BOLTON West MP, Ruth Kelly today expressed delight on hearing that the much awaited remedial work on Pavilion Square has started.

As reported in the BEN, developers of the shopping centre faced council legal action over unfinished work on the site and residents in nearby streets, which back onto the shopping centre, were furious that landscaping and boundary work around the site had still not been carried out.

Ms Kelly, who intervened personally in the case after being visited at her advice surgery by residents living on Wood Street said she would be monitoring the situation closely to ensure the developers, Wm Hargreaves, stick to their promise.

"As far as I'm concerned this has taken much too long and caused immense problems for residents living in the area around Pavilion Square," said Ms Kelly.

"Local residents have been frustrated at the lack of action on the part of the developers and have had to endure unacceptable conditions as a result. "Thankfully, this news will mean that they can up this behind them and get on with living their lives."

Ruth was given the good news during a meeting last Friday with the director of planning, Ray Jefferson. During the meeting she also pledged to help resolve the wrangles involving developers at the Hoskers which has meant that roads and paths have not been completed.

She also used the meeting to discuss her evidence against opencast mining in Over Hulton.

A public inquiry into RJB Mining's plans to extract two million tonnes of coal at Cutacre Tip on the Over Hulton, Little Hulton and Atherton border kicked off on Monday in Bolton's Festival Hall.