THE St Helens Town Centre Partnership was launched last week in front of more than 70 business leaders from industry, retail, the utilities, the voluntary and the public sector.

The partnership is an initiative between public and private sectors and its overall aim is to improve the town centre experience for shoppers, workers, visitors and students, enhancing existing businesses and encouraging new business.

Guests listened to a presentation on the investment which is currently underway, or has been recently completed in St Helens town centre, including £1.7million on pedestrianisation and enhancement of the shopping area with £5.5 million spent on a new market, £14 million on the World of Glass visitor centre and about £20 million on a multiplex cinema.

They were also introduced to St Helens' first town centre manager, Jacquie Reilly and heard of some of the achievements of the partnership since its formation alongside Jacquie's appointment a year ago. This included working with the local authority to develop a £100,000 signage programme, new and unique Christmas lights and customer service training for retailers.

Jacquie Reilly said: "I am delighted to be working with St Helens businesses and to see so many organisations represented here today. I aim to seek businesses views, get them working together and make a difference to St Helens town centre."

John Lockwood from Urban Management Initiatives said: "What Jacquie Reilly has achieved in the time she has been in St Helens is tremendous, we now need more businesses to support what's going on."

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