Others viewed the offering in St Helens with more cynicism.
For Graham Rudge, 53, the town centre has seen a long and steady decline.
“Back in the 90s it was bustling,” he said.
“We used to have a fountain and everything, Hardshaw Centre behind us.
“People used to meet up, go to shops. Now, it’s just a place you pass through really. It’s like Windy City. You see the homeless and there’s not much here apart from the odd busker, it’s sad.”
In an online website dedicated to the redevelopment of the town centre, St Helens Council described it as a “once- in-a-life-time” opportunity.
It said: “We want our town centre to be child and family-friendly, safe and sustainable thriving places for local businesses, shoppers, visitors, and residents, and that’s what our plans will help to deliver.”
Elsewhere, complaints were raised about the town’s road surfaces and the town’s specialist education provision.
Rachel Wilson, 39, who volunteers at a community coffee drop-in session, said one of her biggest concerns had been the provision of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP) for children – like her own – with additional needs.
“I know from personal experience that when I have tried to contact the council, local MPs, they’re not equipped, they haven’t got the knowledge,” she said.
“This is, you know, it’s a nationwide thing but they’re not equipped and it’s almost like our children don’t matter.
“My child is in the wrong setting and if he’s not able to find another setting we potentially may have to go private, but even when we’ve looked at private schools -they’re not equipped for children like my child.”
The BBC has asked the council for a response.
