QUICK DISCLAIMER: All views & OPINIONS expressed in Matt's Column are his own and the topics are that of his own choice. Comments are welcome below, however please make them relevant to the topic only.
As a young child, I used to adore nothing more than Saturday afternoons with my late grandmother. Every week we used to head into Bolton for shopping, exploring and a bite to eat. Of course as a young child my definition of heaven was that of the Early Learning Centre which remains there today. They where simply enjoyable times, times of which I shall look back with great fondness. In recent times, I don’t really commute into Bolton that often, yet this week I was unfortunate enough to find myself in Bolton town centre. For the mere hour or 2 I was there I couldn’t help but scrunch up my face to the derelict sights which were in-front of me. Abandoned shops, metal shutters and a severe lack of crowds. Albeit not a market day which I shall put down as part of the problem, however, the fact remained that at a simple glance the town centre at least seemed a shadow of its former self.
Nothing out of the norm other than an array of charity shops and cash trade in stores. A town which seemed to be crying out for some love, care and attention. Victoria Square remained glorious and at least we can give Bolton Council a pat on the back for at least having some pride of their town, the shops however were simply nothing other than abysmal. Bolton has been needing a revamp for a few years but now the desperate sights have proven to me that 2012 needs to be the year of change. Then again of course if a regeneration programme began they would probably turn it into the likes of Leeds. Blackburn have managed to turn their once traditional and decent shopping town into nothing other than a ghastly modern & tacky shadow of its former self and due to the amount of students in Bolton, I would fear the same for this dear town.
The state of the high street seems more apparent than ever recently. The anticipated Christmas rush was a drastic disappointment for the government and the outdoor chain Millets is looking likely to be the next brand to go into administration. That being said, we may indeed be on the brink of yet another recession, however, my trip to Manchester proved that their is indeed money out there as each shop was packed to the rafters with the tills flowing by the second. I shall remain hopeful and put my bad experience down to bad weather, but a grey cloud I feel shall be hanging over Bolton in terms of the centre even when winter has passed.
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