SIR: Once again Mr Salem is commenting on the smells emanating from Townleys Farm. While acknowledging his concern for his patients, if the residents of the Bradford Road/Plodder Lane area had only the farm smells to contend with life would be pleasant. But, unfortunately, the planners of the 'modern' General Hospital failed in their duty to consult the public before going ahead with the patching up of the old Townleys Hospital and Fishpool Institution (with its own pig unit), built from 1857 to circa 1900.

The plan was presented as a fait accompli and, consequently, all medical facilities for the town are on a site undermined by old mineral workings and a branch of the Bridgewater Canal, all abandoned and forming a source of future subsidence.

In addition, the centrepiece of this complex is the Clinical Waste Incinerator which, from time to time, emits smells and fumes far more distasteful than slurry from the farm.

If the Bolton Royal Infirmary, built in the middle of the period of the other two units, had been extended, a lot of this inconvenience would have been avoided. And I suggest the building is held in reserve by the NHS until the teething troubles of the new state-of-the-art hospital have been well and truly tested - one fault being the proximity of the farm.

However, may I suggest that the people of Bolton be invited to put forward their suggestions for the Bolton Royal, bearing in mind that hospitals are now being refurbished under the Private Investment Scheme and leased back to the NHS. After being ignored in the initial stages, let the people speak before it is too late. They are the very disillusioned population who have to travel the extra miles to the 'modern' hospital and meet the additional costs therefor.

D Waters,

Winifred Road,

Farnworth, Bolton.

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