A HISTORIC time ball and clock face will be installed at a Prescot building as part of a project to rejuvenate the area.

Following the announcement by regional metro mayor Steve Rotheram, that Knowsley had secured £1m from his Town Centre Fund, plans have now been developed regarding how the money will be used.

The funding will be used in Prescot town centre and in Huyton in a bid to attract more residents, visitors and businesses and support the town centres to be thriving and vibrant.

Plans include tailored business support and training to support independent businesses in the town centres and to provide digital payment technology (card readers) to independent businesses.

There will be shop front improvements in both town centres and supporting events to be hosted including the development of a programme of seasonal events (in Huyton) and improving infrastructure to host events (in Prescot).

Meanwhile, a time ball and clock face will be installed at the Flat Iron Building in Prescot, further symbolising Prescot’s rich watchmaking history.

The time ball will descend at key times of the day and the historic clock mechanism (made in Prescot in 1811) will be visible.

The Time Ball was first used in 1833. Normally each day, at 12.55, the time ball rises half way up its mast. At 12.58 it rises all the way to the top and at 13.00 exactly, the ball falls.

The plans will be implemented over the next 18 months.

St Helens Star:

Knowsley Council leader Cllr Graham Morgan and metro mayor Steve Rotheram at the Shakespeare North site

Cllr Graham Morgan, leader of Knowsley Council, said “This is great news for our town centres and local businesses.

"We all want our town centres to be thriving and we are doing all we can to support our local businesses and attract more visitors into our town centres. This funding will help to support this priority and I look forward to seeing the plans now start to be implemented.”

Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram added: “When I was elected, I promised that no area in our region would be left behind. It’s thanks to devolution that we’re able to invest in our town centres, which have often been long-neglected by the private sector.

“I want this fund to help support Graham and Knowsley Council in their plans to revitalise our town centres and ensure that they are able to succeed moving forward.”