Shoppers have shared their ideas on how to save one of Merseyside's "dying" town centre.
St Helens town centre has been on a steady decline for a couple of decades. Once the bustling centre of an industrial powerhouse, the streets of the glass town would be lined with shoppers who came to the town in swarms to eat, drink, and browse the array of shops.
But all that has changed in recent times, the rise of the internet has had a devastating impact on high streets up and down the country, yet St Helens seems to have been particularly hurt. Last month the ECHO spoke to shoppers and workers around the town centre on what they feel " killed" St Helens.
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With many believing poor management from the council, twinned with high rates and parking costs have been detrimental to the future of the town, the ECHO asked shoppers and workers what they feel could be done to "save" the town centre.
As we set up on Church Street ready to stop people and ask their views, the level of the town's troubles were clear- in the first ten minutes no more than three or four people passed on one of the busiest streets in the town centre. The issue of vehicles in the town centre was a recurring theme in people's suggestions.
One person said: "The only way to save the town centre is to de-pedestrianise it and to get rid of the retail parks outside the town centre."
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While another added: "You can’t even walk up Church Street for cars and mopeds, it’s getting more dangerous."
Many point to the closure of Marks and Spencer in 2019 as a killer blow to the town, as people would travel from all over the borough to shop in the store, getting breakfast and lunch while they are there. The building has remained closed since, and some see this as a wasted opportunity- believing a retailer such as Primark would bring a much needed boost to the town's economy.
One shopper told the ECHO: "We need a reason for people to come into the town, there's so many shops shut down and I think something like Primark would work well in one of the empty buildings."
An issue previously explored by the ECHO is business owners in the town centre feeling alienated by parking charges levied upon them and their customers. Andi Mason, who manages How Nice is That boutique, told the ECHO: "We're coming here five days a week, working to try and keep this town centre alive. To be fair to the council they say the parking charges go towards vital services but it just feels like they're sacrificing the future of the town for a 'quick buck'."
A spokesperson for St Helens Council said: “We know residents and businesses want to see free parking introduced in St Helens town centre but car parking charges, which are still among the lowest in the Liverpool City region, are an important source to help us achieve a balanced budget and protect essential services in the borough.
“We are actively working to deliver the recently adopted St Helens town centre masterplan and it is this transformation that will support local businesses well into the future. We recognise the need for quality car parking facilities in the town centre and we have made a commitment to provide high quality safe parking day and night as part of the detailed proposals.
"We will also continue to support town centre businesses through a range of other initiatives alongside some of our current parking concessions which include all day parking for only £1 on Saturdays, free parking on Sundays and Bank Holidays, and discounted six monthly or yearly permits.”
