THE impudent suggestion mooted in Town Hall circles regarding budget cuts in cleansing exemplifies the negative thinking in administrative circles hereabouts and confirms one's belief that Bolton is now a second-class town.

Second-class? When you consider how low our hospital has sunk in performance tables for example, or the lack of ambition at the Reebok, (125 years of never having won the Premier Division title, the low police response to petty crime and vandalism which is rife, wrecking sprees in bus shelters, phone booths and schools) perhaps second-class is putting it too high.

Instead of thinking cuts, why not fund the budget by going all out on litter fines, for example?

If an army of such wardens were to be half the size of those targeting parking motorists, it would comfortably do the business. Or is that too much of a problem for our guardians and officials? One fears the response.

City status? Don't make me laugh!

More cuts? I'm a ratepayer, get me out of here!

R J Wild

Bolton