WHY cannot anyone ever have anything positive to say about the town we live in?

Over the past few weeks, many of the readers' views in the BEN have been largely negative and overtly pessimistic.

I for one am glad and feel lucky to live in Bolton. There are inevitable downsides but I don't believe any large town or city can ever be without them -- for example, traffic congestion.

The positives Bolton possesses far outweigh the negatives and the town is widely recognised as thriving and bustling, more than worthy of city status.

I am just writing to say that Bolton, especially over the last 15 years, has become increasingly industrially ambitious, commercially diverse and economically booming.

Recent developments such as Middlebrook, the Bolton Arena, the Virgin Megaplex, not to mention various retail parks, have given Bolton inhabitants thousands of job opportunities. And, of course, Bolton as a town can boast many shopping facilities that many large cities cannot.

The new Big W on Manchester Road is perfect testament to that notion. At the same time as all these new structural developments, green areas have been respectfully and proficiently preserved.

A true sense of countryside landscape has been kept with Rivington Pike and Queens and Moss Bank parks, to name but a few open green areas.

With a majestic nucleus that is the town centre encapsulated by the towering clock and, of course, a great local newspaper, maybe it is high time we start appreciating what we have got, rather than endeavouring to reach perfection which will always be unattainable.

Bolton is a hugely commendable town in all aspects and I feel proud to live here.

Birju Kotecha

(aged16)

a pupil at Hayward School

Oldstead Grove

Ferncrest

Bolton