Work has already started on The Dream – an enormous white bust of a woman's head that will stand 20 metres tall alongside the M62 motorway at St Helens.
The Dream has been commissioned from a Spanish sculptor by St Helens Borough Council with cash from The North-West Regional Development Agency (NWDA).
NWDA is the government-funded quango that is meant to create jobs and stimulate the economy in the North West.
But critics say taxpayers money would have been better spent in creating jobs in the town where more than 5,000 are jobless.
June Lornie director of the Liverpool Academy of Arts said, "This is supposed to be an iconic sculpture but it says nothing at all about the area.
"The artist clearly did not do much research into the history of St Helens or he would have come up with something in glass.
"There are hundreds of local artists who could have done much better job for a lot less."
North-West Lib-Dem MP John Pugh said: "The backers of this project seem to be aiming for some kind of Angel of the North phenomenon but they're way off.
"All too often projects like this build up momentum and are waved-through without any proper consideration for what it will look like or what ordinary people really want."
Southport MP Dr Pugh added: "Creating new jobs in the North West would keep this money in the local economy.
"Instead we are getting a folly with a large proportion of the funding going to a Spanish artist.
"It shows a lack of realism about what is required to tackle economic regeneration in the North West."
Locals in St Helens have mixed opinions about 'The Dream' which has been designed by award-winning artist Jaume Plensa at his studio in Barcelona and is being built on a hill in "Community Woodland" – a former spoil heap at the Sutton Manor Colliery which was closed in 1991.
Janet Jones, 56, whose home in Union Bank Lane, overlooks the site said, "It's bonkers. We will have to look out at this every day and it will stick out like a sore thumb. It's huge and it's white, it will look totally out of place with the trees around it. It will be a blot on the landscape and will probably end-up covered in graffiti."
The sculpture will be assembled from 90 blocks that are being cast at a concrete works in the East Midlands.
Catherine Braithwaite, spokesperson for "The Dream" project said, "This is going to be an iconic structure. Its had a really positive response from local people.
"We've taken a model of the sculpture around local libraries and had really positive feedback.
"Obviously it is a lot of money, but we have to be completely sure that this is a top quality piece of work, and it's not going to fall apart."
Peter Mearns, executive director at the North West Development Agency was keen to point-out that NWDA had not decided the nature of the sculpture.
He said, "We've provided the funding to redevelop the land, but we haven't been involved in choosing the actual artwork.
"Hopefully The Dream will stimulate local pride and generate regional identity."
It's Bonkers - Reaction to The Face of Sutton Manor
Suspect Held as Prescot Rd Seige Ends Peacefully
An armed siege which saw a man carrying a suspected explosive package holed up in a St Helens firm’s HQ has reached a peaceful conclusion.
The Bomb Squad are present as the latest Police Briefing indicated that one person was present on site and that he possessed a suspect package. Trained negotiators were holding talks with him.
A large police presence is at the site and a huge section of surrounding roads have been sealed off.
Sources have told local bloggers that the incident centres on Alfred H Knight International Ltd, a business with global interests, that analyses metals and minerals.
Police have issued a brief statement saying they
are dealing with a security alert.The incident is said to be ongoing, say police.
A Merseyside Police spokesman said: "We are dealing with a security alert at a business premises in West Park, St Helens.
"We were called at 11.30am following reports of a man acting suspiciously. The business premises have been evacuated while checks are carried out."
"Prescot Road and Freckleton Road are closed and Prescot Road with the junction of Lugsmore Lane, Thatto Heath are closed." Motorists are being advised to avoid the area.
Alfred H Knight is based on Eccleston Grange, Prescot Road. The company carries out work across America, Southern Africa, Asia and Europe.
Callers to local newsrooms say some homes and businesses nearby were evacuated.
Students at the nearby Carmel College were kept on site since this morning, but they were sent home at 3pm this afternoon.
A heavy police presence and at least a dozen fire crews have also been stationed at the scene throughout the day.
A large media contingent has been gathering throughout the day.
For more details follow this link back to the original article in The St Helens Star
You Can Now Follow Domino's Pizza St Helens on Twitter
Barack Obama does it, Stephen Fry does it and Britney Spears does it too. Twitter is the latest Web 2.0 tool to get everybody talking - and now Domino's Pizza St Helens is at it as well.
SOS Appeal from St Helens Mayor
St Helens' Mayor John Beirne has launched a campaign to save scores of town centre retailers from being wiped out by the economic downturn.
Coun Beirne want townsfolk to support local shops by spending their hard-earned cash in St Helens rather than travelling to out of town shopping parades.
The Church Street Woolworths store and local pie-makers John Pimblett and Sons are among the town's highest-profile casualties of the economic downturn so far.
Coun Beirne said: "With the recession hitting everyone we need to stick together to save our town centre. All you seem to hear is doom and gloom and it's making things worse.
"The town needs a kick start and people need to be aware that spending their money out of town could mean the loss of local jobs. We're going to lose our town centre unless we get the message across.
"The new Liverpool One and the Trafford Centre are taking our customers. To save our town's shops and jobs we need money to be spent in St Helens - not in out of town shopping malls. So don't buy a pair of jeans in Liverpool or Manchester - spend your money in St Helens."
The town centre Lib Dem councillor has now launched a poster campaign on behalf of all the shopkeepers in St Helens in a bid to boost the local economy.
Each eye-catching poster will simply display the message to 'Shop Local Support St Helens'.
Coun Beirne added: "Hopefully shops will display our posters to get the message across town to support local businesses - we cannot let the heart be ripped out of our town centre by more shop closures. I'm particularly concerned about many of the relatively new businesses who haven't had time to build up a solid client base.
"I want the Chamber of Commerce, ALL political representatives and businesses to stick together and work together to get us through this recession. It's just a case of putting St Helens first."
New Saints Coach Potter Outlines His Initial Plans
New St Helens coach Mick Potter brought with him a simple theory when he walked through the door at Knowsley Road - if it ain't broke, don't fix it!
The 45-year-old former St George full-back was Saints' first choice to succeed fellow Australian Daniel Anderson, who won nine major trophies in his three-and-a-half years at the helm before returning home for family reasons in October.
If the formula worked for Anderson, there is no reason why it cannot do the same for Potter, who is the reigning Super League coach of the year after guiding Catalans Dragons to a third-place finish in 2008.
"It's been a very smooth transition for me," he says.
"When you've got a team that has made the Grand Final two years in a row and won the Challenge Cup three years in a row, you're not going to throw out what has been successful.
"There are a lot of right things happening here and I'm not going to change all that just for change's sake.
"There's a good system in place. It's a club that loves the success but also enjoys the hard work."
Potter inherits a squad that has been bolstered by just one signing in the last two years - former New Zealand Test forward Tony Puletua is set to make his debut against Warrington on February 13 - but he is happy to continue the club's flourishing youth policy.
"Staffing-wise, they're pretty well set and player-wise, they have a recruitment policy of bringing in young players and moving them up quickly," he says.
"Rugby league-wise that's better for us. There hasn't had to be a massive player change and it's probably just age and the salary cap that will create any more changes.
"Structurally, there will probably just be subtle call changes, that's about all."
The St Helens directors, who bit off more than they could chew with Anderson's predecessor Ian Millward, clearly played it safe with their latest appointment.
But the softly-spoken Potter will be no soft touch and, as a strict disciplinarian, insists that big reputations will count for little if a player steps out of line.
"I understand the expectation but I'm not concerned or worried about it," he said.
"My focus is not so much on filling someone else's boots but more on doing what I do well, which is getting people to be accountable for what they do.
"I will talk on a level the players understand, without talking down to them. I will empathise with the player but still be demanding, while technically I do like to focus on some fundamentals.
"My other strength would be discipline. I'm pretty demanding and, if people step out of line, they won't last too long here.
"As far as I'm concerned, they will be ostracised or isolated. At Catalans 12 players had to move after the first year for one reason or another."
Potter, who cut his coaching teeth on the backroom staff at Bradford in 1996, arrived in Perpignan from Sydney three years ago as a virtual unknown but his reputation soared after he guided the Catalans to the Challenge Cup final at Wembley in 2007 and a first appearance in the play-offs 12 months later.
His success was noted by several big clubs back in Australia looking for new coaches and Potter has not given up hope of landing a head coaching position in the National Rugby League.
But that is for the future. He has signed a two-year deal with St Helens and, with a grown-up family, is in no rush to return home.
"Australia is ultimately your home and eventually I'd like to get back there but, at this stage in my life, my work is pretty important to me," he says.
"It's fantastic to be involved in sport and there are not too many full-time jobs in rugby league. It's a small industry we work in and you take what's on offer and appreciate it."
Not that the prospect of staying in the south of France was without its attractions. The Catalans were keen for Potter to extend his contract a second time and he admits it was an agonising decision to leave.
"Perpignan is a very nice place to be and the people are very nice," he says.
"You build relationships and invest a lot of time and energy into trying to help the club. It was a big decision to leave the organisation."
After being on an upward curve for three years with the Dragons, Potter is perhaps taking a risk by joining a club for whom the only way is down after finishing top of the table in all four seasons under Anderson.
"That's for someone else to pass an opinion," he said.
"For me, it's about focusing on the small things, rather than finishing top of the table.
"That will sort itself out. If I worry about that, I lose focus on what is important and that's performance week to week."
Saints Edge Wellens Testimonial
Tony Puletua scored a try on his first appearance as St Helens ground out an unimpressive 26-22 victory over Wakefield in the Paul Wellens testimonial match at the GPW Recruitment Stadium.
The former New Zealand Test forward, who has joined the club from Penrith Panthers, made an encouraging start to his England career, catching the eye with some strong runs in two spells.
England international Maurie Fa'asavalu, young scrum-half Jamie Ellis and back rower Chris Flannery were the other players to impress for Saints, who fielded 10 members of their Grand Final team, while Wellens created two of his side's five tries.
Wakefield, who gave a first appearance to new signing James Stosic, were without eight regulars through injury and illness but they often looked the better team and three times they held the lead.
Hooker Sam Obst scored the only try of the first half, as the Wildcats led 6-0, but he went off injured just before the break and was sorely missed by the Yorkshiremen in the second half.
Puletua brought Saints level four minutes into the second half when he took Keiron Cunningham's short pass to crash over near the posts while centre Chris Dean, wingers Ade Gardner and Tom Armstrong and substitute Matty Ashurst scored the home side's other tries.
Wakefield's second-half tryscorers were full-back Matt Blaymire, centre Ryan Atkins and winger Damien Blanch, with Tony Martin kicking three conversions.
St Helens Ace Kyle Eastmond Shows Off His New Crib
David Wilson Homes North West has scored big this winter with a string of sales at The Fairways development in Oldham, where they have just helped no other than St Helens rugby league star, Kyle Eastmond purchase his first home.
The combination of stylish, thoughtfully designed homes in a safe, well-planned environment, and sensational sales advisor Jason Barnett has made this development a winner for the rugby ace.
As a first time buyer, Kyle was looking for the perfect home in a peaceful location to begin his climb up the property ladder. And proving to be particularly popular with the St Helens half back was the stunning three bedroom Malting home.
Kyle explains: “I wanted my first home to be a retreat so it had to be set in a quiet area, away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre, but it also needed to be within easy reach of St Helen’s training ground.
“My uncle recommended David Wilson Homes and when I saw The Fairways development I knew it would be the perfect location for me. They had so many homes to choose from, but what appealed to me was the way the development was so private making it an ideal escape after a match or training session.”
Kyle’s new home the three bedroom Malting is perfect for young professionals looking to make their first step on to the property ladder. The well planned design provides excellent flexibility and space; the ground floor is dedicated to relaxing with a comfortable living area, whilst the separate kitchen and dining room create a perfect area for entertaining. The unique spiral stairs then leads to the first floor which encompasses two generous sized bedrooms, a master bedroom and luxurious family sized bathroom.
Kyle adds: “This house is ideal for me as it’s not too big whilst I’m living on my own but I can also see it as a home I’ll grow into. I love the feature spiral staircase as it makes my home more original and with the extra space I can definitely customise it to suit my needs. My first idea is to convert one of my spare rooms into the ultimate games room; I can’t wait to get started.”
Sales director for David Wilson Homes North West, Shohreh Bowler, adds: “The Fairways boasts a great mix of house types which provide a fantastic combination of spacious, affordable and intelligent designs. The development itself is also very unique; people are already seeing it as an investment. The sales team are also fantastic at The Fairways; Jason has been a great advocate for David Wilson Homes, and we’ve had countless letters of thanks and praise from satisfied customers who have been delighted at the outstanding levels of service they have received.”
Since moving in Kyle has been quick to recommend the development, praising the attentive and friendly service he received from Jason whilst buying the house and since moving in.
Kyle comments: “I cannot thank Jason enough for all the help he has given me. He has been awesome throughout the whole process. As this was my first time buying I was unsure about all the procedures which were involved, but he was more than happy to go that extra mile for me. I felt completely comfortable in Jason hands as he made sure everything was taken care of. I didn’t have to worry about a thing.”
Jason Barnett, sales advisor at The Fairways explains: “It’s all part of my job and I’m more than happy to go that extra mile if it means getting people their dream home. With Kyle I felt I had a responsibility to guide him through the process, as he is still young and was buying his first home. I wanted to make sure we got him a fantastic house which would be an investment for his future. Kyle got a great deal with David Wilson paying 5% of the deposit and with all the carpets and laminates included within the price. I was just happy to be involved and am delighted he is so pleased with his purchase.”
The Fairways is well situated, boasting a range of amenities within walking distance including a great range of restaurants, bars and high street shops in Royton town centre as well as excellent commuter links to Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool via the M62, ideal for first-time buyers and young professionals alike.
