SIR: In view of the publicity you have recently given to the proposed conversion of the former Bromley Cross clinic to an Indian restaurant, I feel that you may be interested in part of a letter I sent to Cllr Don Eastwood, Education Committee Chairman.

"It was, of course, inevitable that the current discussion of the above project would be clouded by the racist issue. Further to that is the view held, I suspect mainly by people who do not live in this area, that there is no reason why there should not be a restaurant on this site. What matters is that it would be within the precincts of a school, which is undesirable anywhere. A restaurant, Indian or otherwise, would be out of place on the site in question, as would a DIY store, a baker's, a chip shop, or a newsagent's. Traffic problems apart, the former clinic is part of a civic complex, and, particularly in view of the desperate need of the school for more buildings, should become an integral part of the school: any commercial establishment would stand out like a sore thumb.

As a Bromley Cross resident, I shall be accused of prejudice - justifiably. But I have tried to think objectively, and still remain convinced that the needs of the school are paramount.

May I, therefore, urge you, Sir, to do your utmost to persuade your Committee to reject this outrageous proposal in the interests of residents in general and our schoolchildren in particular.

R R Finch

(Former Teacher at

Turton High School)

Hillside Avenue, Bromley Cross, Bolton

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