ST HELENS Council leader, Marie Rimmer went 'walkabout' in Newton High Street to see the range of improvements already being carried out.

And Councillor Rimmer, who is also chairman of the Newton 21 Partnership, announced that another £60,000 would be ploughed into the face-lift scheme.

The cash will help to enhance plans already being implemented for the refurbishment of the Newton High Street Conservation Area.

The first phase of the project was awarded £100,000 by Newton 21 in 1997 and work is already underway, including the creation of proper parking bays, landscaping, tree and shrub planting and new street furniture. The additional funding will allow substandard paving to be replaced as well. A grants scheme is also helping local businesses to give a new look to their premises and CCTV has been installed in the area for the past 12 months.

After touring the area with community leaders, Councillor Rimmer said she thought the enhanced refurbishment scheme would make a considerable difference to the area when it was completed. "I think it will provide a much better environment for local people to enjoy and on which local businesses can prosper. Some of the measures we are implementing, such as CCTV, will also help to tackle crime and make the area safer for the community.

Policing in the area and community safety generally will be discussed at a Police Community Liaison Forum, chaired by Councillor Rimmer, at St Aelred's High School starting at 7.30pm on Tuesday, March 7.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.