I TOOK my mum on our usual shopping trip to the Hardshaw Centre. She has mobility issues so she has a minute on the bench while I do the shopping in the centre.

We arrived at the centre at lunch and I could see that there were no benches out. When I asked a member of staff at the centre I was told they had been removed indefinitely as they were congesting the centre.

My mum had to stand up as she couldn’t sit outside as the weather was bad. I think the centre needs to take into consideration the effect it’s going to have on the elderly and the people who have mobility issues. I know a lot of people who sit down there for a rest but more importantly to get some social contact.

No wonder people don’t want to come to St Helens. Other places think more of their shoppers.

Janice Bradbury, West Park