Waterfoot is Alive & Shopping!

Date published: 12/11/2009

Residents of Waterfoot are making a stand against the recession and want the world to know that their little town is still thriving!

On Saturday 28 November local groups and shops are getting together to start the festive season and promote lots of activities in the town, including two brass bands and a splendid classic bus running between Waterfoot and ELR train station in Rawtenstall, where you can connect with the ELR Santa Specials that day too.

The Mayor of Rossendale will ride the first bus and then open the big annual Toy Fair at the Red Cross shop. Santa will also be there, assisted by his favourite elf.

There will also be a fun Treasure Hunt with £200 worth of prizes and local shops and hairdressers will be laying on special treats, tastings and some cracking special offers on the day. There will be demonstrations with a festive theme by florists, bakers and crafts people and lucky dips for the kids – just to make the day extra special.

On top of that there will be local ‘Guest Suppliers’ in some of the shops, such as Fitzpatrick’s Temperance Bar, Essentially Natural, Heritage Kitchen Preserves and Izzie Lizzie’s Candles.

The Duke of Buccleuch pub is joining in and having a special Spanish day with paella and tapas being served. In the evening the Horse and Bamboo Puppet Theatre is giving a one-off local performance of its national tour of Deep Time Cabaret.

The event is being supported by the Your 5 £ocal Heroes Project and Waterfoot Forward.

Chris Smith of Waterfoot Forward said: “There are nearly 70 shops and businesses in the centre of Waterfoot and it has so much to offer. This day is to showcase what they are all about but it is just the start. There is so much potential here and the Victorian arcade could be such an attraction in its own right we want to help get it fully open again one day.”

Alyson Cadd, Co-ordinator of Your 5 £ocal Heroes Project added: “This event is unique in that almost all of the activity centres on the shops and businesses themselves and we want to have similar events across Rossendale.

"The whole day is actually a demonstration of what can be achieved with a bit of creative joined up thinking. All we have done is to get people talking to each other and coordinated the result – which will be a fun day on the 28th with something for everyone.”

For more info on the day or the bus time table contact Alyson on 01706 222644 and to find out more about the whole project to support local towns and independent shops see www.your5localheroes.org.uk

To download Treasure Hunt Forms go to www.aboutmyarea/rossendale/