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She said: “It was like a scene from the Bronx, quite honestly…”’
On Thursday, January 11, 2001, the Lancashire Evening Post published an article, that would change the face of Larches, and ultimately could damage the community of Larches for many years to come
They asked the question, “Larches, Preston’s Bronx?” with a picture of a tattooed, shirtless (what, in mid January?!) yob, yielding two planks of wood, poised to cause horrific injuries on the photographer, and anyone that was standing in his path.
You would, however, need a magnifying glass to view the tiny text next to the yob to read the caption: “Lout posed by model.”
As we looked further, the accompanying pictures made matters worse. A lone shopper with a walking stick walk past the graffiti filled walls. Was this you? Were you “…walking the streets in fear.”? Razor wire adorns Larches Club, and a plank of wood (possibly put there by our local shirtless yob), was rammed, with seeming disregard, into the post-box. This
was a “no-go area.”- “A gang of up to 60 marauding youths
has turned the Preston community into an area where many locals fear to
tread …” ‘Elaine Abbot, chair of the Larches Residents Association, popped into the shop [The Late Shop], … She said: “It was like a scene from the Bronx, quite honestly…”’ Shirtless
yobs, “60 marauding kids”, people “walking the
street in fear”, scenes “from the Bronx.” Was this Larches, Preston, or was this the Bronx, New York. The images that could be conjured by the imagination were terrifying.
“Fifty-eight people died violently in the borough between Jan. 1 and March 19. By comparison, 33 people were slain in the Bronx in early 1999. Murder statistics for the city as a whole are also up, but not nearly as much as in the Bronx. There have been 173 homicides in New York City this year, compared to 141 for the same time period last year a 22 percent spike. “ http://bronx-beat.jrn.columbia.edu/2000-issues/march/032700/murderrate.html
The above paragraph is, thankfully, not our beloved Bronx - Larches, Preston. This was the comparison that was drawn by a member of our community.
As a group of local residents, the comparison was, to say the least, un-palatable.
So, the Larches Community Web Site Was born.
"This article made it sound like there were 60 yobs
together doing this. this
article made the estate seem 10 times worse than it is
"I live just off Larches Lane...... I have never felt threatened by the kids who hang around the Late shop..." Last
week Larches Community Web Site wrote to the Lancashire Evening Post, Cllr.
Elaine Abbot
To:
Lancashire Evening Post:
Editor:
Roger Borrell
News
editor: David Barnett Features
editor: Peter Richardson
Reporter:
AnnMarie Houghton Reporter:
Emma Broom
Cllr.
Elaine Abbot Cllr.
Kathleen Derbyshire 22nd
January 2001 Re:
Larches Community. We
have received information that due to recent comments, two houses in
Larches have lost their sales over the weekend. We
(as the Larches Community) also feel that the negative interpretations
of our community, both in the media, and by people held in
responsibility, have been tremendously damaging to house values in the
area. It
is completely understandable that prospective house buyers would find it
un-palatable to consider buying property in the area. Not only was it
damaging for the community’s reputation, it was bad for the economy of
the area, Preston, and ultimately for Lancashire. Businesses
will have also felt the aftermath of the comments, with lost sales and
revenue. Investment into areas such as Larches is essential - for local
jobs, community spirit, and our local economy. The
site will publish this letter on Friday 26th January, and,
included in the feature, will be your responses to this letter. Over
the past 11 days our site has had a tremendous response, and over 360
‘hits’ (32 hits a day, and rising) – we also have back up from the
local church and businesses that have published our leaflets and
posters. Please feel free to view our site, and view the comments of our
readers. After
only two days, our poll has shown, by 100%, that the “Larches:
Preston’s Bronx?” headline was irresponsible, and emails have shown
that it was also inaccurate, and the comparison between the Larches,
Preston, and the Bronx, New York were an insult, with disrespect, and no
feeling of the people who live, here, in the neighbourhood of Larches. We
look forward to all of your comments. Larches
Community Web Site
----------------------------------------------------
We got three quotes from prominent, Preston estate agents. We are keeping the names of the agents confidential, as this was requested. We asked the question "Could house prices in the Larches area have been affected by the recent bad publicity?"
“[the coverage] … would have done no favours
for the area.”
“…long term effects could be damaging.” “…one [client] said that he’d read the article, and said, “no, I’ll leave that [property] one. I heard about the article...”
The LEP was kind enough to get back to us very promptly, and in reply said :
---------------------------------------------------- My response would be as follows: It is too easy to blame the media for the problems facing areas such as Larches. Reporters don't intimidate shopkeepers so they need their own security guards. Reporters don't vandalise telephone boxes. Reporters are not responsible for gangs of youths roaming the streets. We are here to report the issues and, when it is necessary, provide a platform for public debate. That is what has happened in this case and, as a result, the police say they are increasing their presence in the area. If that is true, our coverage has had a positive impact. As for the term Preston's Bronx: Once again, this was not something made up by the Evening Post. It was a direct quote from a councillor. She has not contacted us to tell us it was inaccurate. In fact, the opposite is true - she has thanks us for taking up the issue. My personal feeling is that rather than blaming the Press for their problems local people should: 1. Consider if the local authority is doing enough to occupy these youngsters 2. Consider if the police are doing enough to keep them under control 3. Consider what can be done to ensure parents keep them under control The Evening Post wants to see prosperous, thriving and peaceful communities in Lancashire. But that doesn't mean we will sweep the bad things under the carpet. Roger Borrell, Editor, Lancashire Evening Post ----------------------------------------------------
Cllr. Elaine Abbot was unable to compile a response, but sent us this email:
---------------------------------------------------- Not able to respond via email. Had complaints regarding your web sites from residents, please contact on 01772 733058 evenings. Remember, not everyone has a computer. (I've used a computer at work with permission.) Cllr. Elaine Abbot. ---------------------------------------------------- So, we called her that evening.
It was very welcome to hear from Cllr. Abbot, who, in the main, supports the web site. However, one of the reservations she has is that people who have no access to the Internet, would not be able to access the web site – this, she found, was “discriminating”, mainly to the “older generation”. She also raised concerns that the web site may be affiliated with property companies, and our recent leaflet drop was somehow an attempt to bring house prices down.
So, with these comments in mind, let us clear a few issues up… Our web site does not cover any issues that would otherwise be missed by community members who do not have an Internet connection. Larches Community Web Site is for ALL people – Internet connection, or no Internet connection. Our web site can be accessed via a whole means of ways - at the Harris Library, friends, family, at work, even Internet café’s in the town centre. If people choose they want to get involved in the site, they can! It has no members, membership fees, age limit, and location boundaries – the site has been published on the “World Wide Web”. We will continue to keep an anonymous stance; this is one of the things the web site stands for – anonymity. In the coming week, we will publish a telephone number where we can be contacted. The number will be for the uses of letting us know of events that are in the area, if someone can’t immediately email us, or things that urgently need bringing to our attention. It will not be available for quotes, comments on the site, or to discuss lengthy subjects. The web site, and phone communications are not funded, and therefore are run on a part time basis, and in spare time by the editors. We are affiliated with no one. We do not insist on a political belief, and do not promote one – this will continue. The editors of the web site do not promote their professional career, or services.
No money is made from the site, and in the past weeks, funding, and construction of the site has been done free of charge, and in the free time of the editors. The developers have absorbed all expenses towards leaflets, and posters.
We would welcome comments on all of the above. Please feel free to email us at larches_c@hotmail.com
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