LIKE many of your readers, I’m so pleased that the matter of the proposed despoiling of Cheadle Square by building student accommodation there, continues to feature in the Bolton News’ pages.

In my working life, I was involved in many schemes which were described as “controversial” and it was essential that before any scheme was submitted to public scrutiny, all and every alternative was examined in detail and submitted to that scrutiny, along with the favoured one.

Cllr Morris, in his response (Bolton News February 23) to Stuart Whittle’s original letter on this matter, shows us that he clearly has Cheadle Square alone in his sights and nothing he is quoted as saying since then suggests anything different. This will not do when it is obvious that there are other sites available and ones that should attract the same amount of effort and attention as has Cheadle Square.

Clearly, the University has brought improvements to Bolton town centre but the imposition of an edifice reminiscent of east Berlin (I have been there and seen the architecture first hand) in front of what is undoubtedly one of the jewels in Bolton’s crown and which is subject to statutory protection, will hardly enhance anything.

Rather the reverse. Cllr Morris has said that we should wait to see what the final design looks like and “nothing is set in stone.” That statement itself seems a contradiction when Cheadle Square is the only site being proposed! If the artist’s impression we have been shown is not representative or realistic, why publish it at all?

The architectural merit or otherwise of the proposal is, I dare suggest, totally irrelevant. No matter what this proposed development is eventually intended to look like, it’s in the wrong place and no amount of tweaking or amending the appearance will alter that fact.

Cllr Morris had the cheek to ask Stuart Whittle if he could “tell the difference between artist and architect.” I reckon that Mr Whittle, as a professional town planner, is far better qualified to do this and I pose this question to cllr Morris; can you tell the difference between civic responsibility and urban vandalism?

Ernest Goodyear

Albert Road West

Bolton