Vandalism of Market Hall is beyond forgiveness

9:55am Wednesday 24th January 2007

MR Roscoe, in his letter ("Shame on council for taking our Market Hall", January 17), rightly criticises councillors for insisting that the Market Hall small traders be moved out.

It is an act that is contrary to public opinion and can only be described as "municipal vandalism".

In the same week that this important element of local heritage was closed, it was announced by the council that £1.6m of public money was to be spent on restoring the Little Bolton area, including the mothballed and redundant Little Bolton Town Hall - a building difficult to get at, surrounded by busy inner urban roads with heavy traffic flows. You couldn't make up this lack of joined-up municipal thinking - exactly the same way they came up with the logo "looking after the Bolton family" when at the same time councillors were absolutely determined to end the livelihoods of several dozen small traders in the Market Hall.

It really is beyond forgiveness.

Simon Pearce, Bromley Cross, Bolton