ST HELENS should be very wary to handing autonomy to Joe Anderson and his cohort. St Helens is in quite a sorry state when compared and contrasted to the neighbouring city.

This move to become Liverpool City Region will be the death knell for the St Helens area. Education standards are plummeting in our schools and our youngsters are starved of meaningful job opportunities.

Our once great town centre has become a giant-sized hostel with very few local inhabitants housed in the three establishments. Is it any wonder people buy a save-away cheap ticket and shop in Liverpool One.

I hope the council and its leader are stronger than I believe and start to earn these extravagant expenses putting this town first.

Lawrence Jones (via www.sthelensstar.co.uk)