YOUR article "Taking pride in our town" prompted me to self-review some of my feelings about Bolton.

I was born in Bolton in 1942 and lived in the town until 1976 since when I have re-visited on several occasions, the most recent time being in early spring, 2003. I am very proud to be a Boltonian and forever will be grateful of my heritage.

Whenever I visit Bolton, I naturally look up family and friends, but the joy of being with loved ones again probably influences my impression of the town. My tendency is to visit the parts of Bolton where I grew up and enjoyed my youth. And this often is a disappointment partly due to expecting everything to be as it was when I was young in that environment.

On the positive side, there have been great strides made in improving Bolton over the last decades. Thanks to the Clean Air Act, I can now stand on Winter Hill and see North Wales - never mind Manchester! When I was young there was a brown cloud over the whole of the town. In terms of communications, the motorway system surrounding Bolton is a tremendous network enabling residents to drive, in a relatively short time, to all the major areas of the UK.

On the negative side there are some problems. In many areas of Bolton, in particular the town centre, my genuine impression is that the area is "down and out". Moss Bank Park epitomises my reactions. Apart from the sterling work of the volunteers, who spend hours renovating areas, the general impression was one of being a "run down has-been". I would tear down the dilapidated pavilion and tennis courts - they are an eyesore. The town centre, apart from Victoria Square, seems to have been deliberately run down! My first impression of Moor Lane Bus Station is that it is a muggers' paradise. I walked through it at six o'clock one morning and did not feel safe! Bradshawgate was disgraceful, as was Newport Street and much of Deansgate. Possibly the writing is on the wall and, increasingly, Bolton will suffer from "inner-city" problems.

But enough of the melancholy! Bolton has guts and will thrive! Despite losing all the cotton spinning industry as well as the traditional coal mining industry, Bolton has the nous to grow and prosper. Good luck from a grateful ex-Boltonian.

Peter Inch

Lexington

Kentucky

USA