A £1m cash injection from the Liverpool City Region Town Centre Fund will look to kick-start recovery in a district of north Liverpool with grants for small businesses on offer. Tony McDonough reports
A £1m fund to kick-start the recovery in a district of north Liverpool will include grants for small businesses.
Liverpool City Council has set out a 10-year masterplan for the district centre of Walton, which includes County Road and Walton Road. The £1m is coming from the Liverpool City Region Town Centre Fund.
The council has joined forces with Everton FC, Merseyside Police and the wider Walton community deliver a programme based around seven ‘kick-starter projects. They are:
- The Vision – setting the ambitions of the district centre for the next 10 years.
- Enterprise, employability and training – creating a space for entrepreneurs and businesses to grow working in partnership with Everton in the Community.
- Community Hub – refurbishing Spellow Library to be a multi-service inclusive space for the community, providing adult learning, children services and business support.
- Business Fund – a small grant for businesses to improve their business, properties and re-open following COVID-19. Due spring 2021.
- County Community Police Team – in partnership with Merseyside Police the fund has created a dedicated police team for businesses, residents and the community.
- Creative Community – Culture Liverpool will be working with artists to bring art, creativity and community cohesion to the district centre.
- Christmas on County – the fund will aim to bring a spectacular Christmas display for the community in December 2021.
The £6 million Town Centre Fund was established by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to provide up to £1 million for each of its six local authorities, to support plans to revitalise town centres across the city region.
Everton and Everton in the Community have a track-record of community-led partnership regeneration in L4. The club and its official charity has invested more than £10m in bringing to life the Everton Free School and Football College, The People’s Hub, and The Blue Base – home to programmes for the elderly and disabled.
Acting Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Wendy Simon said: “There is a proud history in the County and Walton Road community that deserves a bright future – and the people who live and work there now have a golden opportunity to shape that story.
“Thanks to the Town Centre Fund the city council has been able to marshall all the key players in the area to devise a long-term masterplan and identify some creative solutions which will have an immediate impact for local businesses and residents. This is community-led regeneration in action.
You can view the County District Centre vision document by clicking here and the public are also encouraged to email their thoughts and ideas to the County District Centre team at CDCTeam@liverpool.gov.uk