ONE LOCAL man holds a very clear vision. That vision as it unfolds is of a huge public square where thousands of rugby fans are mixing on a warm summer's evening ahead of the big match. They are flanked by the main stand of a 18,500 capacity rugby stadium and a spectacular glass-fronted leisure and entertainments complex.

As more spectators stroll up the boulevard-style road past a fleet of restaurants and bars on their approach to the square, coach parties make their way to the complex's entertainment arena ready for the night's big show.

Nearby kids and their families make their way from a fun afternoon at a water splash park, or from a sports hall all incorporated in the grand building.

Other visitors are also embarking on a night at the gambling halls of the complex's Las Vegas-style casino where games of blackjack and roulette are in full swing, while shoppers are heading away from the site after completing a weekly shop at a big name supermarket.

Painting this picture of St Helens' proposed big venture is John Downes, managing director of developer Langtree, who along with Saints, St Helens Council, and American backed casino company Gala Harra's Ltd wants to bring the £100-million plus super development to the former United Glass site.

Dream

At the entrance to the site, Mr Downes, gives the St Helens Star an exclusive insight into the dream of the proposed development's partners.

With plans still on the drawing board, he admits his vision may be little sketchy, but still speaks enthusiastically about how the development is mapped out.

Pointing towards the west side of the site, he says: "The glass fronted hotel would stand high in the sky and wrapping around that would be a sports hall, a family swimming pool and a water splash park, a casino, restaurants and bars."

Architects are working on designs for Gala Harra's entertainment complex and are looking to create a spectacular "signature building", adds Mr Downes. Facing the complex would be the rugby stadium, with an oval-shaped public square lying between.

He adds: "We want to create a real hub for the development, a central piazza about the size of a rugby pitch. This would be a block of open space, given priority to pedestrians, where fans could gather."

"A lot of ideas are being kicked about at the moment but on there could be some kind of hall of fame for the rugby league club, statues of past players, or a Saints museum."

Blueprints

Behind the stadium they are likely to place a supermarket, while office units, and underground car parking should also figure in the blueprints. If the vision overcomes the multiple hurdles after the planning application is submitted in November, the site between Peasley Cross Lane and Ravenhead, now a relic to St Helens' 'glass age', will undergo a remediation programme.

Mr Downes, 43, originally from Haydock, sees the venture as a chance to achieve the first major goal of St Helens' City Growth Strategy, the ambitious regeneration project being tested in St Helens that is strongly backed by the chancellor Gordon Brown.

The Langtree MD said:"I am a local lad and the opportunity to get this for St Helens means a lot to me. We've all go to work together to pull it off - that is the club, the council, the MPs, Gala Harra's Ltd and Saints.

"I know there is some pessimism and people saying 'we'll never get something like this in St Helens', but why not?

"We need to carry the message to the government office that we want this and we will fight for this."