SO the public consultation on the reorganisation in health care has been extended until October 24.

I do urge fellow Boltonians to respond.

Not only is it inconceivable that Bolton should not be included as a super hospital — it is, frankly, beyond belief that the Greater Manchester quango should for one moment even consider not including it.

Why? We can rule out Wigan RAEI, which is out on a limb, even for many residents of its own borough.

To fail then to include Bolton means any of the other schemes on offer is, at bottom, a “little Manchester” option — all the super hospitals within either that city’s boundary or six miles of its city centre.

The needs and convenience of a population of well over half a million in Bolton and Wigan boroughs are thus effectively downgraded to second-class status.

We have seen this scenario time and again.

Expect more of the same, given the leadership in our town, if the ‘GM Mancocracy’ get their way and an unelected “mayor” of Greater Manchester is foisted on us — cosily chosen, no doubt, from their own number.

The only dispute seems to be about what to call him or her, since unlike Liverpool’s or London’s mayor, he or she will have no democratic mandate.

As I said: more of the same, to the detriment of Bolton.

Andrew Bowyer Little Hulton