Years ago, when the disastrous mistake of pedestrianising Nelson town centre was made, some bright spark came up with the idea of putting a "water feature" – in other words, a fountain – in the middle of the traffic-free zone.

It did not take long for the youth of the day to work out that running water plus washing up liquid produces soap suds – and there were countless occasions when the fountain was awash with the soapy solution.

In time, the fountain was switched off and removed. The lesson, one would have thought, had been learned.

But think again.

It is now being proposed to have a "water feature" in the new-look Colne precinct, with a constant cascade of water flowing over a tower of balls.

Now before councillors start jumping up and down and lambasting Mr Pendle, let him say he agrees something needs to be put there, or the precinct would otherwise be a bland open space – but do we really want to see a repeat of the Nelson fiasco 20 years on?


RUGBY League referee Steve Ganson may not be the best in the business, but he certainly knows how to handle players who show dissent – and his actions highlight the difference between the greatest game and the "beautiful game" of football, where match officials are berated at every level.

In a recent game between Bradford Bulls and Hull FC, a Hull player had cause to query one of Mr Ganson's decisions – to which he replied: "Don't talk back to me. This isn't football!" – and sent him to the sin bin for 10 minutes.

An absolutely classic response – putting a player firmly in his place and letting him know who was in charge on the field of play.

Why don't the football authorities tell their referees do more of the same, and cut out the foul-mouthed abuse which match officials are subjected to in almost every match at every level of the game every week of the season?


FROM where does reader Alex Smith get the idea Pendle Council is run by a Colne mafia?

In case Alex hadn't noticed, Pendle Council's Nelson Committee was run by the Liberal Democrats until the elections in May.

The decision to set up the unwanted town council in Nelson was backed by its members.
Of the 27 Lib Dem councillors at the time, only 11 came from Colne and the surrounding villages, with the remaining 16 from elsewhere, including eight from Nelson. Hardly a Colne mafia, is it?