I HAVE been a resident of Stretford for 54 years.

When I first arrived in Stretford, I thought, what a lovely town – nice little walkways, a couple of cafes, shops (a good variety of them).

We had Pennington's, Burton's, Cadman’s School of Dancing, a photography shop and various others, two good cinemas, The Talbot pub and The Angel pub – a town to be proud of.

Then, Trafford Council came along and changed things.

What we are left with now is a shopping mall that is losing shops every week – is the answer to this high rents or long tenancy?

I do not know that answer to this but if we keep losing shops at the rate we are at now, there will soon be very few left.

After all this time, Trafford Council is telling us that it is going to improve the mall.

I have seen Sale, Urmston and Altrincham have improvements over the years and the finished job looks good.

From what I have read, I cannot see the council doing anything that will impress the residents of Stretford – a coat of paint, a few garden plants here and there, Stretford has been cut off from all sides by main roads.

Sometimes, I ask where are all of our rates are going?

I have asked myself time and time again if I should I send a letter to the paper. Who cares of I do?

The councillors should hang their heads in shame for what they have done to what was a lovely town.

Peter A Kelly, Stretford