THE revelation concerning the Play Trail destined for Octagon Square (Bolton News, May 28) is yet another demonstration of this council’s seeming reluctance to engage in public consultation BEFORE unveiling its plans.

It seems to want to plan in secret, reveal and then defend its position. How democratic is that? The idea of a play trail may be sensible or it may not – what exactly has guided the decisions? Who has come up with these ideas?

In Octagon Square it would seem that we now have the Charity Canopy, The Elephants and now a Play Trail with ‘a seat’ for parents to sit on. How is this mix expected to work and how are the small traders in that area expected to carry out their trade?

How does this enclave enhance the town and reinforce links between the various quarters of the town centre? What is the economic benefit and demographic picture?

We have never been treated to an overall plan of the council’s concepts that would indicate these proposals (unless, of course, the Planning Portal is the council’s strategy for public consultation). In the same paper we read that H Samuel, the Jewellers are to open up a larger shop in the Market Place – good for them, but does it not indicate the shift in the retail core of the town centre? That makes Octagon Square look decidedly ‘out on a limb’, even more than at present.

We are already battling against plans to destroy the frontage of the Town Hall, build on Cheadle Square and waste money on Newport Street. No, the town centre must be considered as a unit that has to work integrally according to a well-structured plan that is the outcome of realistic public scrutiny and input. Instead, we have secretive plans drawn up by consultants who owe no allegiance to the town or its population under the direction of a council leadership which seeks to behave with autocratic munificence but ends up stumbling at every step. It calls into question the whole idea of Cabinet Governance in Local Authorities, if this is the way we are to be treated. It is time for all councillors to realise the damage that is being caused to the trust and confidence of the people of Bolton in their council; to raise their own voices and not to be cajoled into voting the party line. The people of Bolton deserve to be consulted in detail on these issues – it is they who would visit the town and spend their money there and they who have to pay their rates to fund such enterprises.

Mark Head

Egerton