THE idea of changing the name of Bolton to Bolton-le-Moors is founded on nostalgia for the past.

When mothers with five or six children holding on to her skirts would happily "donkey stone" her front steps while chatting to her neighbour in similar circumstances.

Bolton was built on coal and cotton. These industries had appalling working conditions, grime and dust being part of the environment. Children worked part-time, poverty was rife, disease rampant. At that time, Bolton moors could not be seen, shrouded in fog from what historians now call "those majestic chimneys".

Looking back impedes going forward. The question is not what we call our town, but that of the people who live there. Bolton is certainly cosmopolitan, diverse in many aspects. I walk around my piece of Bolton (Deane). Small terraced houses, various housing estates, homes well kept, gardens neat and tidy, others I have assumed eat fish and chips in bed and throw the empties through the window.

In retrospect, in the old days the law was respected, now we read nightly in the Bolton Evening News of mayhem, muggings, burglary, drugs, etc.

I am sure our councillors understand the importance of this question and will work, so we may call our town "Safe Bolton".

John S L Evans

Howard Avenue, Deane