Word on the High Street
by Colne Life magazine
In this issue, we take a stroll down Colne’s high street to chat with shoppers and business owners alike, getting the latest word on the street.
Meet… CAROLINE from Upper Cuts Hair
I love Colne—the people, the community, and the spirit of the town. It’s vibrant, and traditions are still very much alive here.
I love walking up Boulsworth Hill and taking in the view. Even just walking down the high street and seeing the Town Hall clock tower is beautiful. The scenery around here is breathtaking at times.
Traffic congestion can be a nightmare, and parking outside the shop is limited. While the new electric bays are great for EV owners, they’ve made things more complicated for our disabled customers and loading deliveries. I also think there should be better regulations for shops—there used to be a rule ensuring a variety of businesses, but that’s disappeared. We’re losing some of our traditional stores.
MEET… JOHN and MAXINE Shoppers
We think Colne is brilliant! They really need to reopen the public toilets though. And during the heavy snow, only the main roads were cleared – the pavements were like an ice rink! The council took care of the cars but not the people. We also wonder where the funding is going. We were promised more trains, but that plan seems to have vanished. That said, Colne has friendly people and is doing alright overall.
MEET… LESLEY from Lesley’s Wool Shop
I moved here from the West Midlands in 2019, and it’s such a friendly place! We used to visit a friend here every three months and loved it so much that we moved. I started with a market stall selling baby clothes, then opened my wool shop in the arcade. The people are lovely—when I first opened, complete strangers wished me luck. That kind of support means a lot in a small town. Now that I have the shop, people pop in just to compliment the window display.
I go to the Muni regularly. I’ve booked to see The Makings of a Murderer 2 in March and saw the Adult Panto earlier this year.
I think people don’t always appreciate what they have here. Tourists visit Colne! There’s an Airbnb cottage right across from my house. You only have to drive two minutes down the road, and you will be in the countryside. Also, 75% of the businesses on this street are independent, which is rare these days. The only downside? The hills – if only they could do something about those!
Meet… LEIGH Shopper
I’m originally from Brighton, but I’ve lived here for 32 years, and I love it. The people are friendly, and it’s home now—I’d never move back down south. There’s a great variety of shops. I just popped into Deerstones and the bookshop—without these, I’d have to travel to Skipton!
Meet… SIAN from Carers Link
“I love it here! Our shop opened a year ago, and the community has been incredibly supportive. Just today, a customer brought us flowers to celebrate our anniversary. We also receive so many generous donations – it’s clear that people really care. Colne is a vibrant town, always buzzing with events and activities. Unlike some other places, it hasn’t lost its energy, and we love being part of it.
Our favourite part of Colne is right here in the Carers Link shop, surrounded by our amazing volunteers and wonderful customers, though we could do with a bigger shop! We’ve made our mark in town this year, and now we’d love to expand to help the community even more.
MEET… DELIA Shopper
It’s a very friendly place with plenty going on. Honestly, I think it’s a great place to live, and the people are lovely. I visit Colne Library a lot—it’s a big library with fantastic facilities. I have a soft spot for the town because I was born here. I live in Barrowford now, but my connection to Colne runs deep—my grandfather, Ariel Bailey, was mayor in the 1930s, and I went to Colne Grammar School as a child. I’ll always have a fondness for it!
Like many towns around here, Colne used to be really nice, but it’s lost some of its character with so many empty shops. A lot of businesses have closed down. Walking up from the car park just now, I was remembering what it was like when I was a child – which, at my age, is always a risky thing! I don’t know if it’s just me getting older and more critical, but I feel some of these towns could still be lovely places to visit and explore. It’s lost a bit of that charm. That said, I do commend the community for all they’re doing to improve things.
Meet… JANET from Going Dutch
We’ve lived here for over 30 years, and it’s a lovely place with great people. We originally opened our business in Colne before moving to Nelson. When this shop space became available, it felt like the right time to return. We’ve been back for seven months now, and it’s a fantastic spot that really draws people in.
We love walking around Foulridge Reservoir—it’s a beautiful area. No matter which direction you go, you’re surrounded by countryside.
Honestly, I think Colne is fine as it is. The independent shops add character, and I hope they stay—they make a real difference and attract visitors.
To share your views on Colne, email – editor@northernlifemedia.co.uk
ColneLife March/April/May 25
