BOLTON'S drive to retain its "top of the shops" accolade moves up a gear this week as the town launches its strategy to remain a major shopping attraction in the region.

The town has already drawn up plans to cope with competition from major developments in the region such as the Trafford Centre in Dumplington.

Retailers, town centre property owners, Bolton Council and others who make up the Town Centre Partnership are determined that Bolton will continue to attract shoppers because of its reputation for choice and quality.

The Partnership will be unveiling its strategy document for the future at a breakfast launch on Thursday setting out a detailed programme of action plans over the next five years to 2002. There will be attempts to encourage and guide investment in business, property and infrastructure and forge closer links with funding agencies, as well as encouraging visitors to the town centre after the shops close.

Recent investment has included a new Boots store in the renamed Gates Shopping Centre, expansion of the town's Marks and Spencer store, the refurbishment of Bolton Market on Ashburner Street, and work is currently underway on a new Waterstone's book store and a shopping precinct on the old Co-op site.

Partnership chairman, Brian Lunn, district manager of Marks and Spencer, said Bolton had to act now to preserve its position against the competition.

He said: "Bolton is a great town and we have an excellent reputation as a centre of choice and quality but we have to be aware of other developments which could tempt shoppers out of town and be ready to meet and beat them.

"This is the point of having the Partnership, to plan a properly co-ordinated strategy. We have got to get our act together and co-operate in order to continue to improve and enhance the facilities available.

"It's in all our interests as business people and shoppers that Bolton should continue to be a thriving and profitable centre."

The strategy will be endorsed on behalf of Bolton Council by deputy leader, Cllr Guy Harkin. He said: "I think it's a tremendous document. We cannot be complacent and sit back and expect people to come to Bolton because they always have."

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