating and celebrating all that’s great about BwD and East Lancashire, its associations and connections to everyone’s benefit.

Also, BwD is set in great natural beauty and within easy reach of some of the nation’s most beloved scenery. To its north is a beguiling wilderness, so it’s a frontier town and gateway for adventure, escape and discovery. In the countryside of Lancashire we have beauty, charm, romance, awe, fantasy and discovery in spades.

A solid ‘brand’, such as, Blackburn born Alfred Wainwright could be used to attract, more visitors and deserved acclaim to Blackburn and East Lancashire.

This legacy could be showcased with a Wainwright Centre for Walking, named in his honour, but not about him. The internet and social media could be used, effectively to promote it and I have given some thought to it.

There is plenty to celebrate and BwD and East Lancashire shouldn’t be afraid to dream big and dispel any doubts that it is a great place to live or visit.

Stewart Wade

Clayton-le-Woods