Pub regulars prepared to fight against the Swan's proposed closure

It is a place where people come before Saints games, after Theatre shows, to celebrate birthdays and remember those who have passed.

However, as part of St Helens' regeneration plans, the 130-year-old building could soon be flattened to make way for a bigger bus station.

Not only would this spell the end of the historic town centre pub, it would leave six people without a job and the landlady, Angela Hindley, without a home.

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Angela Hindley will lose her job and home if the council's plans go ahead (Image: St Helens Star)

"If this pub goes, I don't know what I'd do"

"It would be the end of a whole community centre" if the Swan is demolished, Terry Grimes tells me.

A former van driver and employee at Pilkington Glass, Terry is a 70-year-old pensioner who comes in for a drink almost every day.

Terry said his partner is battling cancer and the Swan is a place where he can forget his troubles.

"It's my local pub and it's the only place I drink in because I feel safe and comfortable here.

"I've had my 50th and 70th birthday party here, and it's a place where everyone knows each other and you can talk about anything.

"If this pub goes, I don't know what I'd do. That will probably be it for my drinking days and I won't leave the house as much."

Terry Grimes (Image: St Helens Star)

Living on Hardshaw Street, Chris and Donna Leigh have been regulars at the Swan for around seven years.

Bringing their two sons into the pub as they were growing up, it is now a place where they bring their partners and can have a drink as a family.

Chris, 48, said: "It really does have a community feel to this pub. It's in a great location and you can come in at any time, on your own or with a friend, and chat to anyone.

"Angela goes above and beyond for this pub. She makes everyone feel welcome and spent a lot of time sprucing it up during the pandemic.

"There's no doubt that St Helens needs a bit of an uplift but to get rid of the Swan, despite it being a thriving business, is the wrong thing to do."

Chris and Donna Leigh (Image: St Helens Star)

Regeneration plans

Approving a Compulsory Purchase Order of the Swan, St Helens Council says that the Corporation Street site forms an "integral part of delivering the new larger and improved bus station facility".

The proposals are part of a wider "masterplan" that will bring new homes, offices, a hotel, retail facilities, leisure amenities and a market into the town centre.

READ > The Swan landlady may 'lose job and home' in plans to demolish pub

The council aim to bring new homes, offices, and retailers to the town centre (Image: St Helens Council)

Enough room for old and new?

Anthony Little, a regular at the Swan for around 10 years, said that while he believes regeneration is needed in St Helens, it is unnecessary to bulldoze one of the town centre's last remaining pubs.

"Nobody is disputing that St Helens needs regeneration, but there should be enough room for old and new in the town centre", the 59-year-old said.

"It feels like the council is trying to get rid of all of the heritage in the town, and I think I speak for a lot of people when I say I'd hate to see it go.

"The work that Angela has done over the years is incredible, so I'm going to do all that I can to help them try to stay open - and I think a lot of others will too."

Anthony Little (right) said he will do everything he can to stop the council's plans from going ahead (Image: St Helens Star)

Petition reaches 1,300 signatures

In an attempt to gather enough support to make the council rethink its proposals, Angela's son Scott, who has lived above the pub with her for the last nine years, has started an online petition to 'Save the Swan'.

After less than a week, his campaign has had more than 1,300 signatures.

To make their voices heard, people can make formal objections to the council's plans until Friday, January 13.

Keith Smith and Sharon Bradburn said they are backing the campaign to Save the Swan (Image: St Helens Star)

Only finding out about the council's initial plans through a Star article in September, Angela said that the way the council have gone about their proposals is "so wrong".

"If it was just me, I could walk away from the pub", she said.

"But I have people who work for me and a community of regulars, all from different generations, who come in every day for a drink and a chat.

"The fact that we only have until January to get our objections in, bearing in mind it's Christmastime and the Royal Mail strikes are ongoing, is just so wrong.

"But all the regulars have been writing their objections, and everyone is on board to fight this."

Regulars at The Swan's Christmas party (Image: St Helens Star)

Objections must be submitted in writing to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Planning Casework Unit 23, Stephenson Street, Birmingham, B2 4BH.

To sign the 'Save the Swan' petition, you can follow this link.