The Halton Show

I don’t know what it is at the moment. It might be the fact that my son is about to start high school, it might be the aching joints after an hour in the gym or it might be the fact that this year is my last playing for the under 40’s cricket team. Anyway, whatever it is, I am feeling rather nostalgic (What, you thought I was going to say old? Ageing is unfortunately a fact, growing up is optional).

Anyway nostalgia, I have found myself and my mates talking about the past, daft kids TV programmes, places we used to go, school and the other day the Halton Show.

Yeah the Halton show, remember that, the biggest 2 day free event in the country, I think?

Those 2 days in the year when we really were Halton and nobody moaned about going to Widnes. Two days in the year when Halton was the centre of the North West and we had brilliant fun and entertainment (Girls Aloud, right here in our town!!). Right here on our door step. Wasn’t it a great few days?

Unfortunately, when the budgets started to tighten and priorities had to be decided, the Show was axed. I think we all understand why the council made the decision and I think it was the sensible thing to do.

Four years on we are now in even tougher times, smiles are few and far between, confidence in public services is falling, satisfaction with the council is falling significantly, people don’t feel they can influence decisions, only 1 person in 10 is involved in civic/community activities and key, is that people don’t feel they are kept informed about what services are doing.

So the question is, what can we do to give people some civic pride?
What can we do that will let people see what it is we are all doing to create change?
What can we do to get more people involved in the community?

Well at a Local Strategic Partnership away day earlier this year, we asked all these questions and we came up with a simple answer

Bring back the Halton Show!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The councillors at the event said (quite rightly) that the council just cannot afford to run the Show any more, but as we all commented, why should they?

It’s a Halton Show and as such every one should put in. Why can’t we get local companies and other public services to come together and help put on a show we can be proud of?

Here is a perfect opportunity to show off the fantastic work going on in Halton, a chance to do our surveys, to thank people for their work, to generate funds for local charities, to promote Halton on a BIG SCALE. It’s perfect, it hits all the buttons, so why not?

So its over to you, would you like to see the show back? Let us know, if enough people say yes, we will do our best to make it happen, but we need the evidence, we need you to say yes. Send us your best memories of the show and tell us what you want in a new show.

Come on! Let’s do this!!!

Please post your comments below or e-mail them to adam@haltonva.org.uk.

Andy Guile