I FELT compelled to write in response to the letter submitted by "Ex-Radcliffe Market Trader" (January 23) regarding Radcliffe Market Hall.

I can only applaud him/her for daring to voice an opinion regarding Radcliffe, and say that I empathise wholeheartedly. I hope that more members of the public will do the same and that Bury Council will take note, because Radcliffe is extremely neglected in comparison to other parts of the borough.

What was once a busy, friendly and thriving place is now a 21st century "frontier town" and the market hall is only part of a much wider problem.

There were rumours that Radcliffe was to undergo some kind of regeneration, to attract more businesses, and the pedestrianisation of the town centre even seemed to be a good idea at the time; a real effort by the council to improve its appearance. However, in conjunction with the useless by-pass and the building of the new Asda store, it has only helped to turn Radcliffe into a ghost town, where vehicles have to negotiate a ridiculous one-way system just to get from one side of the centre to the other.

Radcliffe has a good rail-tram link, a large and busy bus station and a well-defined centre, so why has it become so dilapidated and such a focus for crime? Probably for streamlining and efficiency.

Firstly, Radcliffe lost its power to self-govern when it came under the "protective" mantle of Bury Metropolitan Borough Council and. secondly, it lost its full-time police force and station, to be replaced by a part-time complaints and enquiries counter!

The main post office was relocated from a prominent and accessible building to a "shop" in a cobbled back street! This has got to be one of the most ludicrous decisions ever made. The fact that it was ram-raided within months of opening is surely testament to that!

What we now have is a hotch-potch of buildings. Many are in a bad state of repair and unsuited to the businesses within them, whilst struggling small businesses try to keep the town alive.

It is sad that a town as well-known, and as large, as Radcliffe should have gained such an unenviable reputation.

If anyone took the time to notice the buildings in the centre, they would see some fantastic architecture, evidence of a prosperous bygone age when Radcliffe was a popular and industrious town; the old Radcliffe Times office, the Boars Head hotel, the Parish Church, the civic hall, the old town hall, various former banks and offices, all built from stone and, yes, even the market hall itself. However, watch out for the ever-present pigeons who make more use of the bandstand than any band ever has!

Enough is enough. You can't stop change and progress, but you can stop the rot! Unless the council takes a positive stance and commits itself thoroughly to helping change Radcliffe for the better, socially and physically, then I'm afraid it will become just another lost cause.

Oh, by the way, did I mention that I am only 37?

A. W. HINGER