IT'S time to chip in and have your say about the town's blueprint for the future.

The new draft City Growth Strategy for St Helens is complete and all sectors of the community are now being asked for their views.

Five 'talk to the people' events have been planned during June and July, with opinion also being gathered via the City Growth website at http://www.citygrowthsthelens.com from mid-June.

The strategy sets out an ambitious agenda for change in four key areas:

l Transforming the business base;

l Achieving a physical transformation;

l Achieving a cultural transformation;

l Transforming perceptions.

Each theme has a number of suggested priority actions. The Strategy includes proposals for: an improved transport infrastructure, business cluster developments, improvements to further education provision, a marketing campaign to put St Helens on the business radar, environmental improvements and developments to retail housing and leisure services. The Strategy has been developed by a business led partnership and aims to stimulate economic growth and wealth creation in St Helens.

The City Growth Strategy initiative is based on a US model of regeneration that places enterprise and business success at the heart of long-term regeneration. The Strategy analyses St Helens economic strengths, future opportunities and considers any barriers to sustainable growth. The Strategy will result in an economic development plan, that is action orientated and business focussed.

Shared vision

Andrew Smith, Business Champion for City Growth St Helens said: "This is your chance to have your say about the future of St Helens. The draft Strategy promises to create shared vision backed up by new partnerships working together to realise St Helens full economic potential. We need your views now to make sure we create a vision and a plan of action that is ambitious and dynamic but driven by the strategic needs of St Helens business for the good of the entire borough".

Cllr Alma Atherton said: "The draft City Growth Strategy is full of big ideas that could make a lasting difference to St Helens. This is a one off opportunity for St Helens to use this new approach to regeneration to unlock our potential.

Encourage

"I would like to encourage as many people as possible to have their say and take part in the consultation process. This is very much a partnership effort and we want to hear your views".

The City Growth St Helens initiative is being led by a partnership board made up of business leaders from St Helens, St Helens Council and St Helens Chamber. St Helens has been selected as the only City Growth Strategy pilot in the North West, as one of seven initiatives in the UK. The final strategy is expected to be published in Autumn 2003.