If you don't get prompt response to your correspondence with the court you may wish to try phoning them.
I'm getting deja vu here - there was a period of time (some point last year from memory) where we saw loads of cases transferred to St Helens for telephone hearings with seemingly no rhyme or reason.
It might be useful to show us the various orders from the court.
Until the claim is finally settled one way or another there are essentially two 'limbs' to the case - first, getting the judgement set aside and then, defending the case (although ECP have seemingly shown an appetite to discontinue this).
Before applying for a contested set aside, did you contact the claimant to see if they would agree to a uncontested set aside?