LEADERS from local government, business and the community turned out in force for a presentation, hosted by the BBC's Felicity Goodey, to mark the 10th anniversary of the Ravenhead Renaissance partnership at the Stakis Hotel.

The partnership is made up of representatives from St Helens Council, Grosvenor Housing, the Groundwork Trust, Ibstock Building Products, MEPC UK, Milverny Properties, Pilkington plc, St Helens Chamber, St Helens College, St Helens CVS and St Helens Police. Former partners have included United Glass, British Gas, Amec and British Coal.

In just 10 years the partnership has attracted more than £150million into the town and has been responsible for new developments such as Safeway, the Stakis Hotel and more recently the World of Glass.

Chairman of the partnership, Professor Graham Ashworth, said: "Ten years ago Ravenhead Renaissance partners began work in St Helens with an ambitious and pioneering programme of activites aimed at improving the local environment, local economy and local vision and confidence in the area known as the Southern Corridor.

"In that 10 years a great deal of good has happened and there is much to celebrate. The new linkway to the M62, new shopping, new housing and new facilities such as the Stakis Hotel and the World of Glass, alongside new landscpaes and horizons, all for local people to use and enjoy.

"There is also much to look forward to, the new and exciting borough-wide SRB programme 'Count Me In' starts next year - a new programme for the new Millennium, but all still founded in partnership and Ravenhead Renaissance.

"I look back with pride on what has been done so far and look forward with excitement to what will be achieved in the future."

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