THE future of the town centre is a recurring theme on many people's lips, says Conservative candidate Paul Richardson as he enters the final week of the election campaign.

The 53-year-old former RAF officer, whose wife Julie is from Windle, will contest the St Helens North seat. He said he has carried out his own survey among his potential constituents with one subject high on the list.

"Most people have said they would rather go to Wigan or Warrington to shop. Many said St Helens is not attractive enough to come to the town centre."

He said he maintains strong ties to the town. "I care about the area. My wife is from here so I have been coming to St Helens since at least 2000."

Despite fears of where the Tories will enforce £12billion of welfare cuts and the knock on effect it could have for poor communities in St Helens, Mr Richardson is to stress a Conservative vote would be one of stability.

He said: "In 2010 the country was in a poor state, but we had a strong message to put to people. We have created 2m jobs, the equivalent to 1,000 a day. We have cut income tax for people. There are 1,000 fewer people in St Helens North claiming benefits since 2010 and 39,000 paying less income tax.

"We have provided a healthy and secure economy and reduced the benefit by half as a proportion of the national debt."

Responding to claims from the Labour Party that the future of the NHS would be under threat under the Tories, he said: "We value the NHS and want it to be there for everybody. We have put millions into it and have more doctors and nurses in Whiston Hospital."

He continued: "Overall the presence of the Labour Party in St Helens North has been quite limited. But democracy can only work if there is an effective opposition."

He called for a strategy to tackle the issue of failing secondary schools in the town and stressed the need to promote teachers as role models, adding: "We want to support teachers but there is no point having the best education in the world if there are no opportunities for people.

"So we need to bring more employment to the area. I don't know if the council has ever tried to attract the best employers here. We have seen Beechams go and Pilkington taken over."

He suggested a plan to attract people to the town centre in the face of competition from retail parks and neighbouring towns: "In my strategy to get people back here I would have a weekly market outside the town hall and reduce the rents in the market."

If the bookies are to be believed the Tories face an uphill task to gain a seat in St Helens but he is undaunted: "I realise that when I have a goal I am determined to succeed. And the voice of the whole of the constituency needs to be heard."