IN reply to Jennifier Yates letter of November 4, I am surprised that she feels Mr Nicklin's comments, about the lack of action in Urmston town centre are unjustified.

Although I appreciate the hard work Central Urmston Partnership (CUP) are doing to raise issues relating to improving the centre, I am afraid they are working with their hands tied.

Urmston centre requires serious investment from the Council who either have no more funds to improve the centre or no inclination or both.

I accept £250,000 has been spent refurbishing the precinct but with the empty shops and traders goods spilling out onto the footpaths this investment has had little impact.

The only visible improvements to the centre are the victorian railings at Flixton Road.

Perhaps Trafford council could visit places like Wilmslow, Knutsford, Lymm to name a few to see how other councils look after their town centres. These town centres regularly win best kept town of the year award.

I can only see this centre deteriorating further and further. I have attended several of the CUP meetings that Mrs Yates challenges Mr Nicklin to attend, but I became very disillusioned with them.

The only positive side to all this is that at least the people of Urmston are talking. The problem is no one appears to be listening.

M Jairath, (Lubecks)

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.