BOLTON councillors have given the thumbs down to re-siting the town centre charity canopy as part of a proposed facelift for the Town Hall square.

The re-siting of the popular charity canopy is one of several proposals for Victoria Square, which also includes moving the fountains, repairing the paving stones, creating a new flower bed and the planting of tree hedges.

The refurbishment plan will be financed by council cash matched by money from grants from Europe.

Most councillors agree the town hall square needs upgrading but some members are unhappy about the plans to move the canopy, used by dozens of charities in the town to raise funds by holding collections and sales.

Cllr Prentice Howarth commented: "I think re-siting the canopy would be a bad move. The canopy was donated to us by Marks and Spencer and I think at the very least we should consult them before anything is done.

"My own personal opinion is that it should stay where it is and we as a planning committee should not be moving it."

Cllr John Handscomb added: "The town hall square certainly needs refurbishment because it has passed its sell-by date. We have a valuable town centre and one thing I want to ensure is that it does not lose any space, because that is very important. "If the canopy is going to be moved it should remain in the town centre, possibly to Oxford Street. One thing I would like to see is wrought iron railings in front of the Town Hall which I think would set it off nicely."

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