RESIDENTS have been told an announcement will be made soon over the future of a demolished car park labelled as a "blot on the landscape".

The multi-storey Chalon Way car park in the town centre has now been bulldozed.

The demolition of the site was seen as an important step in the wider development plans for the area and is being tipped to create opportunities to make the Sankey Canal area not only visible but a potential attractive ‘hub’ for the future redevelopment of the town centre.

St Helens Borough Council says an announcement will be made soon over the future of the site.

St Helens Star:

The car park prior to demolition

A spokesman said: “Getting rid of Chalon Way car park on Foundry Street not only removed a blot on the landscape but has also created a development site which can potentially be used for a number of different things in the short, medium and long term.

“We’ve kept the ground floor layer of the car park to provide solid foundations for what’s next, and we’re making sure that it will be a well-drained, well-lit and safe place for the public to use.

“All this is being delivered within budget and ahead of schedule.

“More information about the Foundry Street site will be announced soon and we continue to work on hugely ambitious and exciting plans for St Helens town centre, not only through the Town Deal Board but also through our partnership with English Cities Fund.”

Major investment in St Helens town centre moved one step closer last month as agreements were signed with the Government for £25 million of funding as part of the Town Deal funding.