I AM amazed at some of the negative and churlish comments made by some readers about the new fountain and sculpture in the centre of Prestwich.

Do they want to live in an area devoid of any quality in its urban environment and do they not appreciate good quality contemporary design and high quality materials? Well I do and so do many other people, including lots of children who I have seen looking, sitting or playing in what is an attractive and important open space for Prestwich.

Rather than attacking one of the more positive things the council has done for Prestwich, critics should perhaps focus more on what needs to be done to the rest of the Longfield Centre, which is looking extremely tatty and put pressure on the council to improve the way it deals with new development. There are numerous examples of poor quality new development, and appalling alterations to existing buildings (particularly shop fronts) in Prestwich and elsewhere which would fill this paper twice over.

G. BOYLE (Mrs),

The Coppice,

Prestwich.