METRO Mayor Steve Rotheram has revealed plans for a new £5 million 'Town Centre Fund' to support long-term success across Merseyside's town centres.

The fund will work closely with teams at each local authority in the Liverpool City Region and meet with the Combined Authority (CA) investment team, to agree which towns to focus on.

Plans will then be drawn up if needed for each town so that they can thrive over the next 20 years.

It is hoped the process will also provide local people with the opportunity to comment on and shape investment plans for their local areas.

In a speech Mr Rotheram said: “Liverpool city centre is the economic engine of our city region and we will continue to support its development with strategic investments, like those we are making to support the knowledge quarter and the new cruise liner terminal.

"But just as we must help our city to succeed, we must also ensure that every part of our region thrives as well.

"Across our region so many of our towns have untapped potential.

"Our high streets face new challenges, with new technologies and changing customer habits, and must change in order to survive.

“That is why I am announcing the formation of a new City Region Town Centre Commission.

"The Commission will work with our local authorities to produce long-term investment plans for how each area’s towns can thrive over the next 20 years.

"I can also announce that I am pre-allocating £5m of funding – up to £1m for each borough with a town centre – to the first round of a Metro Mayor’s Town Centre Fund.

"This is a clear signal that I will ensure that the benefits of devolution really are passed on to every part of our city region.”

The announcement was made at a conference called by University of Liverpool vice-chancellor professor Dame Janet Beer and Mr Rotheram, to assess what has happened in his first year in role, highlight the CA’s £460m investment programme and announce what are the next steps.

Chief executive of Wirral Chamber of Commerce Paula Basnett said: "Wirral Chamber of Commerce welcomes the introduction of the Town Centre Fund initiative and we will be very happy to offer our support in making it a success.

"Vibrant, thriving and prosperous town centres are vital to the economic prosperity of our region and for Birkenhead, in particular, we will be looking to encourage schemes enhancing its offer for businesses and residents alike in bringing new investment and employment."

"It will be a great opportunity to form positive and strong collaborations underpinning the work already being carried out by the Birkenhead Business Improvement District in ensuring the Town Centre Fund will focus on delivering and implementing key projects."