OUR town had a plan to have an orbital route so that traffic would go nowhere near the town centre.

Was it a cunning plan? Well let’s see.

First announce the plan, then at great expense build a bridge with big blue shopping bag handles, a bridge you don’t really need which is to take you on to that planned orbital route, planned but not completed, for to complete that orbital route you have to demolish a protected building you don’t own.

Then buy a builder’s yard which you might not now need.

Then, for good measure, distress a lot of people by threatening to desecrate graves.

Now, the planned orbital route was to tempt people to by pass the town centre, which has been prematurely pedestrianised and the car parking restricted – all at the time when other neighbouring towns are working hard, endeavouring to get people, customers, businesses, work and money in.

Blackburn has a great chance. There’s a university on the horizon, British Aerospace expanding, and lots of businesses starting up on the outskirts.

But right at this moment what we could do with are bands professional and amateur, buskers, carol singers anything that will add a bit of atmosphere.

We need a touch of gaiety for the festive season.

A few more lights wouldn’t go amiss.

We need to show Blackburn may be a bit down but it’s not out.