Councils in Merseyside will receive funds from the government to help them reopen its high streets safely – but our local leaders say the money coming through from government simply isn’t enough.

Each of the local councils in the city region will be getting a share of £1.3million to help put in safety measures for when businesses reopen, with Wirral Council set to receive £286,292 for its high streets.

Wirral’s Chamber of Commerce CEO, Paula Basnett welcomed the news of the non-essential retail sector opening from June 15.

She said it is likely to be an “entirely new way” of how these businesses will be run in light of the pandemic.

She said: “The announcement from Prime Minister Boris Johnson regarding all none essential retail are able to open from June 15 providing that they follow the COVID-19 secure guidelines will be a much-welcomed announcement from our businesses on Wirral.

“It is vital that Government provides the clarity and guidance needed on a phased reopening of the retail sector to ensure that businesses and customers remain safe.

“It is likely to be an entirely new way of operating for many businesses and support from government is a necessity.

“Wirral Chamber of Commerce will continue to support our businesses and community during this phased approach of reopening our high streets to ensure that we all remain safe.”

A spokesperson for Wirral Council did not comment.

The news comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that outdoor markets and car showrooms would be able to open from June 1.

From June 15 all other shops will be allowed to reopen, with social distancing in place.

Businesses will only be able to open from these dates once they have completed a risk assessment, in consultation with trade union representatives or workers and they are confident they are managing the risks.

The government said they will give councils in England a share of £50million of the ‘Reopening High Streets Safely Fund’ – with Merseyside councils getting £1.3million in total between them.

Merseyside councils will be able to use the cash to develop local marketing campaigns to explain the changes to people and reassure them the high streets are safe to use again.

The money will also be used by local councils to be used on new signs, street markings and temporary barriers.

However council leaders across the Liverpool City Region have joined forces to say coronavirus is having a greater impact in the region than anywhere else – and that the government promise to do ‘whatever it takes’ has so far been found wanting.

Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram and all the region’s council leaders have made a direct and urgent appeal to the Prime Minister backed up by a detailed report entitled ‘The Case for the Liverpool City Region.’

The collective intervention from local leaders warns that recovery from the local health, economic and social crisis caused by Covid-19 represents the greatest challenge the area has faced since 1945.

Local authorities have been working round the clock to mobilise the unprecedented levels of support currently needed in the region, however the area is experiencing higher than average infection and mortality rates.

Councils across the City Region are spending an extra £10m a week to protect local residents and over the next six months they estimate the bill is likely to be around £341m, with the Combined Authority also losing over £5m a week.

With only £100m allocated so far from central Government, concern is growing that local authorities here are staring into a funding black-hole of almost a quarter of a billion pounds.

There have been widespread concerns across all the region’s councils that the government’s promise to do ‘whatever it takes’ to support local authorities during the crisis hasn’t been kept.