SO we are to be asked what makes Bolton special, and whether we want Bolton to become a clone town.

I thought we had already made it clear, through a petition of more than 80,000 signatures, that there was a will to keep the small, individually-owned shops of the Market Hall, and that there was no desire to replace most of them with multiples, however trendy they may be.

A huge number of people felt strongly enough to sign protests and write letters about Agora's proposal for a shopping mall in the Market Hall, their views were ignored and unpopular development is to go ahead.

Why should we now spend £40,000 to discover what is quite obvious: that Bolton people are proud of their architectural and business heritage, and do not want to be swamped by national chain stores.

They would much prefer to see more small, individual businesses bringing colour and character to the town centre, and means should be found to encourage them, draw more in, not destroy them.

If the consultation exercise should discover that this is how people feel, how likely is it that recommendations will be taken up? At the moment, money, not principle, appears to be controlling the agenda, and, whatever the result, I suspect we are likely to become a clone town anyway.

Shirley Aldred

Kinloch Drive

Heaton