I REFER to Kevin Morris's letter regarding Bolton residents benefitting from being paid a better living wage on Tuesday.

I hope Mr Morris would agree that Bolton's Labour controlled council have a lot to answer for, you can't keep blaming everyone else.

The Labour controlled council’s bad decisions choosing to invest in retail over infrastructure projects and tech companies, has left Bolton trailing other boroughs who are now benefitting from higher average wages.

Wigan is £10.95 per hour while Bury boasts £11.49 per hour, Trafford is £13.01 per hour and Stockport is £12.26 per hour. Bolton is one of the lowest in the North West at £10.41 per hour. Retail typically employs based on low paid, part time, casual, and even zero hour contracts. We want the right type of opportunities for residents.

This bad planning even has a knock on effect for the University of Bolton where many graduates once qualified have to find skilled work outside the area.

I think Mr Morris should look more closely at the reasons why residents in Astley Bridge and the wider area are paid less than others in the North West and perhaps lobby the council to invest in better projects in the future rather than keep blaming everyone else.

Warren Fox

Bolton Liberal Democrats

Astley Bridge