RESIDENTS say town centre planners should look to Warrington, Wigan, Liverpool and Cheshire Oaks for inspiration to regenerate St Helens town centre.

In response to a report in the St Helens Star about plans for a radical rethink of the centre - including knocking down "monolithic" car parks and indoor shopping centres - many people showed support for the proposals, with others believing it is "too late".

Commercial real estate adviser CBRE assessed the town and the findings, presented to St Helens Council in a report entitled 'Shaping the Future of St Helens', are to be transformed into a strategy.

Posting on Facebook, Geoff Holland said: "They need to look at other towns, most have outdoor markets like Warrington, Widnes and Leigh; designer shops are not to everyone's taste; there's the need for traditional shops mixed with new type shops."

Darren Brown said: "They should link up the retail park with the town centre, making use of the canal; knock down the multi-storey car park and build shopping and bars along the canal up to Matalan."

Anthony Shellshear said: "I would make the ring road go around the centre not directly into it, because that's just daft. I would also build another indoor shopping area leading to Westfield Street to include that end of the town as now it gets neglected."

Karen Shale said: "I grew up in St Helens in the '80s. We'd go to town at the weekend but if we had birthday money we always went into Liverpool, even then, just because of the choice of shops and the atmosphere. When I come home now to visit my mum I'm shocked at how rundown it is.

"My kids are amazed. We've tried to get a drink at 4.30 a few times in various cafes and been turned away because those cafes shut at 5. We live in Nottingham and they're used to us shopping all day and then going to a cafe for a coffee and milkshakes up till 7.30."

She added: "The retail parks were created too close to the town centre, rather than 'out of town' like most places."

James Seddon said: "Both Wigan and Warrington town centres are full of charm and character. St Helens has fallen foul of disastrous planning decisions taken in the '60s and '70s which saw pretty much all of the central historic areas demolished and replaced with hideous buildings.

"They will never be able to get back the traditional charm again - it's gone. However a well planned town centre, with a new outdoor market, would be a great idea - and also a 'leisure zone' for night-time economy.

"In all honesty I think the reason that Warrington and Wigan have thriving town centres is that they invest in them so if the council can begin something similar then that is great."

Mike McCairn said: "Keep the centre for nice shops and restaurants so you can enjoy day and night so friends and families can go out like at Liverpool One."

Anne McCormack said: "We have quite a small town centre, but take a look at what Wigan has achieved in their Royal Arcade. Loads of shops on two levels. Our town centre should be able to accommodate something of that size."

The report also recommended making better use of historical assets and cultural attractions.

A team of specialists are due to be commissioned by the council to turn the recommendations into strategy.