WITH reference to the article in Star about the former Parkside site off Winwick Road, Newton-le-Willows.

If the councillors of St Helens think its such a fantastic idea, as Seve Gomez-Aspron spouted, then I would suggest that the freight terminal be sited at the old coal mining site in St Helens where the Dream statue is sited would be ideal. It is right near the M62 motorway and Liverpool/Manchester links.

When there is a hold up on the M6 motorway, either northbound or southbound, Newton-le-Willows is completely at a standstill with gridlock on Ashton Road, High Street, and Winwick Rd.

Even the back roads are affected  due to the volume of traffic streaming off the motorway trying to get on quicker.

It can happen two to three times a week, so can you imagine what it would be like with the rail terminal in place.

I agree that the site needs to be used for something, even a small industrial estate with small separate industries which would not encroach on any Green Belt land and with a limited amount of extra traffic.

I have lived in Newton-le-Willows all my life and seen it expand from a small village to what I now call a commuter town after losing its commercial engineering factories.

With all the new housing going up and new people moving into the area who already have employment in the surrounding areas it is going to be a nightmare just coming and going.

As for the employment side of the argument, most of the people who worked at the colliery are now dead or retired and the people left of working age are now employed in surrounding towns such as Warrington, St Helens and Liverpool.

Peter Shawcross