IN response to the letter in the Star headed 'Comments please, Marie', I would state the following:

Newton-le-Willows became part of St Helens MBC in 1974. Formerly it had its own Urban District Council. We are aware of the problems around the car park of Haverty Precinct and a scheme to upgrade the car park is on a list with many other environmental schemes awaiting funding at this time.

Currently, refurbishment and repair work on council homes is seen as a priority for what limited funding we have. This very reason of lack of funding to finance improvements to homes and environmental schemes on estates has led the council to unanimously agree to consult the tenants on a transfer to a local housing organisation which would be able to access the necessary finances to fund the schemes and priorities of tenants.

Newton and Earlestown have been high on the agenda as part of St Helens and many millions of pounds have been spent in the area delivering many different types of schemes and local improvements for residents and visitors alike.

In recent years, St Helens Council has shown particular commitment to Newton with the Newton 21 SRB (which includes other public and private sector monies) spending more than £60 million.

This has resulted in more than 5,000 young people benefiting from projects designed to promote personal and social development, more than 60 local voluntary groups assisted, more than 600 homes improved, a new bus station, an improved railway station, pedestrianisation and improvements to roads and footways, more than 1,000 qualifications gained by local people through 16 new education and training services, improvements to commercial properties, more than 18 hectares of land improved for open space, a decontamination programme for Sankey Valley, the boys' and girls' club improved, the Earlestown Housing Renewal Programme, the Wargrave Estate modernisation and much much more.

I hope this shows the commitment of St Helens Council and the controlling Labour group to Newton-le-Willows. We have always been committed and will continue to work to bring the whole of St Helens up to the best standard that we can achieve.

MARIE E. Rimmer, leader of St Helens Council (seen above)