COUNCILLOR Carl Dennis does not speak for all of the Farnworth councillors when he offers a qualified welcome to the proposal to develop a drive-through McDonalds in the centre of Farnworth (BEN: February 1, 2002).

Rumours of this proposal have been circulating for weeks now, and, if the people who have spoken to me are anything to go by, the majority of public opinion supports the view of existing town centre traders like Joan Salter. In truth, there are more than enough hot food outlets in central Farnworth, and another, however good, would contribute nothing whatever to the economic viability of Farnworth as a shopping centre.

Given existing pressures on available car parking, I cannot see that things would be made any easier by the proposal now being mooted. And unless I receive clear and unambiguous support for the venture from the shopping public, I will not be supporting it.

Peter Johnston (Cllr)

Kendal Road

Bolton