I AM writing this letter in an effort to redress the imbalance of recent negative comments made about athletics in our area.

It has long been the case of our sport relying on the unpaid time and effort made by the same groups of willing volunteers to coach and organise events for our athletes to participate in, and I include in this the constant strive for the improvement of facilities.

It is acknowledged that Bolton track at Leverhulme Park is in a sorry state of repair, vandalised and neglected, despite the best efforts of Bolton United Harriers, whose constant fight for upgrading via Local Authority or Lottery funding etc appears to have fallen on deaf ears.

This must be contrasted with the state of the art facilities now available at Bolton Arena, with constant involvement by Horwich RMI Harriers & AC from day one over a four year period, working in partnership with all the relevant parties. This shows that persistent and determined effort does and can produce results.

The facilities at Bolton Arena are now among the best in the country for a variety of sports, and cater for all on a pay and play basis.

It is not a private club but available to everyone in the community and surrounding areas, and while it is now the home base of Horwich RMI Harriers & AC it is not exclusively for their use, as suggested in B Elsby's letter (BEN, July 7). We should respect history, for it has its place, at the same time move forward with projects such as Bolton Arena.

If Neil Bonnar it B Elsby need any proof of what the future holds for local athletics then may I invite them down to the athletics track on one of our many training nights, to witness the joy on the faces of athletes from the most junior at eight years of age to the more seasoned veterans, who are now able to train on an excellent facility after managing 77 years without one.

Now that's what I call progress!

Keith F Makin

Vice Chairman

Horwich RMI Harriers

Chilgrove Avenue

Blackrod