WORK is set to start on the demolition of Chalon Way Car Park.

Contractors PP O’Connor have been appointed to complete the demolition, which is due to start next month, after St Helens Borough Council received £1m in accelerated Town Deal Board funding for infrastructure projects.

St Helens Borough was identified by the Government as a qualifying area for the Town Deal Programme which allows those selected the opportunity to bid for up to £25m to help with regeneration plans.

The Town Deal Board is made up of businesses and community partners.

The car park’s demolition will free up the prime waterfront site for future development as the Town Deal Board works towards its submission for up to £25m from government to support its vision for redeveloping St Helens Town Centre.

The demolition will not impact on businesses still open close by and will have no effect on the symptom free testing site at nearby St Mary’s Market.

With 14 further car parks, including the recently refurbished Tontine Car Park, providing more than 1,300 spaces in the Town Centre, the closure of spaces at Chalon Way can be accommodated by those other locations and alternative arrangements for match day parking have been agreed with Saints for when fans can finally return to matches.

Councillor Richard McCauley, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Planning, said: “The appointment and start of work on the demolition of Chalon Way Car Park shows our commitment to the transformation of St Helens Town Centre. It’s fitting that we should be announcing the news of our contractor at a time when the Town Deal Board is in the final stage of preparing its bid for up to £25m in funding from Central Government that will help unlock the potential for regeneration in this part of the Town Centre.”

The council is currently working on short term "meanwhile uses" for the car park site in consultation with our partners on the Town Deal Board.