Let's look at Tod's many plus points
Todmorden.
OVER the last few weeks we have read numerous letters referring to the problem of dog mess, or rather the problem of some dog owners within the town.
I feel that the comments implying that the town therefore is deteriorating are not necessarily correct. For certain, the vast majority of dog owners do act in a responsible way. Sadly it is the small minority that causes a negative view to be cast of our town.
I think that it is about time that people opened their eyes and saw the plus points of living in Todmorden.
Look at the countless millions of pounds that have been spent on the town over a relatively short period of time. Look at the regeneration that has taken place, the market, bus station, health centre, the vastly improved sporting facilities, the waterways, these have all been transformed beyond recognition.
How can residents not look with pride at the assets that the town has?
We have a park that is the envy of many towns twice our size.
Is there a better spot on a summer’s day than Centre Vale with the bandstand in full sway? There are three cricket grounds, a golf course and numerous bowling greens and football pitches each with its own character and beauty.
We have a real live theatre offering a programme of quality events throughout the year. We have a town hall that we all take for granted but which demonstrates an outstanding architectural beauty. We have ever improving schools constantly achieving higher grades.
Add to this the numerous societies that arrange such great events as carnivals, the Agricultural Show, Todmorden in Bloom, Incredible Edible, or the Boundary Walk to name just a few.
There are endless opportunities for all to try numerous activities – take up a martial art, or try further education at our own college. Run, swim, walk, sing, ride, fish, play, compete, it is all there for you to take part in if you so choose.
Add to that the vigorously active parish and community activities that thankfully still exist, and how can anyone say that there is nothing to do or to take pride in within our town?
Even with all of this and more I have not yet touched on the greatest gift this town has.
No house is more than a 10-minute stroll from open countryside. We live in an area of natural beauty.
Get yourself out there, you may startle a deer or a pheasant, a heron may glide overhead or a woodpecker may be seen hammering away at a nearby tree.
Does this not demonstrate how much improved our environment has become. Could fish have ever survived in our toxic rivers of 40 years ago?
People travel thousands of miles to find views that are no better and often no match to those that are available to each of us every day of the year.
Standing high above any of our three valleys how can anyone not realise how lucky we are?
I sound like I am in love with my town, and I am proud to say that I and many others are.
All that I ask is that the next time that one of that small minority decide to break a window, destroy a flower bed, throw their litter, or in any other way desecrate this wonderful home of ours, could they just stop for a moment and look around them before they do so?
If they would only open their eyes and their minds to what they have around them, then they would see the consequences of their actions say nothing at all about Todmorden, rather they speak volumes about they themselves.
ANDREW LUPTON
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Halifax
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -1 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North west
