WELCOME to Bolton! See the never-ending digging up of the streets, the ongoing pedestrianisation without pedestrians, the new mosaic in Deansgate as the businesses close around you.

Bolton, where they don’t grit or sweep the streets unless it’s within spitting distance of the Town Hall; where the street lights are now far above the pavements and the illumination has been reduced - take your torch.

As you head back to the railway station, you’ll see from the clock that Bolton time is always 5.10. Finally back on the train as you head west towards Blackpool note all the occupants of Heaton Cemetery spinning in their graves at what the powers that be have done to our once fine town.

CONCERNED

So Bolton Council has a ‘masterplan’ for our once flourishing town centre.

If building flats for students is their plan they’d win any prize hands down!

In the meantime, massive business taxes and Covid, of course, have put paid to all the stores needed by the majority of the population - C&A, Whittakers, Littlewoods, Debenhams, Whitehead’s, British Home Stores and M&S - all gone!

I hope they are proud of themselves.

In the meantime, people with wheelchairs and mobility aids, and prams who don’t drive must somehow get on a bus to Bury, Chorley or the Trafford Centre. Even some of the local supermarkets are not easy to reach.

The local elections will be very interesting as the electorate will have their say on the performance of this council.

DOREEN HEALEY