“LET’S just have a ‘quick’ ride to St Helens” we would say. 


Well, I’m afraid there’s no chance of that anymore and that’s even before all the green belt has been taken up with housing and industrial buildings, adding to current traffic problems. 


What was a 10-minute car ride into St Helens from Haydock, can now take 30 minutes due to congestion along Stanley Bank Way and Blackbrook Road.

And the return journey isn’t much better along Park Road, Clipsley Lane and Church Road.


Yet there’s no reason for it.

Congestion is more regular because the traffic signals along what is known as the Blackbrook corridor are not communicating correctly with each other. 


Part of the issue is the traffic lights that allow vehicles out from the car wash at the junction of Blackbrook Road and Boardmans Lane are changing in sequence and not on demand, therefore, during every sequence vehicles are at a standstill unnecessarily.


It would appear that road users now see this congestion as the ‘norm’ and unless the council receive complaints, it will remain as such. 


Therefore, if you’re unhappy, you need to write in and complain to the Traffic and Road Safety Department of the council.


With regards to the return journey, traffic on Park Road is regularly queuing as far back as Merton Bank Road outside peak time and the traffic along Church Road, Haydock can be queuing from Piele Road as far back as Grange Valley, again outside peak time.


If all applications for housing and industrial premises are approved, this situation is only going to get worse, with main roads around Blackbrook. Haydock is in danger becoming like a car park and Haydock one huge industrial estate.


P Costello, Haydock