I THINK the majority of the Bolton public would recognise and agree with the Guardian article by Bolton journalist Andy Walton on the town's decline, despite the improvements to frontage of the shops in Newport Street, the dismal views in Bradshawgate and other areas of the town over shadow this.

Going into Bolton town centre even on a sunny day can be a depressing experience — all the boarded up shops is not a good sight for resident and visitors coming to Bolton.

For Cllr Morris and chief executive Margaret Asquith to bury their heads in the sand and say things are not that bad, suggests they are in complete denial.

Cllr Morris and, sadly, our Labour council lack imagination and vision.

What we need is to attract more traders to our town, not national retailers, who would only make our town centre look like any other town centre.

And, furthermore, the profits they make will be taken out of our local economy and given to shareholders in dividends.

No what we really need are more local traders whose profits remain in our local economy.

The authority need to give incentives to attract more local traders to take over the boarded-up shops.

Our town is also crying out for more green spaces, not the potential deal with Bolton University to build on our one and only green space in Cheadle Square.

More greens spaces and shops in use, would attract more locals and visitors to our town centre.

Alan Johnson

Green Party Candidate

Rumworth Ward Bolton