St Helens traders welcome plans to move 'isolated' market to former M&S store

It is understood that St Helens Council is currently in talks with the owner of the building, which has been vacant since March.

The move is part of its wider plans for the regeneration of St Helens town centre, which were first unveiled in 2017.

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As well as provide a boost to the council’s stuttering regeneration plans, the council hope the move will provide stability to the town’s indoor market.

Currently, occupancy in St Mary’s Market is down to 58 per cent, with traders feeling they are becoming increasingly isolated.

Sue Shepard, from Unit 1, said recent footfall, particularly among the elderly, has recently declined and said the move to the high street would be “ideal”.

Solsa co-owner Sue Fredrick said traders are “struggling” and said the re-location will provide some much-needed visibility.

“We are isolated. We don’t get any publicity,” Sue said.

“There is a sign outside saying St Mary’s Market, but I think it’s been there that long people don’t see it anymore.

“We are isolated, we are hidden but because we’re hidden there’s no trade, there’s no footfall, so the traders are going because they can’t sustain it.”

From left, Charltotte Carrigg and Sue Fredrick, co-owners of Solsa

The area around Church Square, which the council bought for £26.6 million in 2017, is viewed by the council as a key focal point for the regeneration.

A Labour source said the purchase of the former Marks and Spencer building would be the first “significant step” in transforming the town centre.

If it goes through, the council will develop a detailed design and cost appraisal for a multi-million refurbishment of the building to provide a new indoor market.

It is understood the recently-announced £1 million grant from Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, which is subject to an internal investment panel approving a detailed action plan, could be used on the project.

Labour sources said the new market should be ready by 2020, which would then free up the area currently occupied for St Mary’s Market for redevelopment.

Duncan Rose, owner of Random Mobiles, has been based in the market for around 15 years.

He believes the development will take at least two years and wants the council to provide a temporary subsidy to traders in the interim period to help sustain them.

Duncan Rose, owner of Random Mobiles

“We only welcome it if it’s done right,” Duncan said. “We don’t want to be put to the back.

“At the end of the day, we’re struggling here.

“We’ve asked the council to appreciate that we could do with some help here because we’re the only survivors left, and our rents are the same as what they were – in fact they’ve gone up – ten years ago.

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“We’re paying high rents and we’re not getting any help.

“You don’t want to put pressure on people, but you just want some help because there aren’t many of us left.

“You don’t want to be empty in here by the time they’ve finished in two years’ time over there.”