Letter: Council urged to help St Helens businesses

After walking around town, which has been my home for 70 years.

Calling in to the old places, like Lilly's Tea Room - excellent breakfast.

Chatting to the owner, who was very pleasant.

Also called in to George St. Barbers - once again, a lovely lady.

After visiting the two pubs across the road, The George and Little George, I had already spoken to the owner of Appetites Catering, and also noticed empty shops that used to do well, like the flower shop and industrial clothing supplies, closed all in the name of development!

The council should take a good look at what development has cost these small businesses and should compensate them for the poor planning of the council.

For instance, they closed St Mary's Market car park down two years ago, costing thousands in revenue, and issued notice to retailers to vacate premises in the market, such as barbers, now in George St, chicken shop, butchers, pie shops.

Two years on, the building is still up and will be for the next 18 months, even two years, with all that lost revenue.

"Planning"

The council reason they are already in debt.

Now they have received grant after grant from Liverpool Council, European, government, historical, Stagecoach, Arriva, Hilton Hotels, and a lot more private investors who have been allowed planning that was refused 18 months ago.

They are now because they don't have to pay?

Getting back to the little businesses I have mentioned, surely the council have a liability and duty to protect these people and sit down and talk about financial help and support.

To ensure that people like those who help make town stay and carry on providing the community what they want, and making sure the grant money from all the investors, government etc. is spent in the right way (not 2-3 weeks in Spain!)

A concerned local who cares about the small people, not like the council.

Mr D. Springfield

St Helens