Plans for a new shopping area have been unveiled in Blackburn and you would think we would all welcome such a venture.

Earlier this week the Lancashire Telegraph revealed the plans for a new Asian shopping centre in Whalley New Road.

The pictures looked pretty impressive and it seemed to get the thumbs-up from people from across town.

If someone is hoping to spend £10m to open a new shopping centre then this is on the whole a major boost to the town and I think most folk are really happy this is happening.

It is after all being built on land that no one else has wanted to use for the past 15 years.

I was saddened though to read some comments about why this was being ‘allowed’ to happen.

We may as well just get it all out into the open. So, let’s just say it like it is and hopefully then we can all move on.

If we don’t talk about it then we won’t learn anything.

Next time anyone opens any Asian business up here’s a few pointers for the ignorant few who think the town is changing for the worse.

Just because it says ‘Asian’ on it, it does not mean it is for Asians only. It isn’t. Just like the Chinese District in Manchester – anyone is permitted entry for free.

In fact, I can guarantee now that if one was to go into an ‘Asian’ shop the guy will probably treat a non-Asian better than me because he knows I will plead for customary ‘Asian’ discount.

When a mosque opens, the council has not funded it, neither has the tax-payer. They can’t, they won’t. In fact they are not even allowed to. Why would they?

The derelict pub which was converted into a mosque or a house does not mean the country has gone to pot. It was old. It was an eyesore. Let’s be glad it was bought. No, it is not easier getting a house extension because one is ‘Asian’.

The last time I looked, one must go through the same painful bureaucracy as everyone else.

On no account – and I must reiterate this with a huge ‘NO’ – can ‘they’ park anywhere. People may well park like idiots but the traffic warden does not ignore people because there are different rules for ‘them’. Honestly, I wish there was this rule.

And finally, halal food tastes the same. It does.