They were promised £20m each earlier this year
18:45, 24 Nov 2025Updated 19:09, 24 Nov 2025
Argyle Street in Birkenhead(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
Three parts of Merseyside described as “long forgotten and ignored” have been given an update after being promised £60m earlier this year. Seacombe, central Birkenhead, and the Woodchurch Estate have each been promised up to £20m.
The Pride in Place programme was announced by the UK Government earlier this year with nearly 250 areas promised £20m over 10 years to invest in their local communities. Unlike a lot of funds which go through authorities like local councils, the government said communities will decide where this money goes up until 2037.
On the Wirral, three areas are set to get millions each. The government said this could include improvements to pavements and high streets to investment in culture and green spaces.
Boards will be set up in each neighbourhood promising to put “local people at the centre of defining their area’s future” with a vision and a road map to deliver the £20m. While Wirral Council will not be in charge of the funds, the local authority is hoping any programme will line up with their regeneration plans for the borough.
A motion has been put forward by Wirral’s Labour group welcoming the investment by the UK Government. If supported by at least seven votes from other parties, the motion will see the council look to provide support and outline how the council will respond and “positively work together to exploit the opportunities presented by the scheme.”
The call, put forward by Wirral Council’s Labour leader and deputy leader Cllrs Paula Basnett and Julie McManus, said the investment will “get resources into some of the country’s most deprived communities” and give people “a greater say in how funding is spent and how their areas are developed.”
The motion said: “In Wirral, we listen to and work with our residents, directing money into priorities that local residents want to see. For too long, the previous government disempowered people with endless rules – we want residents to decide how this money is spent and help build stronger and more resilient communities by providing long term, sustained investment and local control.”
They added: “This Labour Government, along with Wirral Labour Group on the council, is standing up for Wirral residents in areas that were long forgotten and ignored by the Tories in the 14 years they were in government.
“The Labour Party and local Labour councillors are fully on our residents’ side and want to partner with them to ensure their communities get the investment they truly deserve.
“For too long previous Tory governments cut resources to our council and our communities. These deep cuts have left their mark and have damaged our communities.”
A number of other motions have been put forward at the same meeting. The Conservatives are asking for a pause as the local authority looks to move ahead with parking charges in a number of areas following continued opposition to the idea.
The party have also suggested a number of schemes that could be rolled out, a move they said would support trade across the borough. This includes a 15 minute grace period of free parking, as well as free parking windows on Remembrance Sunday and in the run to Christmas.
The Green Party are calling for the council and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to bring Merseyrail back into public hands. They “believe Merseyrail’s profit could and should be used for the benefit of local passengers.”
Wirral’s Liberal Democrats have also put a motion forward against the government’s plans to bring in digital ID. They are asking the council to express “firm opposition” to the idea.