BOLTON Council should not throw in the towel yet over the Sunday trading issue in the Market Hall.

It's a pity that the vast majority of stallholders have chosen to opt out of the situation. We believe if the traders have stuck together and remained open, Sunday market shopping would have been a success.

It still could be. The Council should find ways of getting the traders back on Sundays, by offering reduced rents if necessary. With the threat of Dumplington looming ever nearer, Bolton must pull out all the stops to compete. Providing a thriving Sunday market day is essential.

Traditionally, Saturday was always the busiest market day. But times have changed as have shopping habits. Shoppers will go to the Market Hall every day of the week if there is enough there to attract them.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.