Councillor Richard McCauley, cabinet member for regeneration at St Helens Borough Council, said: "Seeing Eric Wright on site this summer is a huge milestone for Earlestown. The project forms part of a 20-year regeneration plan backed by St Helens Borough Council and ECF, focused on creating sustainable and successful town centres in both Earlestown and St Helens. Elsewhere in Earlestown, contractor HH Smith & Sons is progressing work at the Grade II-listed Earlestown Town Hall. David Baines, MP for St Helens North, said: "St Helens Council, with the support of Government, has shown huge ambition for Earlestown town centre. "Seeing the pre-commencement works on site is a major step forward in realising the ambition of returning this historic town to its rightful status as a thriving market town."