Worry grips a Lancashire town where locals feel 'they don't exist'

That’s the verdict of one lifelong resident who is unconvinced by a Government promise to invest £20m into the town. The new funding is to be spread over 10 years, meaning an annual input of £2m and its spending is to be determined by local representatives.

“I used to get shoes in Darwen. You can’t get anything like that now, you have to go to Blackburn. Look at the market, look at the start of it. It’s very dated.” She added: “There’s nothing for kids so they’re just hanging around on street corners causing chaos. If you go further down this road, everything’s boarded up. It’s not the best.”

Another said: “The town does need an upgrade. It needs more shops, better infrastructure. I think my main wish is more footfall. The main problem is the footfall. Once complete, the new market will have a greater focus on food in an effort to meet changing demand. The change is similar to those seen at other North West towns, though the council has indicated that a retail offering will remain in the new version.

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