AS someone with 40 years of experience in town planning, urban design and heritage, I was 'horrified' when I saw the 'artist's impression' of the proposed 'student village' in Cheadle Square in today's Bolton News.

Whilst investment like this must be welcomed in our University and town, have we learned nothing about civic pride and design?

The drawing might only be an computerised image (no artist would put his name to the drawing as presented) but it shows no thought whatsoever for the area it is located in. First of all it looks like a 'prison block' rather than a 'village' or anything remotely connected to our magnificent Le Mans Crescent and, secondly, it completely cuts off the Crescent and Town Hall from the western part of the town centre.

The whole idea of the archways in the centre of the Crescent when it was built in the 1930s was to enable future development to the west to connect into the heart of the town centre. Those who remember the Shankland Plan for the Town Centre in the 1960s will remember how it stressed the importance of linking the town centre to Queens Park via the Crescent arches. And by the way, what happened to the 'Cultural Quarter' around the Crescent?

I know the Council doesn't employ urban designers, architects or conservation officers anymore but please please find someone who can redesign this 'monstrosity' before it turns into a planning application and ruins what's left of our town centre.

I encourage Bolton Civic Trust and anyone who cares for our town centre's future to write in to the Director of Environment as soon as possible to demand a re-think of this design. If the student 'halls' must go in this location (why not on the bus station site?), then let's start by breaking up the 'blocks' into separate units and re-establishing the the central corridor through to the Crescent from Blackhorse Street, then add some sympathetic urban design.

And talking of the bus station site, where is the comprehensive plan for this part of the town centre that shows what is due to happen to this major redevelopment site and the market etc? I would guess that this whole area is earmarked for University expansion as this is the only growth sector in Bolton. But if that is the case then surely the student accommodation should be on this site (closer to the existing complex) and the Cheadle Square site retained for something more appropriate to the 'Cultural Quarter'.

I would welcome other readers views on this proposal which in my view is more controversial than the Market Hall.

Stuart Whittle

Albert Road West

Bolton