HOW pleasing to read that Mr Gubay has decided not to proceed with his plans for Whitefield town centre. It came as a great relief to myself and many others to know that this has happened before he achieved his ambition to become the town centre's new "owner".

Had Mr Gubay got his way, we may have been left with an even bigger slum then the one we already have and any prospective investor could have been held to ransom until Mr Gubay got his own way.

We must not lose sight of what this man has done to our shopping centre in his attempt to achieve his aims.

He came like a thief in the night and bulldozed most of Elms shopping precinct. He has created a massive eyesore fronting onto the main arterial route from Manchester to Bury, as well as creating a potential death trap for children and teenagers attracted to this bomb site like magnets.

What the people of Whitefield want to see now is our council and local MP serving Mr Gubay with a Compulsory Purchase Order to the value of the site as it stands, and not going cap in hand asking or begging Mr Gubay to reconsider.

This man has shown what he is capable of. Thankfully for us he did so before he could do any more damage. Let us hope this is goodbye to Mr Gubay and good riddance.

BRIAN ATTREE