LIKE many other people, I was glad to receive a copy of The Bolton News on June 25, which featured a story about the new traffic plan for Bolton.

A few lines read and disappointment set in as I realised the £82 million would be spent simply by giving the old pot another stir.

What should be exciting times for Bolton only appears to be leading us into chaos, with a scheme which, when completed, will be about 25 to 30 years out of date.

Traffic would simply travel around roads with a struggle, but in one direction. Plenty of new road signs and five new car parks would be constructed in the same places as the existing ones.

If Bolton is to prepare for the future, the new car parks should be provided at least another half-a-mile further away from the town than the present car parks and an efficient and attractive "park and ride" scheme introduced.

Several routes currently converge in a small circumference around the town centre. Under the new proposals that would remain the same, causing a congestion problem. All the proposals will do is change the flow of traffic to one direction, with some vehicles travelling three-quarters of the inner ring road, instead of a quarter of the length, in the opposite direction, which will just compact the flow.

Many people will remember the initial opening of Topp Way as a one-way road, which caused chaos.

Access to the inner part of the town should be left to disabled motorists, taxis, bicycles and "park and ride" buses, which could reach the heart of the shopping and business areas. I urge councillors to visit places like York and Oxford and other satisfactory systems, before agreeing a way forward.

Let's cater for the next 50 years and have a town to be proud of and one that doesn't frighten people away.

Gordon J Smethurst, Albert Road West, Bolton