OVER the last few weeks, plans have emerged for the conversion of the Water Place, and the fact that the hospital, already badly planned and badly sited, will have to accept patients from Bury, in addition to its already overload from Salford, Leigh, Atherton and the Bolton area.

Concerning the hospital, considerable cash will be incurred to repair the kitchen, failing after three years, plus trouble with the water supply and action by the ancillary staff over their wages/salaries. More accommodation is planned, and, obviously more car parking spaces - the bane of everyone's life.

Now for the Water Place, the conversion of which is the craziest idea the Council has ever put forward. Please ask yourself, whoever would want to visit or stay in such a hotch-potch area as Bolton town centre?

My suggestion is that a complete re-planning is considered, with a modern state-of-the-art hospital, built in the centre where all roads from Bury, Leigh Salford and Manchester are already constructed.

All patients could be housed under one roof, instead of being pushed across the bus route between the 1911 and 1860 blocks - often hiding their faces so as not to be recognised in such degrading circumstances.

Car parking would be reduced as public transport could be used.

The present hospital site could be considered for development as a shopping complex, and the "fun centre" put in more congenial surroundings. It would perhaps give this area a more cared-for look, instead of being the poor relation of Bolton.

In a modern hospital, as against the present one built for the 21st century on 19th century foundations, expenditure could be curbed as the planning would obviate time-wasting corridors, garden walks, patient pushing, and also frayed tempers when visitors are lost. And it would be easier for the security officers among other items.

The cost would be mostly cross-accounting with a little help from the Government.

Finally, the adoption of such a plan will provide better facilities for tax and council charge payers, and provide those much sought-after jobs for the area.

Dorothy B Waters

Winnifred Road, Farnworth

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