SHEER idleness stops me trying to count up the number of new flats (I know, I know, they are apartments) planned for the centre of Bolton.

There are those to be built where the derelict George pub is now, some on the old Gregory & Porrits site in Great Moor Street, others at the back of Moor Lane and still more at various locations around the town.

These are the latest in a series of developments of this kind that have brought people to live in the centre once more.



I cannot see that this is a bad trend although it seems to me that evening social and eating facilities are far more impressive in cities like Manchester and Leeds.

People must enjoy living in city and town centres or they would go somewhere else.

What are we to make of reports that the massive boom in central living is stalling in Manchester?

According to one account, the number of people living in the city centre has increased from 2,000 to 15,000 over the last 10 years and is scheduled to reach 25,000 by 2010.

Unfortunately the slow-down in the property boom means that increasing numbers of smart apartments are now up for sale.

Quite how this will affect Bolton is anybody's guess.

One scenario has canny Mancunians switching to cheaper property in Bolton and another involves lots of "For Sale" and "For Rent" signs on new buildings around our town.

All I know is that I am unlikely to move in - I much prefer to be in touching distance of the countryside.