AFTER the closure of pubs, clubs, libraries, and nurseries, a tight-knit community on the edge of the borough fears that they are being left behind.
Located in the north east of the borough, Garswood has always been a small community, surrounded by lots of green space and pockmarked with a handful of popular community hubs.
And despite having a population of just a few thousand, the community prides itself on "coming out and helping each other in any way they can", with many remembering a village with thriving venues, walking days, pram races, and community events.
However, as the closure of several venues has followed long-running issues with accessibility at the local railway station and vandalism at a former landmark pub, residents have become increasingly frustrated that their concerns are falling on deaf ears.
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'A community that belongs to nobody'
Raising her concerns with the Star, Garswood resident Michelle, who preferred to only give her first name, said: "As I'm nearing retirement age, there is less and less for the people of Garswood and people are constantly having to travel out of the area for amenities.
"I love the people here and I love living in Garswood, but it does feel that we are a community that belongs to nobody.
"We are closest to Ashton-in-Makerfield, have a Wigan postcode, and pay council tax to St Helens, but it feels that not only is nothing getting done, we are not even getting heard."
One of the longest-running complaints in Garswood is accessibility at the local railway station, and Michelle, a mum and grandmother, admitted that she is finding it increasingly difficult to climb the station's stairs.
Although a campaign previously rallied together to save Garswood station, and new infrastructure was subsequently implemented, many disabled and elderly residents have been left struggling to get the other side of the platform for trains heading towards St Helens and Liverpool as there is no lift access.
With Liverpool City Region mayor Steve Rotheram recently pledging that he will bring a new Merseyrail station to Carr Mill, which is estimated to cost around £15m, this has added to the frustration of Garswood commuters as lift access would cost comparatively little.
Nursery, library, and pub closures
More recently, the announcement of Brooklands Nursery's closure devastated families who were forced to find alternative childcare at short notice.
Although many families have seen their children and grandchildren pass through Brooklands' gates over the past 30 years, the closure has been blamed on issues with "rising costs, building maintenance, and occupancy levels".
And while Garswood School has increased its nursery provision to accommodate the closure, and Rectory School is looking to do the same from September, it is unclear if this will cater for all Brooklands spaces and if some parents will be forced to find a nursery space further afield.
While the nursery's closure affected parents and young families in Garswood, it has had added to wider sense of frustration that it is the latest community amenity to shut in a short space of time.
A few days before Brookland's closure was confirmed, it was announced that the Conservative Club on Station Road would cease trading after a 116 year history in Garswood.
Launching in 1908, the Conny Club has been a popular place for cheap drinks, live music, and live sports over the years, but after "spiralling costs and a much reduced income", the owners could not sustain the building.
Even more painfully for residents, Garswood library also closed its doors at the start of the year, despite a significant majority disagreeing with the council's plans via a public consultation.
With Garswood containing a high percentage of elderly residents, the library - which is housed in one of the oldest buildings in the borough - was also used as a warm hub, social space, and a place to use the internet and facilities.
The closure was particularly upsetting for residents as council figures showed that, at around £39,00 per year, Garswood was one of the borough's cheapest libraries to run.
The council said that the decision to cut the borough's libraries from 13 to 7 was due to increasing cuts from central government, and is estimated to achieve savings of £338,000 a year.
Further frustrations have been raised that the Stag Hotel, also located on Station Road, has been heavily vandalised and used as a fly tipping spot after the former landmark pub closed in November 2022.
Despite some objections, plans were approved to turn the former pub into a Tesco Express shop in September 2023, but residents are concerned that as no work has been forthcoming, the site has become a playground for anti-social behaviour and vandalism.
After the closure of the Stag, Conny Club, the Village Club and more, one of the last remaining pubs in Garswood - in addition to the Simms Road Inn and Turpin View - is the Railway Hotel, located next to Garswood station.
Although there have been difficulties during covid and the cost of living crisis, owners Karen and Steve Brannagan said that a real community atmosphere has persisted in the Railway, where regulars always look out for one another.
'People are frightened of being forgotten'
Karen, who took over as landlady of the pub 22 years ago, said: "The people in Garswood really come out and help each other any way they can, and and a lot of our customers feel comfortable enough to come in on their own and have a chat with people at the bar.
"We've even had people from other areas coming in off the train and saying it's like stepping back in time, because everyone is friendly and chatting to one another.
"Everybody struggled during covid and habits have changed, but we've managed to stay stable because we've always been a good meeting place with big screens and a big beer garden, and we've always tried to keep our prices reasonable."
However, while there is a strong community feel at the Railway, Karen agrees with residents' concerns which are often shared in her pub.
"When I first moved to Garswood 45 years ago, all the venues were booming and we struggled to attract trade from the Stag for quite a few years", Karen added.
"But I think after all the closures, people are frightened about being forgotten.
"A lot of people here have lived here their whole lives and are really passionate about the village.
"There are so many people, community groups, and volunteers who work their socks off to keep the village a nice and friendly place to live, but as more and more things are closing, it is worrying for people."
Closures a result of cuts and financial difficulties
While it may feel like complaints are falling on deaf ears, someone who has been fighting the corner for Garswoodians is Billinge and Seneley Green councillor Sue Murphy, who has been involved in local politics for the past 30 years and is the former mayor of St Helens.
Stressing that people are fighting for improved provisions in the area, Cllr Murphy said that Garswood School - where she serves as a Governor - has increased its provision to accommodate the closure of Brooklands nursery, while Rectory School will do the same from September.
Cllr Murphy also said that she has been working with residents and organisations to try and open a smaller library provision in the area, and confirmed that that she will continue calling for funding to improve accessibility at Garswood station.
If housing developments are agreed for Garswood and the surrounding areas in the coming years, and plans for Carr Mill station are realised, the councillor believes that the latter will become a "growing issue" that will be hard to ignore.
And while she is understanding of residents' concerns, Cllr Murphy said that the reasons for many closures in Garswood has been down to an increasingly difficult financial situation and continuous budget cuts from the government.
Cllr Murphy said: "You have got to put a lot of these closures into context because nobody wants to lose any provisions in their area.
"But when you look at the financial situation, with rising energy, food, and drinks prices, it has been very difficult for many businesses to survive, in Garswood and in many other areas.
"Then when you look at the budget cuts that the council has been faced with, difficult decisions have had to be made as to whether we support children and adult social care, or look at other ways that we can provide library provisions.
"However, I have lived in this area for 30 years and it is important that we have our fair share of provisions.
"I am passionate about this ward and while I am only one person, I will do everything I can to fight to improve the area and fight for provisions that residents deserve."
Also commenting on the issue, a St Helens Borough Council spokesperson said: “Although our funding is reducing, we remain committed to ensuring residents of all ages in every ward of the borough have access to council-run activities as part of a community outreach offer.
“In Billinge and Seneley Green, our Active Lives and Sports Development team deliver a weekly Fit Forever session - gentle exercise for older people - in Garswood every Wednesday in Seneley Green Community Hall and have also delivered several short Nordic walking programmes from the centre earlier in the year.
"Our library service Outreach Team has recently delivered a number of activities in the area – including the popular Read and Rhyme for young children, and sessions tailored for adults – with more planned for the summer.”
In regards to issues with Garswood station, a Liverpool City Region Combined Authority spokesperson, added: "The Combined Authority recently confirmed it had been successful in a bid to the Access for All (AfA) accessibility funding programme to install new lifts at four stations in the city region.
"Once complete these schemes will bring the number of city region stations that are step-free from pavement to platform up to 66 out of 83.
"It is a priority for us to complete the accessibility programme across all other stations including Earlestown and Garswood. We will continue to look at all future funding opportunities to allow us to achieve this."
Information about St Helens Library Service can be found here. Information about sports development sessions can be found here.
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