By Geoff Barnes

HISTORIC Fort Perch Rock is in line for a multi-million pound facelift.

If plans in the pipeline reach fruition the Mersey stronghold at New Brighton will be boosted as a tourist attraction by the re-installation of a naval gun and cannons associated with its military past, along with other restoration initiatives.

Doug Darroch Jnr, spokesman for the family concern which owns the fort, said English Heritage had indicated that the building was their number one restoration priority in Wirral.

Mr Darroch said a feasibility study would be undertaken later in the year with a view to the scheme being completed within the next five years.

He said: "We would try to draw funding from various sources, with European money being the most likely.

"Since we took over the fort this has been our objective. Originally the Capital of Culture year (2008) was our target, but this will not happen.

"We have a number of options - extending the present museum being one of them. The fort lends itself to military-type exhibitions and we also plan some kind of initiative relating to the river and all the famous ships that have passed the fort."

The proposed new guns for the fort would be used by military re-enactment groups in the staging of mock battles.

Mr Darroch told the ongoing inquiry into the New Brighton revival scheme that the fort's £7m restoration programme would carry forward the 200-year-old fort for another 150 years.

He said: "During the last 40 years people's views and attitudes on UK heritage have changed. The fort and lighthouse have become much loved and photographed icons."

But the exciting revelation about the fort's future prospects have been dampened by a critical appraisal this week over its standing in New Brighton.

Local traders claim it is in danger of becoming the resort's "most conspicuous embarrassment."

Business people in the resort are calling for urgent action to prevent some of its most important heritage assets from degenerating into eyesores.

New Brighton Trade and Business Association has identified a number of key buildings it claims are at risk. Members want a Liverpool-style "Stop the Rot" campaign to safeguard the resort's Victorian heritage.

Along with the Grand Hotel, Hotel Victoria, Chelsea Reach and derelict shops in Victoria Road, they have pointed the finger at Fort Perch Rock - one of New Brighton's most celebrated landmarks - as a key concern.

Association president Ron Jones said: "Fort Perch Rock is an underdeveloped resource which should be the centrepiece of our brand new seafront. This is potentially one of our biggest draws, but it is in danger of becoming our most conspicuous embarrassment. As a visitor centre it is sadly neglected and positively 'underwhelming.' There has been no significant money spent on the building in the last 30 years. There is an urgent need for new investment and imagination to secure the fort's future."

He added: "The business community have given full backing to the plans for a major new development on the sea front, but if we are to have a successful and prosperous future it is equally important that we invest in preserving our heritage and protecting key listed buildings.

"We believe Wirral Council and bodies like English Heritage need to intervene now to prevent Fort Perch Rock becoming the latest in a long list of New Brighton landmarks that have decayed and disappeared."

Mr Darroch commented: "People are entitled to their individual opinions, but for every bad comment we hear about the fort we get 2,000 good ones."