SIR: I read your report (BEN October 17) about the further delay in the Westhoughton supermarket saga.

People of this town are concerned at the apathy shown at the effort to bring a decent thriving shopping area to us. More than once have I been told that 'we ought to get up a petition' and no wonder when you can't buy a gent's suit at any shop in town.

When you see these facilities spreading out in neighbouring towns such as Farnworth, Horwich, Atherton and Hindley, it seems hard to believe that we cannot attract merchants here with a population reaching 30,000.

Reflecting back to the supermarket and its site, surely if we allow any contractor to clear a site etc without a short time limit for the building, we might be standing in the way of perhaps a more eager builder.

We the people of Westhoughton feel that we have waited long enough. If any of the councillors had waited as long for an electrician or a plumber, he would be considered either patient or potty.

Blackpool have the right idea when last year they appointed a Town Centre Manager to stem flagging trade. That is what we want here in Westhoughton backed up by a Town Centre Forum of traders and town councillors.

At one time this town was referred to as 'God's little acre'. Now sadly we feel that we are 'the town that God forgot'

.

E Ford, Esther Fold, Westhoughton

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