IT was interesting to see the picture of St George's Road as it was in 1948 (Frank Elson's article).

I would like to point out that although the spire has gone from what was then the St George's Road Congregational Church, the church itself (now St Andrew and St George United Reformed Church) is far more than merely "shops and offices".

Yes, it does provide accommodation for a number of organisations, but this provision is under-girded by the worshipping fellowship of the church itself.

The congregation is committed to ministering to the town centre. It is an active participant member of Christians Together in Bolton town centre, and has been instrumental in establishing the Town Centre Chaplaincy.

On another subject - the proposed one-way system around the town centre may turn out to be a good thing in the long run. However, I wonder if any serious thought has been given to the issues of fuel use and of pollution.

If drivers are using longer routes, I imagine that the thousands of cars driving around town each day will have some impact on these matters.

When Newport Street was closed (except for buses and taxis) a few years ago, and I drove regularly from Cheadle Square to Bradford Road, the detour around Great Moor Street, Bradshawgate and Trinity Street was frustratingly tedious.

I do hope that conservation of a limited resource (oil) is remembered in the planning.

Mrs Laura Baron, Greenhill Avenue, Farnworth