Once more we're seeing developers trying to erase all semblance of individuality and identity from Bolton's town centre.

On the whole, I see nothing wrong with the planned development outlined in the Bolton Evening News recently, on land which is currently mostly car parks.

But why does it have to involve the demolition of a handsome and historic section of Deansgate?

These buildings are part of Bolton's heritage, and give the town substance and character something we're fast losing in the race towards the sort of bland uniformity that can be found on every High Street in the country.

One of the oldest buildings in that section houses Sweetens, a very popular, locally-based bookshop. If we lose it, Bolton will be left with only one bookshop Waterstones, a major national chain.

I would suggest that it is part of the remit of the planning department to encourage local small businesses and enterprises such as Sweetens, not to close them down at the behest of big business.

We have already seen this happen with the Market Hall. If it happens again on Deansgate, Bolton will be well on the way to having nothing left to distinguish it from any other town.

On the same block is the West End Newsagents.

As long ago as 1887, the man who ran this shop was the famous trade union pioneer Tom Mann, founder of the Transport and General Workers Union. He'd come to Bolton to support an engineering strike and stayed for a year.

Why can't the application be allowed to go ahead, with the exception of the Deansgate section?

Bolton Council should be making more of the town's rich culture and history, not destroying it in the name of some spurious notion of modernisation.

Neil Duffield

Gorses Mount

Darcy Lever

Bolton