IN December, 2001, I had the pleasure of visiting the delightful Cotswold town of Broadway.

It is a pleasant place with a number of attractive shops and welcomes numerous foreign and British visitors. What was particularly impressive was their car park -- costing 20p per hour, 40p for two hours. The car park was clean and tidy. There were spotless toilets, with an attendant. The tarmac surface was level with parking places clearly marked in white paint.

When this is contrasted with our large car park in Bolton opposite Whitakers store, you are in for a rude shock! Cost £1 per hour, £1.90 for two hours -- a very awkward figure for change. The car park conditions are dirty and untidy, with poor markings. When the car park is full, there are many spaces which are very awkward and inaccessible. It is easy to get your car scratched or bumped due to the steep gradient. When it is icy or snow has fallen, little or no effort is made to put sand or salt around the pay meters, of which there are only two serving a very large area.

Our local authority has traffic wardens who pounce should you be a few minutes late. The policy of the local authority seems to be to get as much money as possible out of the public, thus discouraging visitors and shoppers from coming to the town centre. This is a negative policy.

I have lived in Bolton for more than 60 years and am fiercely proud of the town and of Bolton Wanderers. Sadly, I am ashamed of the poor and expensive car parking facilities, our very poor road repair programme and the many empty, desolate and dilapidated shops in the town centre. It is hardly surprising that we failed in our recent bid for city status.

It would appear that we are in desperate need of young blood and positive and wise leadership to revive the appearance of the town centre, which is a disgrace. I hope that pressure is soon brought on the local authority to create a new and attractive place in which we can be justly proud to be Boltonians.

John Kohorn

Foxholes Road

Horwich, Bolton