IDEAS which should reduce the chance of Bolton's shopping centre from becoming a rarely visited place.

I believe that a market place should be built on the land around Mawdsley Street, with an entrance opposite the Great Moor Street exit of the new interchange and other entrances to Newport Street, Bradshawgate and the Arndale Centre.

On the ground floor of this place should exist stalls similar to the ones which existed in Bolton's Market Hall, and on another floor of this place should exist cheaper stalls similar to those in Bolton's Open Market. With these changes, a more or less straight line of mainly covered-shopping would occur from this new market place to Bolton's current market place, and on this line, in my opinion, would be Bolton's best shops!

A park should be created on the land the land of the old open market and the land of Moor Lane bus station.

Bolton councillors have suggested that this bus station should be replaced by a gigantic, towering, student block which will be about 50 per cent taller than the courts next to it. This block would not only considerably darken this sunny area of Bolton but considerably lessen shopping experiences in Bolton.

Is correcting Bolton's town centre beyond our Labour councillors?

Ian B Aldred

Bolton