THERE are a lot of people out there who clearly don’t understand how urban regeneration works.
It’s fine saying that the town centre in St Helens needs more shops - and it does.
However, nobody wants to open a shop in an area that is struggling for footfall.
You need something that will attract the footfall first.
To make the town centre viable for shops to open, you have to create plans that make a town centre attractive to go to.
It’s been proven time and time again over the last 20 or so years that the only way to build up areas and attract investors into shops is to make people want to go there, and give them something to look at/ see beyond the shops themselves.
That’s why some smaller towns that have reinvented themselves are thriving and those without a vision are sinking fast.
David, via Facebook
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here