A personal view

John, you asked me to dip my pen in a bottle of Scotch and come up with something lyrical – so here it is! Let me tell you what I believe the spirit of the Renaissance is all about. But be warned: like alcohol, it’s addictive.

Renaissance is all about new ideas, new initiatives, new alliances and new beginnings. It is about shaping a better future, a future that isn't dependant on a run-of-the-mill five-year plan, but on a bold and imaginative, fifty-year Vision. As with Rome, the Upper Calder Valley Renaissance cannot be built in a day. Aptly, my twelve-month old son helped to launch the "Bringing It All Together Weekend" in June. Renaissance is an investment for our children's future and the real fruits of the project will be reaped by his generation, not ours.

You told us from the outset that the Renaissance process would be "vision led not funding fed". I've no problem with that. In recent years I've seen too much public money go towards too many ill-conceived schemes.

White elephants are not a native species of this valley. Also, we have been told by John Prescott that, "Our policies, programmes and structures of governance are based on engaging local people in partnerships for change".

I've no problem with that either. Over this first year of Renaissance the people of the Upper Calder Valley have subscribed to that strategy in their thousands.

But the government and Yorkshire Forward must stay with the daring initiative that they have set in motion. And in doing so they must understand that creativity – for that is what we're engaged in, be it through housing, farming, industry or any other form of human activity – by its very nature, involves doing things differently. Creative thinking does not easily fit into regimented tick boxes, nor does it rigidly adhere to prescribed rules and regulations.

Already the people of the Upper Calder Valley have begun to move mountains. Nine months ago I was hardly aware of farming in the valley, but I'm certainly aware of it now! The farmer's Action Plan sets a benchmark for all the other Action Groups to aspire to. Their contribution alone will go a long way towards creating a sustainable future for this region. In Mytholmroyd, the Church, the Community Association and the local people are intent on creating a twenty-first century Market Town from scratch and, into the bargain, celebrating the life and work of their native poet, Ted Hughes.

As for us in Sowerby Bridge, for years we've all grumbled about traffic congestion. Someone once said; if they can't move the road let us move the town. That quip led to the Courier publishing a picture of how Wharf Street would look if converted into a branch of the Rochdale Canal. Well, it's no longer a joke. A group of us here are now working on an ambitious plan to move the town centre 200 yards to the south. But even assuming that Wharf Street remains dry, Sowerby Bridge can still boast of more water than Venice.

Five hundred years ago Michelangelo impoverished himself in making the first Renaissance happen and I've just blown my families Tax Credit in doing the same. That is what it takes in commitment and passion. As we come to the end of this first year, on the tops and in the five towns, there's elation and exhaustion. The people of this valley will scream if you ask us to fill in another "Post It" - but we'll be damned if we'll let the initiative die!

From Roger Burnett, Sculptor, Sowerby Bridge to John Thompson 1 December 2003