A GREAT proportion of motor vehicles are parked off the roads, in garages, drives or on private land so it would appear common sense to get these vehicles back to 'base' as soon as practicable and thus, off our overcrowded roads.

So, what possibly can be the principle adopted by the St Helens town planners in delaying motorists at every turn of the their wheel?

Concerning the glut of road alterations at the present time, when no alternative routes are available to frustrated motorists, is this because our authorities are now in a rush to spend surplus cash before the deadline of the financial year?

To those who consider our road planners are doing a good job, let me refer you to an item and photograph in the Star (February 9) under the heading, 'Tell Me It's a Bad Dream.' This concerned Mr David Lamb, an ambulanceman who lives in Green Leach Lane, awakened recently by workmen constructing a pedestrian traffic island in front of the driveway into his home. In response to Mr Lamb's complaint, a spokesperson for the 'planners' stated: "Planners have been out to have a look at the traffic island in question and adjustments will be made very shortly." Wouldn't you have thought that these 'planners' would have done their homework before embarking on yet another project which has helped to siphon off our funds into oblivion? We wish to know from these 'planners', what is preventing them from fully opening up Strickland Street, from Standish Street to College Street/Haresfinch Road, which would appear on the face of it, to be 'not a daunting proposition.' The council could well own much of this land in question to begin with and no demolition of property would apparently be required.

This street (Strickland Street) would result, without any doubt, in diverting a great deal of traffic from the town centre and the populated end of Standish Street to the great advantage of motorists (who pay dearly for the privilege of driving on the streets of this town) and who wish to travel to, or from Fingerpost, Parr, Sutton, Blackbrook and Haydock. The continuation of Strickland Street could also help to open up the bottom end of the Hardshaw fields recreationally.

The Good Companions Writers of St Helens (name & address supplied).

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.