The Jamster wrote:
Public funds used to build saints stadium,
Ha ha. Public funds were used to cleanse the site, build the bridge and fit the infrastructure, yes. Build the stadium? No. Although the Council is using one of the big rooms for youth work, so they will be contributing something. As for the rest of your list (bar Tesco, which wasn't actually mentioned), public funds paid for the lot.
You walk down every high-street in Britain you will see empty shop space, St Helens isn't any different- what St H has done is to position itself well for when the economy does begin to grow once more.
What a load of tosh. I've just finished spells of work in both Wigan and Warrington and while there are always empty shops in even the most healthy economies, both those towns look to be thriving while ours has long been on the scrap heap. We've just filled Woollies with yet another pound shop. Whoopee. Meanwhile, Warrington fill their empty shops with companies selling sports gear and designer clothing. Get real. St Helens is nothing like the successful economies around us.
But hopefully the stadium will help to bring new investment into the town. The town certainly needs it.
But this is a distraction from the very important business of this thread.
Fabulous photos again Chair Maker!