THANK goodness something has been done about Leigh's scariest junction. It's miles better.

I wonder how many drivers, like me, felt they were taking their lives in their hands every time they turned right off the by-pass into St Helens Road.

Crossing was no easy manoevre with double lines of traffic advancing at speed, the outside lane turning right hiding vehicles on the inside.

Let's hope the steps taken to alter the traffic light settings work, and that accident statistics at the town's worst blackspot do take a tumble as a result.

I always thought an island might have been better, but the new lay-out seems a good solution after my first negotiations.

There's only one problem now. Rush-hour queues are causing long tailbacks. Still you can't have everything. Safety first.

SKIVING youngsters who snub job and training offers are to have their benefits stopped for six months. Layabouts who won't co-operate currently lose four weeks money. From September if they turn down three chances under the New Deal scheme they will lose 26 weeks cash.

That will certainly help the burglary figures!

COUNCIL workmen have been busy relaying a posh, new pavement on Railway Road from Wilkinson Street towards the town centre.

It's great to see new matching cream-coloured slabs are going down, instead of us being fobbed off with cheaper tarmac.

Of course, some dirty horror has had to spoil it already.

Already there's a massive spew stain following weekend revelries - and it's not even finished.

Some sick-ening people just don't deserve nice things, and spoil them for everyone else.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.