LOCAL councillors have reacted to the news that Liscard is set to receive £10.7 million of levelling up funding from the government.

It was announced yesterday (Monday, November 20) that Liscard is in line to receive the funding as part of what is said to be a “major boost” for the town and local traders.

Wirral Council bid for levelling up funding in July 2022 but was initially unsuccessful. For the latest round of levelling up funding the government has drawn on bids previously submitted which were not funded but were assessed as high-quality and ready-to-deliver. This includes the bid for the renewal of Liscard town centre.

Wallasey Councillor, Lesley Rennie said: “After decades of neglect of Wallasey by Wirral Council, I’m delighted that they have, at long last, realised that something must be done and that the government has agreed to back them. 

“In the last few years, Wirral Council has received almost £100 million in regeneration cash and, so far, most of it has been used for Birkenhead. I’d hope this news is the beginning of a serious change of approach by the council and will see real work to deal with the decline of Wallasey’s main shopping centre.” 

Liscard is now one of 55 projects across the country to have been selected to receive cash from round three of Levelling Up grants which total £1,105m.

To qualify for the funding the council must now confirm the initial bid will still benefit from government funding, show the project is still deliverable by March 2026 and continues to represent value for money.

Wallasey Councillor, Ian Lewis said: “In spite of the best efforts of the shops and businesses in Wallasey, the neglect of the town centre has been a frequent complaint on the doorstep. The impact of changes in shopping habits has sometimes been made worse by poor council decisions, whether in planning, parking or transport.

“I would hope now that this £10.7 million won’t be wasted on branding and logos, but will be the start of genuine regeneration of the wider Wallasey area including all those communities that have, until now, been left behind. It also calls into question the current proposals to route a cycle lane through the middle of the shopping area.” 

The original bid for Liscard by Wirral Council included investment in community facilities, upgraded shop frontages and unlocking development potential for leisure and retail, as well as improvements for pedestrians and cyclists.

The ambitious plans are also a key part of the council’s wider regeneration ambitions across the Left Bank of the borough, stretching from Bromborough and New Ferry through Birkenhead and Wirral Waters to Liscard and New Brighton.

Cllr Janette Williamson, who led the council when the Levelling Up bid for Liscard was prepared and initially submitted, said: "We have fought long and hard for this funding and help for Liscard and I’m incredibly pleased to see that has now paid off after the disappointment earlier in the year.

"Liscard is on the up, it is seeing more and more independent businesses base themselves here, and this will go a long way to giving local traders and residents a well-deserved boost of confidence."