A HERE we go again!

A town centre trader tells us that Bolton is in danger of becoming a "customer free zone" due to parking restrictions, while a spokesman for the town centre replies that things are getting better.

Has there ever been a time when this thorny problem has not existed?

Lowering parking fees and/or lifting the time restrictions will, so the experts say, simply lead to all of the car parking spaces being taken up by town centre workers. This will not help to attract any more shoppers than the current parking rules do today.

As usual the truth probably lies somewhere between the two opposing views. But how to resolve this difficulty?

We do not profess to know the answer ourselves and, perhaps more worryingly, we are not sure if there is a magical formula which satisfies everyone's personal needs and desires.

So what do BEN readers think is the answer?

Why not let us know what YOU think.

Maybe the answer is out there. Help is essential THE parents of a Turton boy claim he is not being helped enough with his dyslexia.

His school say he is receiving appropriate help, his parents say he is not.

Whatever the facts of the matter, everyone is agreed that the lad is dyslexic.

In recent years there has been a great deal of publicity about famous people who have succeeded in life despite suffering from this 'word blindness' -- comedian Brian Conley and actress Susan Hampshire to name but two.

However, for everyone that succeeds, there are many thousands of people who are simply put down as 'stupid' and who, as a result, miss out on career opportunities.

Dyslexia sufferers are not stupid, but do have a problem which can hold them back in many ways as they strive to progress through life.

We sincerely hope that this boy is able to receive the specialist help he needs, so that he can go on to become a valued member of the community.