ON Wednesday, October 31, the BEN carried an article regarding the city bid, to which the Leader of the Council replied that he wasn't upset at the fact that Bolton was very low in the betting odds.

They were keeping in with the powers that be -- sounds like back-handed practice.

In the November 1edition there was news of town centre pavement cafes, with the comment that Bolton will resemble the Grand Place in Brussels. Has the daydreaming Council overlooked the fact that the Grand Place is surrounded by ancient Flemish buildings which give that city dignity and character, plus it is famous for its carpet garden in the centre, while Bolton has several shops with "closing down" notices or otherwise boarded-up and the pavements are littered with discarded food and other rubbish? Again, are shoppers expected to make their way round tables, trolleys, unruly children, while trying to use what remaining shops are left in this dying town?

If the Leader of the Council reads this letter, will he please reply to my letter, in which I laid before him a plan to revamp Bolton and restore some of the dignity it once had, but has been lost since the Socialists took power.

Dorothy B Waters

Winifred Road

Farnworth, Bolton