IN reply to the leader of the council Barrie Grunewald (Star letters, January 20) on the town centre there are many, like myself, who in the past have held positions within the council and are well aware of its working and doings.

So are many local people who are certainly not confused or misguided regarding its policies a the leader states. Blaming constantly the Trafford Centre, Liverpool and online shopping is a poor excuse – noting the numerous committees, panels, forums, overviews that have been set up for councillors to sit on you would expect them to have some ingenuity regarding that which is needed to put the town back on the map. Words like “loss of footfall” are used and retailers are “consulted”. To my mind it reads as “downfall”.

If the blinkers were taken off they would be convened with those who would gladly offer their input, the ones who have not been given the chance to speak out – the ones that are the most important to the town’s growth.

Mrs MG Chisnall (details supplied)