TRADERS at Bolton's Market Hall are taking seriously the expected fierce competition from the huge retail complex at the Trafford Centre.

Stallholders and their staff gave up their own time to attend weekly nightly classes on how to make shoppers more welcome. That is most commendable and we applaud it. It is important that when the Dumplington complex opens people who shop in Bolton stay loyal to our traders. It is no good burying our heads in the sand. Shoppers are going to visit Dumplington, if only out of curiosity. But we want to ensure they come back to Bolton.

Part of Bolton's attraction is the natural friendliness of its traders. While we welcome any new ideas about keeping the customer satisfied, we don't want Bolton to lose its essential character and charm. That is our strength and no amount of training must change that.

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