SO we are seeing more movement on the M6Major.com development (Florida Farm North) in Haydock.

As reported in this week’s Star a developer has secured an, as yet unnamed, user to take unit one, while a US investment company is committing £40m to unit two.

St Helens needs jobs and investment if it is to re-establish itself as an economic power base in the north. However, whether the location of this development is right for the borough, time will tell.

Many residents in Haydock are understandably concerned – most people living nearby a development that is going to transform their community would be.

With the planning hurdles now cleared, it is important the developer Bericote keeps to its word by listening and supporting that community as the project progresses.

  • Dave Barrow-Yates is talking sense when he raises the issue of how the benefits of the extended car park at St Helens Junction are not being felt because key train services from St Helens to Manchester are now running from Lea Green (read here). Anyone who has commuted from the Junction will know how short it was of parking – as will the residents and business nearby who became frustrated with overcrowded street parking. So, to put the express service to Manchester to Lea Green at the same time as more parking was being created was idiotic. As our readers have said, it has simply moved the overcrowding elsewhere. From the tone of Northern Rail’s response it does seem like they’ve acknowledged the issue. Hopefully it is a problem they can resolve swiftly when new timetables are drawn up.
  • Figures showing that St Helens has the highest suicide rate in the country reinforces the Star’s reports from earlier in the summer about the scale of the problem. As we wrote back then, this is a matter that needs openness, constructive discussion and sensitivity. As a town we need to identify what can be done to reverse this trend – and where necessary challenge those in positions of power nationally to provide the necessary funding and resources to help improve mental health. The Star is keen to play a role in encouraging this and we’d like to hear from any readers affected by suicide who want to share their stories or discuss ways of tackling this distressing trend. Email andrew.kilmurray@nqnw.co.uk