Sefton Council has said that it is ‘disappointed’ at being categorised as a low priority area when it comes to levelling up funds because it has one of the most deprived areas in the country.

The local authority’s bid to the Levelling Up Fund is for a total of £30.3m and is designed to regenerate Bootle and Crosby, tackle local deprivations and support the creation of investment and employment opportunities in the two towns.

However, Sefton Council leader, Cllr Ian Maher, has said he is ‘disappointed’ the council has been placed in ‘Category 3’, the lowest priority for levelling up funding.

This categorisation means that the area will be judged alongside the City of London, Cambridge and Windsor despite areas of Bootle being among the most deprived in the UK.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead and the City of London have both been placed in the top 20 of prosperity ratings for the UK by the London-based think-tank Legatum Institute, while Sefton is rated 263rd.

‘We were disappointed at the recent Government announcement that Sefton would, once again, be assessed in the lowest Category 3 for the Levelling Up Fund,’ said Cllr Maher.

‘This put us on a par with areas such as Windsor, Cambridge and the City of London.

‘However, I am urging Ministers and Department of Levelling Up officials to see beyond these broad criteria, take a close look at the specific problems we are facing and work with us to address them to create opportunities for the people and businesses of Sefton.’