A Summer of Celebration

During the Coronavirus pandemic, the importance of socialising and our local events became apparent as never before, with the key dates in Colne’s social calendar falling by the wayside.

Thankfully, 2022 has proved to be the year things went back to normal. We saw the return of the Trawden Show for the first time since 2018, offering one of the best examples of local community spirit. Those Colne Life readers who joined me at the Show will have enjoyed the wide array of shows and classes being put on from motorbikes, classic cars, sheep and cattle, horticulture, craft and everything in-between. I can’t wait for next year and I have my fingers crossed for terrier racing’s return, weather permitting!

Another of Colne’s social highlights waltzing its way back into the calendar was the brilliant Rhythm & Blues festival over the August Bank Holiday weekend. Thanks to the work of Peter Barton, the Festival’s artistic director, we enjoyed the performances of over 50 bands and artists. All profits generated from the event were donated to the Alder Hey Hospital. Some of the finest musicians in the country came to Colne (including The Animals!) and the festival atmosphere was superb!

These fine efforts to enrich the lives of our young people are essential in supporting our next generation.

Our community spirit has also shone through in agreeing the Colne Neighbourhood Plan. After six years of work from the Town Council, local residents and businesses, the Plan has entered its final local review and consultation stage. Many will be pleased to see that the outcome of the plan, if agreed, will protect our heritage assets, safeguard green spaces and designate more brownfield housing development sites. The Plan joins those of Trawden Forest and Barrowford’s. With Kelbrook and Sough on their way to the referendum stage too, it is fantastic to see more Neighbourhood Plans in Pendle, involving local communities in the process.

With the summer holidays now behind us, I want to draw attention to Nelson & Colne College and their Holiday Activities and Food Programme schemes that have been inspiring youth in our community. I visited the College for A-Level Results day and got to welcome the Skills Minister Andrea Jenkyns MP to see the excellent work of the College, it’s staff and most importantly pupils, who she got to meet as she toured their new T-Level building. Andrea and I spoke with staff about their plans for the future and how they can enrich students vocational learning through T-Levels.

Finally, Colne has also seen the welcome opening of the new Colne Youth Action Group youth club on Byron Road. The Group opened its doors to its first holiday club in its new location – the building was the former Lancashire County Council Youth Zone and had been empty for eight years. It is encouraging that this abandoned building is now being put to good use, becoming a home for yet another successful community scheme in Colne. These fine efforts to enrich the lives of our young people are essential in supporting our next generation.

ColneLife Autumn 22