THERE are few issues that generate debate like the plight of St Helens town centre.

Like many areas around the country, the central retail area has witnessed the departure of many national brands.

It has left gaps on the high street, with buildings that used to throng with shoppers replaced by cafes, coffee shops, apartments and nail bars.

Others simply stand empty.

Plenty of retailers remain

However, there is still a healthy amount of retail in St Helens, with independent stores such as ODs and Sidewalk standing alongside the likes of River Island, Boots, Pandora, Superdrug, H Samuel, New Look, TJ Hughes, Sports Direct, Rymans, Clintons and JD Sports.

As reported last week, women’s fashion chain Select will relocate to the former Burtons building in the near future.

READ MORE: What's happening at the former Ena Shaw building?

The retail parks and edge of town areas also boast the likes of M&S, Next, Matalan and TK Maxx.

There can be no disguising the losses in the town centre though, with H&M joining a long list that have departed over the past decade.

Regeneration plans

There are big regeneration plans around the town centre, focusing on redeveloping the Hardshaw Centre and surrounding land.

Creating a new bus station, office space a new hotel and food market hall, while also transforming the appearance of that area are part of the long term plans.

But will that solve the apparent decline in retail in St Helens?

‘We need a Primark

A common suggestion for giving the retail area a shot in the arm is to draw in a large anchor store that will entice shoppers to the high street. The theory is the increase in footfall (of people who head to town with a willingness to spend) would also boost other stores.

The common suggestion? Well, those who pore over the town’s social media ecosystem will know the name Primark is often put forward.

To some it has become a running joke when the town centre debates kick off on Facebook pages.

But why should St Helens not have a Primark, which has become known as an an affordable brand? Neighbouring towns Wigan and Warrington both have stores, as do Southport and Birkenhead.

And of course, there is a store in Liverpool.

What Primark has said

Primark is expanding to different parts of the country but there has been no indication given that it would come to St Helens, despite the apparent desire of many people here for one to be created.

The matter is not something the Star has been able to engage the retail giant in detailed questioning about, but we did get a response when we asked about whether it would have any interest in coming to St Helens.

A Primark spokesperson said: “We continually review opportunities for expansion of the Primark business however, as you'd expect, we don't comment on speculation about where or when we might open our next stores.

“We would encourage customers in the St Helens area to visit our stores in Liverpool, Warrington, Wigan and Trafford.”

That doesn’t give much away.

It also raises the question whether St Helens’ position in the heart of the North West - with its excellent road links actually hamper its chances as big chains can signpost shoppers to those neighbouring areas.

READ MORE: Ambitions to breathe new life into historic pub

However, the flip side is that those same links could be beneficial as it is within easy reach of shoppers who would drive from other areas.

Big names such as Nike and Flannels, which have both set up in St Helens, albeit on the Ravenhead Retail Park, are perhaps examples of this.

The response does at least mean those people wanting a Primark to be a retail catalyst have an acknowledgment that the retail giant is aware of the public desire for a store here.

The “We need a Primark” calls on social media are unlikely to stop.

What are your thoughts? Does St Helens need a Primark? And if so, where do you think it should be?