YOUR front-page article earlier this week referred to the Town Centre Partnership's move to alter retail trading hours. I would like to clarify the Partnership's position and its role in the development of the town centre. The survey currently being conducted is part of the wider consideration of trading conditions in the town centre. Our role is to gather information on both current and predicted trends and pass these on to all those organisations which have a stake in the future prosperity of the town centre. The Partnership cannot and would not direct stores to amend their opening hours. This decision would be made on a purely commercial basis by the companies involved.

Having made this point, the Partnership obviously welcomes widening the debate about the future of Bolton town centre. It is imperative that the town centre adapts to cater for changes in lifestyle and provides the type of offer that will attract people to shop, live, work and visit the heart of Bolton.

Karen Wheeldon

Town Centre Manager

Bolton Town Centre Partnership

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.