AN artwork which was installed in St Helens town centre nearly two decades ago will be stored for future use following the demolition of the Hardshaw Centre.

A 20-metre high stainless steel 'Needle' stands in the middle of a spiral staircase linking pedestrian footways with the roof top car park of the Hardshaw Centre.

It was installed in the mid-2000s to a mixed reaction, as part of the George Street quarter developments.

With the shopping centre due to be demolished later this year, some Star readers have questioned what will become of the sculpture.

Asked about the Needle's future, the local authority explained that it will be removed but later reinstated as a feature of the regeneration scheme.

Council's response

In a statement, St Helens Borough Council said: "To facilitate the demolition of the Hardshaw Centre, the Needle will be carefully removed, safely stored and restored before being reinstated as a feature in the completed regeneration scheme."

Key to the transformation plan, say developers, is their aim is to deliver "an ambitious vision to create a more vibrant, sustainable, and people-friendly town centre".

Phase one regeneration

The £90m transformation first phase plan is long-awaited with many Star readers expressing frustration at the paucity of change over the past decade.

Phase one plans include a new market hall flanked by a mixed-use area set around a 120-bedroom "globally branded" hotel.

Plans also include 64 new homes, a 75,000 sq ft office space, 11,000 sq ft of modern retail space and extensive high-quality public spaces.

A new bus interchange will also be created, replacing the current station on Bickerstaffe Street.

As previously reported, public art celebrating St Helens' identity and history is expected to play an important part of the regeneration.

Planning documents state: “Phase 1 of the masterplan has identified some areas for the inclusion of public art. They are located at key points to maximise interaction, promote what is unique about St Helens and celebrate its past and future”.

It is added: “An opportunity to create artwork which celebrates St Helens industrial heritage, located next to the hotel entrance on the gateway to Street A.

“A place to meet off the bus and a wayfinding point within the town centre. The idea is for a mural/ relief depicting St Helens industrial heritage using the diverse colour palette of the historic bricks produced in St Helens. They could be celebrating the Daglish Foundry or Greenalls Brewery both formerly on the site of the Hardshaw Shopping Centre or the future of Glass.

"Glass history, Glass futures, Brewing, Technology, the many items the Daglish Foundry manufactured could be depicted in the stained glass windows within the market hall. The perfect location for this celebration at the centre of St Helens within Church Square, the beating heart of the town.”

It is added there is “an opportunity to celebrate the personalities of St Helens from historic figures, sport stars and local community heroes.

“This can be represented through a series of sculptural busts of notable people, set within the playful base of the hotel ground floor. Located here they are immediately visible as you arrive from the train station along Bickerstaffe Street, and they greet you from the bus station.”

St Helens Star: An artist's image of how St Helens town centre will lookAn artist's image of how St Helens town centre will look (Image: St Helens Council/ECF)

Meanwhile, the former Kes the snake slide which was a prominent feature of the Hardshaw Centre in the 80s and 90s is set to be recreated.

The plans added: “The area to the east of the market hall along Hall Street has been identified as a pocket park.

"Kes the child eating snake winds its way through the landscape and there are pockets of play with landscape creating a safe buffer to the road. Play varies from ramps, rain gardens to possible table tennis tables with places to sit end enjoy the space, catch up with friends or meet new ones.”