MY family and I sat and read your report of the proposed new road in last Saturday's Bolton Evening News.

What a waste of money!

Most of the traffic which used to use Knowsley Street and St George's Road has been re-routed round the town to ease the congestion in those areas and free the roads for buses. What can possibly be gained by building a parallel road and precincting Knowsley Street? How will building the new road bring more shoppers into town?

The council has no money to keep The Water Place open -- the last leisure facility in the town centre -- but can find the money to build a new road!

Shoppers are not visiting the town centre because they can go elsewhere with free parking and places for the children while mums are shopping. In contrast, shops in the town centre are closing because of the high cost of rents and rates. Our town will soon be full of charity shops, building societies and pubs. I am amazed there has been no correspondence regarding this issue, other people must have read the report with the same disbelief as we did.

Mrs L Worsley

Crossdale Road

Breightmet, Bolton