BOLTON Planning and Environment are to ask the residents and shoppers their views on the proposals to split Bolton Town Centre into themed districts (BEN, March 16).

What a pity they did not seek the views of the residents of Westhoughton before they allowed a third supermarket to be built here. Something the residents did not want. Nor did they want a third take-away to open in Market Street close to two others. This was also objected to by Westhoughton Town Council, but was overruled by Bolton.

It was bad planning to sell the whole of the land known as the Red Lion Football Ground to one buyer, who now has the right to say only he can build on it.

Perhaps that is the reason Morrisons nor Tesco would come to Westhoughton. Firms like these want their own choice of builder.

Alfred J Thorne

Church Street, Westhoughton

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