'Once in a lifetime' plans to regenerate two Merseyside town centres were revealed to the public yesterday.
St Helens Borough Council announced plans to transform St Helens and Earlestown in a 20 year masterplan that is set to change the look of both town centres while highlighting the borough's favoured assets.
The new plans include a new market, park area, hotel and bus station in St Helens town centre and a new transport hub in Earlestown to bring together the town’s transportation links.
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The council says the plans will facilitate a game-changing transformation that will build upon both town centres existing assets and heritage - highlighting the uniqueness of what each town already has to offer - while delivering high quality, sustainable regeneration and shining light on the independent businesses in the borough.
Since the announcement yesterday the draft plans have been met with a highly optimistic reaction from locals, with many branding the regeneration plan as ‘positive’.
Dave Tully, Director of Lava Accountants, said: “Looks really good especially with Hardshaw Centre being removed and opening up the route to the bus station.”
Chris Shuker said he thinks the plans are ‘superb’.
He said: “People like to spend time in nice environments and whilst in those nice environments they use the services/facilities.
“It can only be a way forward for an old industrial town. It’s time for the town to reflect some of the great things from within it.
“From musicians, sportsmen, comedians, athletes and actors, entrepreneurs and the hard working residents that make it what it is.”
Local photographer Neil Sherwood agrees that the planned regeneration could be a great move for the town centres.
He said: “All of this looks good, some great ideas and it's well thought out, fingers crossed.
Darren Eccles called the vision ‘pretty impressive’ and said that the council’s masterplan looks like a ‘positive step forward to the old, retail heavy town centre’.
One Twitter user said: "It’s been clear something must change for a long time.
"I’ve read most of the master plan and there appears to be a solid vision with just 4 years to wait for phase 1 completion.
"Stay still or try something…I prefer the latter. Good luck."
And another welcomed the plans adding: “Finally something positive!”
While the majority of public opinion so far appears to be mostly positive, some locals remain sceptical over the probability of the plans coming into fruition.
Many questioned whether the plans would actually go ahead after pointing our that in the past the council has made similar announcements of plans in the past that have not come to ahead - including a vision that fell by the wayside several years ago.
One person wrote: "This will be fantastic if it comes off, but it won't."
However Lisa Harris, Executive Director of Place services, addressed this point yesterday and stated that this master plan is different to past plans as St Helens Borough Council has already made a partnership with regeneration experts, the English Cities Fund (ECF).
Lisa added that EFC has a ‘great record in town centre regeneration’ and brings together investment, regeneration expertise and long-term commitment to shape towns and cities for the better.
Though the master plan is still doubted by some locals - and some believe that the plan does not address important issues that currently exist in the borough.
One local woman said: “Not much point regenerating St Helens. Allowed two hours now to park on the Dunelm car park area or be fined & 10 minutes on the library car park or pay at least £1.”
A plethora of other locals made comments on only believing it 'when they see it', however the overall reaction has appeared to be mostly welcoming for the councils ambitious vision.
