THE pedestrianisation of Market Street is yet another ill-conceived, half-cock council pan foisted upon us.

When is this council ever going to ask residents and shoppers in Bury centre what they want, and when are we going to get a council that refrains from wasting money on silly schemes that benefit no one and inconvenience everyone?

I can only suppose that the reason the council is forcing this plan upon us is something to do with money.

Perhaps the pedestrianisation will allow the council to increase business rates for shopkeepers, or perhaps the planning department has come to some arrangement with the owners of the abysmal fair that haunts Kay Gardens and The Rock from time to time to expand their pitch.

Bolton Street traders have good reason to think the scheme stupid as, by my estimation, traffic on Bolton Street will easily double. The partial closure planned will prevent motorists getting to banks on The Rock during the day and will still not create a safe area for pedestrians because buses, taxis and disabled motorists will continue to have access.

What will be the next brilliant suggestion from this daft council? How about crazy paving the River Irwell; or painting giant black pudding symbols on the M66 around Junction Two to advertise Bury's heritage; or best idea of all, let's paint the town hall white to camouflage the white elephants that abound there.

BURY RESIDENT