COUNCILLORS are set to decide on the acceptance of more than £12million in funding for two key transport schemes.

At a cabinet meeting next week, St Helens Council will hear more about the £12.048million which has been successfully secured from the Liverpool City Region Sustainable Transport Scheme.

The fund will be split with £10m going towards the Cowley Hill Link Road, which will support the redevelopment of the former Cowley Hill glassworks site. Described as the biggest brownfield development in St Helens, the project will deliver around 1,100 new homes and complimentary commercial/leisure facilities.

The final £2.048 million will go towards improving pedestrian and cycle links at a key roundabout known as Peasley Cross, boosting access to places like St Helens Retail Park and The Totally Wicked Stadium.

The report sets out the potential benefits that both schemes will bring.

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The aerial view of the Cowley Hill siteThe aerial view of the Cowley Hill site (Image: BXB Cowley Hill Limited)

Information about the Cowley Hill project states: “Whilst the primary purpose of the scheme is to provide high-quality access to the Cowley Hill development site by all transport modes, unlocking a significant development opportunity.

"The new link road will also provide an alternative traffic route to St Helens town centre for longer-distance trips from the A580 East Lancashire Road, helping to relieve capacity pressures and ease congestion on alternative routes.”

Improvements are also planned for Peasley Cross roundaboutImprovements are also planned for Peasley Cross roundabout (Image: Google Maps) Additionally, information about the Peasley Cross Roundabout project states: “Peasley Cross Roundabout is a five-arm junction, comprising Peasley Cross Lane, Parr Street, Linkway East and Phoenix Brow, with very limited, and poor quality, provision for people that are walking, wheeling, and cycling.

"It has been identified as a major area of severance for enabling trips to and from St Helens town centre and beyond, including from destinations such as St Helens Retail Park, Totally Wicked Stadium (home of St Helens Rugby League FC and Liverpool FC Women) and the council’s Hardshaw Brook Depot.

“The scheme could deliver controlled shared pedestrian and cycle crossings (Toucan) to better enable movements across three out of five arms of the roundabout, alongside complementary active travel improvements around the junction including footway upgrades, signage, and a new bus stop on Peasley Cross Lane to St Helens Retail Park.”

The council's cabinet will hear more about the project at a meeting on Wednesday, October 23 at 4pm.