It's total gridlock - the roads are like a car park

It wont be long before the traffic wardens see the pounds signs in their eyes and start to book us for loitering in our cars for 20 minute stretches.

“I’m just popping out for a pint of milk and a newspaper darling - make me up some sandwiches - I may be out a while.”

The culprit, as we all know, is the construction of the Heysham to M6 By-Pass. You know, that massive stretch of concrete and bridges that as we all know (except the Greens and the elite of Haverbreaks) is going totally in the wrong direction.

One of the main areas of frustration is the area around Asda and Pye Motors, especially when the boat comes in (Isle of Man Ferry). If you time it wrong ensure you have a decent amount of fuel in the tank.

Once cleared of that obstruction (massive volume of traffic) you then sit stationary waiting to get on to the Ovangle Road roundabout which is not the best designed piece of Tarmac in the district.

They did free up traffic for a while when they opened that stretch from Wickes to the Honda garage. The other week I went to go down there but found it shut again for road marking - I joined the never ending queue once again while trying to get to the wholesalers.

Try doing any form of business on our trading estate; it has to be planned like a military assault. I’m surprised there isn’t a Facebook group to keep us all abreast with the latest tactics to avoid stress and road rage.

Try going to a cremation - Torrisholme looks like Spaghetti Junction at times. I know some of you will say, “Oh come on Mick, this is the price of progress.” Well I’ll say this, the southern route would not have bothered too many folks trying to run their their businesses.

As for getting to Lancaster, forget it. It’s probably quicker walking - I let the train take the strain!