THE final date for local people to give their reactions to the Local Plan for Development is noon on January 30.


I do hope everyone takes the time to add their voice.  The decisions taken now will create the future for St Helens. 


Every development on the outskirts will further suck the life out of the centre of the town.


Every huge shopping centre or business park will kill off small, home-grown businesses.


Every housing estate on the edges will lock us all into a car economy, with more pollution, noise, congestion and danger. 


Could it be that, with all the investment aimed at urban sprawl, companies think that there is no future for St Helens as a separate identity?  


We will just be an anonymous section of a vast mega-city!


This plan is driven by a Tory Government.  Some businesses or landowners will be in line to make a lot of money.  It sure won’t be the ordinary people.


Lorna Lyst, Newton-le-Willows