WITH regards to the letters page on February 13, I always thought that these columns were for local topics and not national events.

There was a lot of complaint recently about chewing gum, which is all over Bolton's pavements and it really looks messy and disgusting and needs to be cleaned up. I know it is going to cost money to do this and I think that the council should charge extra rates on all the shops that sell the stuff to help pay for the job of cleaning it all up.

Perhaps if the charge was high enough, and their profit margins were too low, they would stop selling it, then the place would be cleaner, or would that be to much to hope for?

When I was at school we had to wrap our spent chewing in the wrapping it came in and put in the bin. There are plenty litter bins on the square for people to use.

Sticky Shoes

Mr L Flanagan

Bar Lane

Astley Bridge, Bolton