Work starts on entrance to Saints stadium site
Work has started to improve access to the former United Glass site in Peasley Cross, St Helens.
St Helens Council has begun to create a highway infrastructure to form a new entrance to the site by constructing a new roundabout and associated works.
Brian Spencer, leader of St Helens Council, said: "The Council has long recognised the importance of this site and felt it appropriate to fund these works, without which, the re-development of the site could not have taken place. This is a very proud moment as things now begin to take shape."
The development of the former United Glass site is being delivered by a partnership of Langtree, St Helens Council, the North West Development Agency, Saints Rugby League Club and Tesco.
Four companies are vying to secure the tender to construct a £20m stadium for the rugby league club on the former United Glass site at Peasley Cross.
John Downes, managing director of Langtree, which owns the site, added: "These works take us another significant step forward in ensuring the delivery of this important regeneration scheme. The new stadium and Tesco superstore form phase one of the development and between them will create hundreds of new jobs in the borough. I anticipate that Langtree will be in a position to announce the identity of the main contractor in the coming weeks with works starting on site soon after."
Eamonn McManus, of Saints Rugby League Club, said: "Our work over many years is now turning into the reality of a new stadium. Saints fans and the people of St Helens will be thrilled to see remediation and infrastructure works start around the stadium site within the next couple of months which will enable the stadium build works thereafter.
"A transformation of the club and of the town is now within sight and the excitement of moving to a new home will soon overtake the sadness of leaving the GPW Recruitment Stadium. Once again I would like to thank the council and our other partners for their continued commitment and support against the backdrop of what's been a very difficult economic and financial environment."
Saints' ambition is to move into a new home by May 2011. The club announced last year that 2010 will be their final season at Knowsley Road's GPW Recruitment stadium.
