Darwen, Darren or Blackburn's Mistress?

This was the first time I'd heard the latter phrase, and it was used by someone who has lived in Darwen all of their 40 years.

I did my walkabout in Darwen earlier this month and there does seem to be some general unrest in the hearts of true 'Darreners'.

Many of those I spoke to found it hard to comment positively about the town but I don't think that reflects the true nature of Darwen.

One of the major issues that has been on the lips of residents and visitors to Darwen, has been regarding the alterations made to the road system in and around the centre of town.

I rarely pass that way, so I personally wouldn't say either way if the changes were worth it or not. I did however, glean from various people I spoke to that the changes were not completely welcome.

It seems that many are upset by the fact that traffic has now been diverted away from the the shopping area instead of passing straight through it as it used to.

Also now that the leisure centre has closed in preparation for demolition and in turn rebuilding, many are annoyed at the lack of recreational facilities in Darwen.

However, Darwen has a great position in Lancashire. The home of Blackburn Rovers, Ewood Park is only half an hour's walk away, meaning Darreners have little need to drive in and get stuck in the traffic during match days.

It has excellent access to all of the North West's major motorways, M61, M62, M6 and M65 of course. This means from Darwen we can be in the heart of Manchester within the hour and Liverpool in under two hours.

And to be honest, the town is not all bad. Compared to other towns of a similar size, there are few if any buildings in the centre which are derelict and unsightly, except maybe for the building which used to house Global Video. For new visitors coming into Darwen from Bolton this is one of the first sightsof the town centre and does not give the best impression.

I quite like Darwen, and when my mother comes over visiting from Ireland she always comments on how much she likes Bold Venture Park and the trek to Darwen Tower. These are just two of the many redeeming features Darwen holds.

There are lots of architectural wonders in Darwen, the old techincal college on Knott Street, the tower of India Mill, Belgrave Church, and of course, Darwen's very famous tower.

Many residents appreciate these sites as being important in the heritage of Darwen and express desire to keep them maintained and available for use or observation by future generations.

Darwen has its fair share of problems, but show me a town which doesn't. Residents, although disappointed with the neglect of certain aspects of the town, try to remain positive and promote the town in the best way they can.

Darwen Market is in need of a facelift but inside the traders are friendly, provide great customer service and sell many great items, especially fresh and butchery products. More should be doen to give these traders the business they deserve.

I can only suggest we watch this space, there is much work still to be done in Darwen and until that is completed, its hard to provide an accurate picture of this little town known for its grafters and towers.