BUSINESSES in a once-thriving district fear it could become a ghost town unless they get more help from the council.

Alan Hunter, whose family firm have traded in Peckers Hill Road, Sutton, for nearly a hundred years told the Star: "I think the problems started when the Sidac factory closed down in the 1980s. After that, one by one, more businesses started closing and they weren't replaced by new ones, so unemployment was a lot higher in the area.

"There are also housing problems in the area and Sutton doesn't even have a library now that the one in Carnegie Crescent has closed.

"It is such a shame because Sutton is one of the oldest areas of St Helens and there are still people living and working here who take a pride in their surroundings. I am the chairman of governors at Sutton Oak Primary and the staff there are doing a wonderful job with the children. But more financial assistance is badly needed if the situation is to improve."

Brian Bradshaw, owner of Bradshaws carpets and flooring specialists in Junction Lane, added: "Sutton is a ghost town these days and the only people who seem to be thriving here now are the travellers. "Crime and vandalism attacks seem to be getting worse as well. I don't know a single shopowner round here who hasn't had windows put in. Why won't the council give us a bit more support?"

And Bill Howell, owner of Junction Lane Flowers, said: "We know the council have got to prioritise but things are in a pretty poor state here now. It would be nice to see more businesses moving to the area because that would obviously bring more people."

However, a spokeswoman for St Helens Council told the Star: "The main problem with attracting new businesses to a localised shopping centre like Sutton is that they tend to be already based at their own localised areas and unwilling to re-locate. However, we plan to build 570 new homes in Sutton and new roads have also been put down to the old Sidac site which we are currently marketing to potential buyers."

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