SIR: I refer to the article "Bolton under attack" and the article about the speech by Mr Wilcox Wood.

The Trafford Centre designs are such that we will be going way beyond the realms of what is commonly regarded as a Shopping Centre.

The extent of the restaurants and leisure facilities all themed on different parts of the world will ensure that The Trafford Centre will become one of the country's leading tourist destinations.

Visitors will come to The Trafford Centre from all over the country.

Having attracted these visitors into the region there is then a tremendous opportunity for areas such as Bolton to capitalise on all this potential new business.

No doubt some trade will be diverted from Bolton into The Trafford Centre but we also believe that the overall "cake" will increase and if we can work together to promote Greater Manchester then there is no reason why Bolton's slice of that cake should not be bigger than it is today.

Our Company has had an active role in securing the Lowry Centre for Salford, the Imperial War Museum for Trafford and the Commonwealth Games for Manchester. The Trafford Centre itself has committed £3M plus land to ensure that the Metrolink will be extended out to Salford Quays and Eccles, and we have offered another £4M towards an extension into Trafford Park.

We think that we have demonstrated our willingness to participate on the wider front and would welcome the opportunity to work with Bolton and all the other towns in the area for the benefit of the entire region.

M G Butterworth

Managing Director

Trafford Centre

Barton Dock Road, Trafford Park

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