Bolton town centre 'is a mess' (From The Bolton News)

Bolton town centre 'is a mess'

8:51am Monday 31st December 2012 in News

A ROW has erupted between one of Bolton’s Labour MPs — who branded the town centre “a disgrace” — and the leader of the council.

David Crausby, MP for Bolton North East, made the claims after he was criticised for publishing a political pamphlet with a picture of empty shops in Bolton town centre headlined “closed for business”.

The Boltonian pamphlet claimed government policies were sending people “from the town centre to the JobCentre”.

Mr Crausby told The Bolton News: “The town centre is a disgrace.

“It’s in a mess and we need to pull together and do something about it.

“The reason for it is the state of the economy. I’ve been going on about this for years and years, with the rise of internet shopping and we’re facing a triple-dip recession.

“We need to take action and we need a long-term plan.”

But Bolton Council leader Cllr Cliff Morris called on the MP to get behind the town.

Cllr Morris said: “We don’t think it’s helpful to talk the town centre down. We shouldn’t forget 20,000 people work in the town centre.

“Bolton is actually holding its own compared with our comparable rivals, and we work with businesses to try to attract investment.

“The coalition’s economic policies are hurting the town centre, because people’s spending powers have been reduced due to wage freezes and high VAT on goods.

“We know that the town centre faces a significant challenge and will have to restructure to reflect the changed economy and customers shopping habits.

“We have put a strategy in place, which we believe responds to these challenges.”

Mr Crausby has now spoken to Bolton Council’s director of regeneration, Keith Davies, about the issue.

The MP said: “I’ve met with Keith Davies and told him what I think.

“I don’t think the solution is to have more town centre shopping and more town centre living.

“We need more green space, more industry and leisure in the town centre.”

Mr Crausby’s pamphlet was first criticised by Conservative Bradshaw councillor Mudasir Dean, who said the town’s Tory group had been previously attacked by Bolton Council’s ruling Labour Party in the past for calling for more action to regenerate the town centre.

He claimed Bolton’s Labour Party was sending out “mixed messages”.

At a council meeting in October, Astley Bridge Conservative Cllr John Walsh was jeered by the Labour benches, branded “a dinosaur” and accused of “bashing Bolton” after he called for a debate on town centre regeneration.

Cllr Dean said: “Whenever the Conservatives have tried to contribute by offering positive ideas to improve our town centre, we have always been accused of “knocking the town centre and not supporting it” — these were the exact words of the Labour leader Cliff Morris at a council meeting.

“The Boltonian has been sent out headlined Closed for Business — and if this is not knocking the town centre then what is?

“I suggest Mr Morris and Mr Crausby work out a single message they want to give the people of Bolton on this sensitive matter.”

Bolton’s Conservative leader, Cllr David Greenhalgh added: “I suggest Cllr Morris has a word with Mr Crausby to get him on message.”

Cllr Morris said: “We’ve given this message to the Tories, and we’d ask David Crausby to also support our town centre, rather than knock it.”