St.Helens The Heart of the North West

Optimism and opportunity were two of the key themes to emerge from a major regeneration conference hosted by St.Helens.

The 2008 Alliance Conference brought regeneration experts from across the UK to the Borough, enabling them to see the exciting changes taking place in St.Helens, discuss a wide range of social and regeneration issues and hear key speakers including Culture Minister and Leigh MP Andy Burnham and Steve Broomhead, Chief Executive of the Northwest Regional Development Agency.

Delegates representing the Government, local authorities, economic organisations and voluntary groups enjoyed three days of lively debates involving the former industrial areas of England, Scotland and Wales.

They also had the opportunity to tour St.Helens to see regeneration in action in the form of some of the major developments taking place, including the George Street Cultural Quarter, which has now won 11 national awards. Some 60 buildings in the George Street conservation area have been refurbished and a new street scene and innovative crime reduction measures have helped to attract a variety of restaurants and businesses to the Quarter.

Delegates also visited Mere Grange, a joint initiative between Langtree Group plc and English Partnerships which is creating a 300,000 sq ft high quality business park on the site of a former colliery.

The Alliance is a newly-established lobbying organisation which combines the former Coalfields Community Campaign and Steel Action. Its members also include former textiles areas.

Andrew Lewis, Director of the Northern Way, a partnership between the three northern Regional Development Agencies, was also one of the conference speakers.

He said: "The good thing about the conference is that it has attracted people from all over England, Scotland and Wales with a great deal of common interest.

"There have been some very positive messages about the changes that are happening here in St Helens, which has a confident and outward-looking approach. The mood is certainly one of optimism and what we will all take away from this is that it is time to be more self-confident and build new relationships to secure a stronger economic future."

Delegate Councillor Bill Mordue, from Doncaster, was also impressed by the changes being made in St Helens.

"The physical changes are very impressive and I think St Helens is looking fantastic. I come from a former mining village and I represent a former mining area so I know how the colliery closures have affected communities, but the things that are going on here are brilliant.

"The conference has been excellent. There was no doom and gloom, there was a real ‘feel good’ factor with speakers discussing what they are doing and how they are getting things done."

Together with seeing some of the developments already completed in the Borough, the delegates also learned more about the new planned stadium for rugby league stars the Saints and the Big Art project at the former Sutton Manor Colliery, an iconic sculpture designed by renowned artist Jaume Plensa, who has worked with the local community to create a stunning landmark.

Councillor Richard Ferry,  St.Helens Council’s Executive Member for Urban Regeneration, commented: "We were delighted to have the opportunity to host this major event. It has been a fascinating conference which has brought a really wide range of delegates together and given us all a chance to discuss our varied experiences and the ways in which our communities are moving forward and transforming."