HAVING lived in St Helens all of my life, I am deeply proud of this town, its history and its people. 


However, I’ve found myself incredibly worried about the direction we are heading in and the future it holds for our young people.

Over the course of the last few years, I’ve noticed a massive increase in the number of industrial spaces being built in and around the town. 


On the East Lancs, the Florida Farm industrial works are well underway and I can see, even at this early stage, what a huge industrial site this will be. 


Works are also underway at Mere Grange with ever more unit space being built, extended and advertised. 


We have the recently built Gerards Park on College Street as well the already established industrial estates in Haydock, Parr, Sutton, Rainford to name but a few. 


I know we can’t complete commercially with our neighbours in Warrington (Golden Square) and Wigan (Grand Arcade) in terms of attracting the big department stores like Debenhams, LUSH, Waterstones etc but we need to create a new identity and to evolve and to not just fill up our empty green space with industrial areas. 


Why not let independent traders occupy empty stores for free to sell their own artwork and crafts? 


Why not introduce a tram system in the town centre? 


Let’s innovate, and be leaders in creating something new.

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