The town centres

MILLIONS of pounds of investment has given Halton a bright new image - with many more exciting projects coming to fruition. Plush apartments, continental bars, big name High Street retailers, prestigious waterside developments are set to strengthen the borough as a property hot spot. In the coming weeks, we will be reflecting on the changing face of Widnes and Runcorn - over the past 10 years. You may be surprised to discover just how much has happened - on your own doorstep.

WIDNES

Leading High Street retailers, more shops, street makeovers and new road layouts have transformed Widnes town centre.

Home interiors chain Au Naturale opens next week, creating 25 new jobs and paving the way for more top names.

Apartments costing £100,000 beside the £21m new Asda were snapped up - before they were even built!

"It is exciting," said Cllr Rob Polhill, board member for development. "Widnes was contaminated from the chemical industry and we've turned that around.

"A lot of people now come from miles around. We are the envy of many towns."

It's only 10 years since Morrisons, TJ Hughes, the Green Oaks shopping centre and a modern market hall opened - yet few people remember what the contaminated land used to look like.

Derek Sutton, Halton Council's operational director for major projects, recalled: "It took us nine years to reclaim the Vine site."

Shoppers, he said, forget the century-old market only traded three days a week - Green Oaks market hall opens six days.

"There was no town centre, it was too fragmented," he said. "A lot more national names are now coming. We're getting Widnes and Runcorn onto retailers' and developers' maps. It's been a major effort, we're just beginning to break into it."

Sports giant JJB opened a £6.5m store, health and leisure centre, revitalising the north end of the town.

More new shops are being built at the southern end in Widnes Road.

Florist Rona Leather, chair of Widnes town centre partnership, said: "A lot more people are coming into the town since Asda opened.

"It's all looking nice with new seats and new lampposts.

"Traders are confident."

A major makeover of the Windmill Centre attracted giant catalogue store Hitchens, creating 30 new jobs.

Investment to develop phase two is expected late 2005 or early 2006.

Matthew Cormack, Yorvale development director, said: "We have exciting plans for the vacant Mackays unit and we're close to agreeing terms for a new 5,000 sq ft building beside Poundstretcher.

"More and more prominent well known names are expressing an interest.

"We think Widnes is on the up and we'd like to think we're helping."

HERE'S what happened in 2004 to give Widnes town centre a new look:

- JJB unveiled a £6.5m store, health and leisure centre in March

- Asda opened a £21m store in August

- A shop front improvement scheme was launched

- Four refurbished shop units were completed in Widnes Road

- Peel House Lane Link Road opened

- Derelict shops at Simms Cross were bulldozed to be replaced by new units

- Three 'streetscape' schemes were completed with new seats, planters, lampposts and parking bays

- Hitchens opened in December

- Retail properties from 94-108 Albert Road were refurbished

- Roundabouts were given a makeover with modern landscaping

RUNCORN

The £7m Brindley Arts Centre, a £1m Kwik Save store and a brand new market have revitalised Runcorn town centre.

Britain's top architects are competing to design the most imaginative, iconic buildings to develop the town's waterside

Canal Quarter.

A new swimming pool and library has to be incorporated into their vision.

"We are all feeling very excited and positive," said Gary Shaw, chairman of Runcorn traders. "The new Brindley is absolutely brilliant. We've got extra parking and a new health food shop.

"The Canal Quarter will really put us on the map."

Enthusiastic market traders are looking forward to moving into a purpose built market hall before Easter.

The Direct Link building, used as a temporary market, will be developed once stallholders settle into their new home.

Pub chain JD Wetherspoon is to invest more than £1m to develop a pub at the former Kwik Save site in Church Street.

Specialising in real ales, the pub will be music-free.

"We are confident the pub will be an asset to the area," said John Hutson, managing director of Wetherspoon.

Cllr Rob Polhill, board member for development, said: "Now that the Brindley is open and the market hall is finished, the town is taking shape.

"We want something really upmarket and classy for the Canal Quarter. We have already had a great response from developers."

Liz Howard of Curiosity Bookshop, is full of optimism. She said: "The town will have its own quaint character. We're hoping it will become the cultural centre of the borough. Independent traders are still putting their money into little shops.

"The waterway and the Brindley are really turning the town around." A new paint shop is opening soon. The Scala bingo hall is being converted into 18 flats.

New shops and 10 apartments are being built beside the Barley Mow pub in Church Street.More housing is also being developed at the site of the Esso garage in Bridge Street.

"Making the town more residential is good," said Liz. "A department store would be absolutely fantastic.

"It's wonderful that Runcorn is still growing."