SENIOR Labour councillors have unveiled the roadmap they hope will energise St Helens’ economy in the wake of the Covid crisis.

St Helens’ economic recovery plan sets out the enormous challenges faced by the authority in the years ahead, and outlines a number of projects that should offset any potential downturn caused by the pandemic in future years.

The plan will align with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s economic recovery plan, and as such will focus on three themes.

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These are centred around supporting the business ecosystem to allow businesses to survive and grow, and supporting residents with employment.

The plan says: “The existing challenges of St Helens will only be further exacerbated by effects of the pandemic, which will likely lead to an increase in unemployment, reduced opportunities for future employment and resulting in severe financial challenges.

“Evidence already shows this is taking place and that the pandemic has increased the gender wage gap.”

The final theme centres around how the council and its partners will use land and regeneration opportunities to attract inward investment, tackle climate change and provide further opportunities for residents.

Cllr Kate Groucutt, cabinet member education, skills and business, presented a report on the draft economic recovery plan to cabinet on Wednesday.

She said that when the plan was being prepared before Christmas, it was hoped the council would be in a position to move beyond the pandemic and start to rebuild its economy.

However, the events of the past week, with the UK going into lockdown, have somewhat dashed those plans.

“Clearly this week, we’re in a really difficult place with another national lockdown,” Cllr Groucutt said.

“But I think what that underlines is the importance of these plans and the challenge that faces us as a borough.”

St Helens Star: Cllr Kate Groucutt, cabinet member education, skills and business,Cllr Kate Groucutt, cabinet member education, skills and business,

The report states that, prior to the pandemic, St Helens had made significant progress against its labour market and skills profile.

However, Cllr Groucutt said the pandemic has set the authority back, adding that some of the borough’s key sectors, such as hospitality, leisure, culture, retail, have all “suffered very badly”.

The Labour councillor also pointed to the “chaos” that is being caused in a number of industries due to Brexit, something that is touched on in the draft plan.

The ethos of the recovery recovery plan, Cllr Groucutt said, is one of partnership, with the council looking to continue the St Helens Together approach that was born out of the pandemic.

That includes working with the council’s partners in the Liverpool City Region, with a number of projects in the plan funded by the combined authority.

The plan also outlines partnership working with other neighbours, such as Warrington and Wigan councils, and partners within St Helens such as the Chamber of Commerce and St Helens College.

Cllr Groucutt added that residents, businesses and the voluntary sector all have a “key role to play” in the borough’s economic recovery.

After cabinet approved the draft economic recovery plan and action plan, it will now go out for a six-week consultation with businesses, partners, and residents.

Cllr Richard McCauley, cabinet member for regeneration and planning, was involved in developing the plan, and said the future is “very bright” for St Helens.

He pointed to the £54 million Glass Futures project and the Parkside scheme, which he said was a “fantastic opportunity for the borough” that can help St Helens recover from the Covid crisis.

St Helens Star: St Helens Council hope to establish Glass Futures as a centre of excellence with global recognition and use it as a catalyst to attract further foundation industry to the areaSt Helens Council hope to establish Glass Futures as a centre of excellence with global recognition and use it as a catalyst to attract further foundation industry to the area

The Thatto Heath councillor highlighted the council’s long-term partnership with the English Cities Fund to redevelop the borough, starting with St Helens and Earlestown town centres.

And he said that the Town Deal Board, which is made up of businesses and community partners, will be submitting a bid to the government later this month for up to £25 million to help with the regeneration plans.

“I’m quite excited about what the next few months are gonna bring us, Cllr McCauley said.

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“Even though we’ve got to battle though this together. And I’m sure with our partners we will get there.

“The future’s very bright.”

To view the draft economic recovery plan, click here. To view the economic recovery action plan, click here.