Plans are under way to overhaul a rundown section of the town centre after St Helens Council approved a community-led mural to cover graffiti in the car park underpass on Chalon Way West.
Brightening a space used daily by residents
The scheme will place a large, colourful mural across the underpass walls and is being produced by professional artists working alongside local young people. The artwork will carry the message Welcome to St Helens and include recognisable local references such as Jaume Plensa’s Dream sculpture, the World of Glass museum and an image of a miner to reflect the town’s industrial past.
Council deputy leader Sharon Roughley said the underpass, which links the town centre car parks, has been a magnet for graffiti and tends to put people off visiting the retail area. The mural is intended both to deter further vandalism and to give local people a sense of pride in a more attractive public space.
“We want to make St Helens a lot brighter but, also, I think it's really good for the community to come together and make something that's quite beautiful and vibrant,”
Local artist Tom Glynn is among the professionals scheduled to lead the project, which will involve workshops and on-site sessions with children and young people. The council says this collaborative approach is a key part of the brief — giving youngsters ownership of the space and teaching them practical art skills while improving the look of the town centre.
- Location: car park underpass, Chalon Way West
- Main message: "Welcome to St Helens"
- Artwork features: Dream sculpture, World of Glass, miner motif
- Participants: professional artists including Tom Glynn and local young people
The clean-up of the underpass follows complaints from residents and businesses about the persistence of graffiti in that area. Council officers say targeted, colourful artwork often succeeds where repeated removal has failed — mural projects can reduce tagging by creating spaces the community values and guards.
| Feature | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Welcome to St Helens message | Signpost town identity for visitors and shoppers |
| Dream sculpture and World of Glass imagery | Celebrate cultural landmarks |
| Miner image | Recognise local industrial heritage |
People living and working near the site have told WE NEWS they welcome anything that makes the route into town feel safer and more inviting. Shops and cafes that rely on passing footfall are constantly looking to encourage visitors, and a brighter, cleaner route from car parks to the shopping area is plain common sense.
The council has not published a firm completion date, but the project timetable suggests workshops and preparatory works will begin within weeks. Residents can expect temporary fencing and controlled access while painting is carried out to ensure public safety.
This is not the first time St Helens has used public art to tackle antisocial behaviour and improve civic spaces. Similar initiatives elsewhere have shown that community murals can reduce the need for constant cleaning and create landmarks that both locals and visitors come to recognise and respect. For this town, which has been reshaping its identity since the decline of heavy industry, the mural is another small but visible step in presenting a positive, modern face to anyone arriving in the centre.
As the work begins, organisers say they will publish details of volunteering opportunities and youth workshops so people can get involved. The council hopes the finished mural will be a lasting, colourful welcome to the town and a useful reminder of the community that helped produce it.
