IT'S easy to forget, when you walk through the Precinct these days, that until the 1970s traffic used to run through the square.

This picture goes further back, though, to October, 1964 when, as you can see, the original fountains were being built, and, said the caption from the time, "the first new tree" was being planted. A couple of years ago, of course, these fountains were demolished, and others built nearer to the Town Hall. You may not be able to read the notice on the Town Hall steps - it was the result of the East Ward in the General Election, and reads: Howarth 21,937, Taylor 18,785, Cooper 6,873. The Howarth named was, of course, Bob Howarth (Labour), now leader of Bolton Council, the Taylor was Edwin Taylor (Conservative), and the Cooper was Alan Cooper (Liberal).