The Swan: CPO 'continuing as planned' despite extended deadline

As previously reported, St Helens Council approved a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) in December that would see the Corporation Street building flattened to make way for a new and improved bus station.

A core component of the council's regeneration plans, councillors believe a new bus interchange will help drive footfall into the town centre and provide better access to St Helens Central train station.

READ > Staff 'using head torches' as council building without adequate toilet facilities

The Swan will be flatted for a new bus station under the council's plans (Image: St Helens Star)

Consultation deadline delayed for certain parties

As reported by the Star, the deadline to express views on the council's proposals has been pushed back for those who have an interest in the land and "did not receive a statutory notice" from the CPO.

As well as Punch Partnerships (the brewery which owns the Swan), those with an "interest" in the building include the people who live above the pub; which is landlady Angela Hindley, her partner, her son, and his partner.

The council clarified that while the deadline has been extended for those with a specific interest in the building, this is not the case for the general public and the timeframe for the CPO is "continuing as planned".

Angela Hindley will lose her job and home if the plans go through (Image: St Helens Star)

Angela said that a formal statutory notice also did not come to the company she trades under, A.P.H Pub Company Limited, and maintains that the first time she was made aware of the CPO plans was via a Star article in September 2022.

The council state that The Swan Public House was contacted by post three times last year regarding its proposed demolition, and did not receive a response.

There has also been a breakdown in communication with Punch Partnerships as the brewery "would not enter into discussions" with a third-party consultant on behalf of the council, until the CPO was made in December.

The new bus station is aimed to drive footfall into St Helens town centre (Image: St Helens Council)

CPO timeline continuing as planned

A St Helens Borough Council spokesperson said: “The Compulsory Purchase Order timeframe for St Helens town Centre is continuing as planned. 

"As is standard, all parties that the council knew owned or occupied the land in the Compulsory Purchase Order were written to and were asked to confirm if there were any other people or companies who occupied their buildings.

"Mrs Hindley responded after the deadline for replies and after the formal notices were served by the Council informing people that the Order had been made.

"This means that whilst Mrs Hindley received the notice, her company and three additional occupiers were not served.

"However, the Council has confirmed that if these parties wish to submit an objection to the Order after the objection period expires, the Council will treat the objection as if it were made within the required period.

"This is not an extension to the objection period, this is a period of time allowed for those additional parties that have been identified to submit an objection within a specified window, in this case until 15 February 2023.”

EXPLAINER > The Swan: What is a Compulsory Purchase Order?

Pub regular Terry Grimes said he will be gutted if the Swan is demolished (Image: St Helens Star)

What happens if the CPO is approved by the government?

Although the deadline has been delayed for certain parties, the timeline for the outcome of the CPO is expected to remain the same.

If the Secretary of State for Levelling Up decides there are enough legitimate objections when considering the suitability of the proposals, a public inquiry could be held for all objections to be considered.

The decision from government to approve the Swan's CPO is expected to be made in late 2023.

The building is likely to be transferred to council ownership in spring 2024 if the CPO is approved.