We’re investing in Darwen to make it the tourist spot it should be
4 min read
Darwen is a charming and historic town which is a core component of my constituency, Rossendale and Darwen.
Despite its rich history and beautiful landscapes, Darwen is not often considered a tourist destination. The ‘Destination Darwen’ initiative seeks to change that.
Funding for this plan to make Darwen work better for its people and its visitors comes from a number of sources, including the previous government’s Darwen Town Deal, but credit for the planning goes to the good people of Blackburn with Darwen Council and the Darwen Town Deal Board.
As part of developing this strategy, residents were asked what they would like to see the funding spent on. They specified the local parks, the woods, and the paths up to Jubilee Tower.
The Jubilee Tower, recently restored, is a landmark visible across much of Darwen. Sitting high up on the moors, it was built to commemorate the opening up of the moors to the public. It is therefore a key symbol of the history and spirit of Darwen.
Destination Darwen plans to improve six key routes across Darwen, including access routes to the tower. These improvements not only stand to draw in more tourism but also provide huge benefits to local residents. It’s no secret that access to nature improves wellbeing, both physically through exercise, and mentally through exposure to the natural world.
The more we can encourage healthy physical and mental activity, the more we can alleviate the strain on the NHS, through a focus on prevention of illness rather than treatment after the fact. The more opportunities we provide for active travel, the more we can ensure that people receive the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.
Other footpaths across the town have already been improved, including pedestrian crossings, links to the parks, and routes up the West Pennine moors.
Up next will be a number of improvements to Sunnyhurst Woods, resurfacing the 2km main path, improving accessibility, as well as work to strengthen the river banks and improve drainage. Sunnyhurst Woods is a popular site for both visitors and residents, with a main path leading right up to the beautiful Earnsdale Reservoir.
Crucially, the Destination Darwen initiative is tied to a number of other projects already underway that aim to improve Darwen - upgrading car parks in the town centre, the construction of a new Youth Zone and the transformation of Darwen Market Hall. Plans are also being developed for major investment for Darwen Library and Library Theatre.
The transformation of the Youth Centre is a key element of Darwen’s regeneration plans. By ensuring that young people have safe and engaging activities to participate in, we can reduce antisocial behaviour whilst investing in the future of Darwen by giving young people the opportunities to practice a number of useful skills. Reducing antisocial activity provides a boon to the whole community, enhancing the lives of locals as well as attracting potential visitors to the area.
Darwen Market Hall is situated inside a beautiful Victorian building. It’s a hub of local economic activity that nevertheless is in need of refurbishment. This refurbishment will be respectful of the heritage of the location whilst bringing much needed improvements to the fabric of the structure. The plans have been drawn up in consultation with local businesses that currently operate within the Market Hall.
Although Destination Darwen is a small part of a much larger project of regeneration, it exemplifies the kind of thinking that we need to apply across the country. Rather than focusing on sticking plaster solutions, Destination Darwen is looking ahead to the future through combining tourism with local needs. By focusing on key improvements rather than portioning off small amounts of money here and there, a large boost can be provided to the area - one that will draw in revenue from tourism in the long run.
With the Government confirming a further £20m for Darwen over the next decade through the new Plan for Neighbourhoods, projects such as Destination Darwen will continue to regenerate and revitalise the area.
Andy MacNae MP, North West Mission Delivery Champion
