I WAS delighted to read in the Bolton Evening News (September 18) that "some people have claimed that there will only be room for 12 stall holders in the new development but this is not true -- we anticipate it to be quite a few more than this" and "It is unfortunate that the petition has been signed using information that is not totally correct".

All was well with the Market Hall stalls.

But what's this? On October 16 we hear that "a minimum of 12 retail units which would go to present stallholders" with their current home being filled by "high street names". For goodness sake! Tell the whole truth! It is obvious that the new structure will not accommodate even half of the existing stalls.

How many of the 70 or so stalls will be lost? How much will rent rise for the remainder "consistent with those in the Market Place"?

How can it be a market hall when there will be no market stalls? The new structure is certainly not part of The Market Hall.

If there is to be a new development around the Central Street area, then why can't the high street names go there and leave our little shops alone?

Can the council not listen to their electors and the people who come to our town to spend their money? I doubt it!

Goodbye to the Market Hall and to all those who have served me all my life.

Mention is made of the Trafford Centre being extended and being a threat to Bolton. But The Market Hall appears to be a thriving group of businesses. It attracts people to Bolton.

The major advantage that the Trafford Centre has is that people can park their cars there all day, or for as long or short as they want, without fear of the persecution we endure in Bolton. But do people go there regularly, like once a week or more, from Bolton to the Trafford Centre?

If Bolton becomes another clone town, people won't bother to travel from their own towns to visit ours.

Neil Morgan

Crescent Road

Bolton