NOW that the vast scale of the shopping centre proposed for Dumplington, off the M63, has been unveiled, Bolton must prepare to fight a battle royal for shoppers' hearts and souls.

The whys and wherefores of the vast "shopping city", just 20 minutes down the motorway, have to be be put behind us. Everyone with a stake in Bolton's prosperity must pull together for the future.

During the 80s, the council worked wonders transforming the town into one of the finest shopping centres in the North. However, there can be no resting on laurels achieved ten years ago.

If the loyalty of shoppers from all over the North-west is to be maintained, plans must be brought forward so that Bolton becomes an impregnable retailing fortress by the time Dumplington starts trading before Christmas, 1998.

The giant development, to be called the Trafford Centre, will be built on a 200-acre site south of the Manchester Ship Canal and boast 10,000 free car parking spaces.

Among a number of items the council should urgently review its own car parking policies which are infuriating motorists by imposing charges with Jobsworth-like regulations in almost every nook and cranny.

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