Questions have been raised over a town centre building that has been closed for almost ten years.
The WH Smith in St Helens town centre shut up shop for good in February 2014, with the empty building becoming somewhat of an eyesore over the past nine years.
However, the premises have been under scaffolding for the past few months, with some wondering what will be made of the Church Street building.
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An application was drawn up in 2020, to transform the former store, along with the neighbouring former restaurant, into a gym with flats above. A design and access statement document in the plans said: "The building comprises a substantial two storey building but has an external appearance to the front of a multi floor building.
"Full planning permission has been granted to include nine flats to the first and second floor which are accessed from the rear of the property."
It added: “The proposal is to change the use of the ground floor to provide a new gymnasium."
But it now appears the building has been sold by the original applicant with its future remaining uncertain.
A spokesperson for Morse Webb, the architects behind the initial plans, told the ECHO: "We dealt with some of the pre-commencement planning conditions then provided some very minor updates to the building regulations information. The building was then sold by our client and we had no further involvement."
Some people on social media had thoughts on what the town centre building could be turned into.
Martin Hughes said: "We could do with a dedicated rugby store, boots, rugby tops, training wear etc. Rugby town surely somebody could make something successful with it instead having to buy a lot rugby stuff online."
Nicol Kellerman said: "A fruit and veg shop would be great."
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