AS a key member of the campaign to halt the proposed relocation of Bury Market, I believe congratulations are due to all parties involved.

These include the political opposition parties, the market traders, and the general public and customers of Bury Market for their overwhelming support. I must also include the local authority in my congratulations.

The council approved the Westfield scheme in principle and also the Thornfield scheme, and for the sake of its future prosperity the council did not want to lose any of the proposed investment for Bury.

They eventually satisfied Westfield, Thornfield, opposition parties, the public who wants a new department store, cinema and shops, and the market traders. Who said you can't please everybody? This was quite an achievement by the council.

I am not so naive as to believe the market traders did a "David and Goliath" on Westfield. Undoubtedly the traders had some influence but I firmly believe there were stronger influencing factors that persuaded Westfield to do a U-turn.

After all, it was Westfield who stated on numerous occasions: "If the market does not relocate the proposals will not go ahead, and the investment will not happen". It would be intriguing to know what changed their minds.

In reply to "Fairplay" (Letters, October 8) I do not believe for one minute that the market traders have shot themselves in the foot.

The Westfield/Thornfield development will be running a shopping bus from new to existing developments and Westfield will want to adequately service both of its retail investments in Bury and provide connecting walk-through.

Bury Market is professionally promoted with an estimated 400 coaches visiting each year. According to well-documented footfall, 250,000 people per week visit Bury Market.

I think this determines what is the main retail attraction in Bury.

There is only one Bury Market and we, the traders, maintain it is in the best trading position and it will remain so. I do not think for one minute that the market will be left "distinctly peripheral", as "Fairplay" suggests. Distinct and original, yes. No visiting shopper will miss out on Bury Market.

Due to the anticipated increase in shoppers, increased car parking is essential. Double the number of shoppers should mean double available car parking spaces.

There used to be a petrol station at the entrance to the market, and this disused site has been an eyesore for five years. The land -- belonging to Westfield -- should be given to Bury Council and used as a drop-off point for taxis and the ever-increasing number of coaches bringing customers into Bury.

The traders of Bury Market also hope that "people power" can secure the future of the essential, and very successful, special care baby unit at Fairfield General Hospital. Such an important facility should not even be under consideration for down-grading or "redundancy".

A. J. HILL,

market trader.