I am sure that many people are pleased, as was I, to read that the ‘rainbow’ colour scheme for Newport Street was rejected by the traders in favour of something more sober.

However, it would be far better to review the whole ‘upgrade’ more holistically with the rest of the town centre, responding more to the needs for improved commerce in terms of footfall and, more to the point, quality and individuality of retail outlet and public interest.

The Bolton Civic Trust, of which I am an active member, is seeking to promote such an attitude, focusing also on the heavy involvement by local professionals and businesses rather than the ideas of out-of-town consultants who have little or no accountability or concern for the borough or the town centre.

We already have a very good planning strategy that is available on the council website; this needs to be expanded and detailed through consultation, ideas and energy from local people in order to be truly successful. I am concerned that these current efforts to ‘scrub-up’ Newport Street may be wasted money if they do not result in a response to the overall need for fostering economic repair and growth. We have lost so much that was unique to Bolton and it is necessary to capitalise on our unique selling points, re-vitalise those lost and create new ones. Newport Street is an important ingredient that a simple ‘tart-up’ will almost certainly not address. The Bolton Civic Trust is going to hold a public meeting on the evening of Tuesday, MAy 5, in the Library Theatre, where it will address these issues and call for local action by the citizenship and by the council.

Mark Head

Egerton