MARIE Rimmer vowed to oversee a swift review of the controversial street parking pay and display scheme after Labour swept back into power.

The long-serving politician will reclaim the position of St Helens Council leader next week after her party handed out a drubbing to the Liberal Democrats in the local elections.

Rimmer said she had spent the past four years in opposition “listening to the public” and promised the new administration would be built on a series of pledges.

She claimed “it had been heartbreaking to see the way the Lib Dem-Tory coalition have handled issues” and added there had been a vacuum of leadership at the local authority.

Labour’s St Helens leader said: “We will be having a review of the parking situation and have got to get to grips with it.

“We have to see what is in that contract and what can be done.”

The change of regime should also signal a show of support for the proposed Parkside rail freight terminal in Newton-le-Willows.

The ambitious development at the former colliery site was often the subject of negative remarks by senior Lib Dems.

Rimmer, meanwhile, said the scheme would be a decision for the planning authority, but added Labour was a supporter of a vision to bring jobs to St Helens.

The town centre will also be a prime focus for Labour, with Rimmer stating it “is in desperate need of regeneration”.

Outgoing Lib Dem Brian Spencer said the strong Labour turn out for the general election had heavily influenced the local vote.

Spencer, who said he was leaving St Helens Council in a much better position than when he took office in 2006, pledged to lead his party’s political fightback He said: “All of the promises we made have been kept and in most cases exceeded.

“I must congratulate the work of the cabinet members for their hard work in those years where in every area there has been improvements to the service we provide.”

He defended the decriminalised parking system, saying town centre parking had improved under the Lib Dem regime.

He added: “Labour has made a number of cast iron guarantees, it will be interesting to see how they will keep to them with the financial climate we face.”