Cabinet Backs £1.4m investment to boost frontline services at Hardshaw Brook Depot
St Helens Borough Council's Cabinet has today (Wednesday 3 September) approved a £1.412 million investment to upgrade Hardshaw Brook Depot - a vital operational hub that helps keep the borough moving, clean, and safe.
Article date: 3 September 2025
The approved investment will see the replacement of the existing fuel station, the construction of a brand-new salt barn, and plans taken forward to improve staff safety and welfare facilities. Contracts have been awarded to George Cox and Sons to deliver the new fuel station and salt barn.
Hardshaw Brook Depot is home to many services that residents rely on every single day - from recycling and waste collections and highways maintenance to parks, street cleaning, school transport, and community safety. Its fuel station and salt barn are critical assets that support day-to-day service delivery and play a key role in the Council's winter plans and Emergency Response Plans. The proposed upgrades will enhance resilience, efficiency, and productivity across frontline services.
The depot is also a workplace for hundreds of council staff - every day and around the clock - many of which are residents of the same communities they serve. The improvements will give staff the modern facilities they need to do their jobs safely, comfortably, and effectively.
Councillor Tracy Dickinson, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Environmental Services, said:
"Hardshaw Brook Depot is a vital hub that helps to keep our borough moving, clean, and safe. From gritted roads in winter to reliable recycling and waste collections every day, well-maintained streets and green spaces, a vigilant eye increasing safety in our town centres, and the crucial upkeep of our extensive and specialised fleet.
"By investing in the depot now, we're creating a safer, more accessible and modern working environment for our staff, so they can continue to deliver for our communities. This will also strengthen our ability to respond quickly in emergencies, keeping services resilient for years to come."
Councillor Richard McCauley Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said:
"Good asset management is about more than maintaining what we have - it's about investing where it matters most. By identifying areas with the greatest potential for service improvement, we ensure that every pound spent delivers maximum impact for the communities we serve. Our approach is rooted in evidence, transparency, and long-term value."