AN ELECTION candidate has offered to help a Runcorn campaign group in securing Government support.
Derek Twigg, who is Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Halton, proposed a meeting between Halton Borough Council bosses, councillors and campaigners to take place after the election, to hammer out the issues and ideas around the shopping districts.
Mr Twigg said his power does not lie with making direct decisions but that, if elected again, he can pursue funding and project proposals through the Government.
He said: “Do I have a vision for Runcorn? I do. The centre could be improved and become more attractive.
“We have got to have a scheme that will bring in housing, retail and other leisure facilities and that’s what we would need to attract a developer.
“There was an Urban Splash project in the pipeline but that was pulled because of the recession.
“But we’re coming out the recession again now.
“Now is the time to start pushing forwards.
“What can I do? If I am an MP after May 6, I can play my part by levering Government money in, like the £7m that got the Stobart and Tesco development started. Or like the Mersey Gateway, that will create 5-6,000 jobs if it goes ahead.”
