CHESTER MP Chris Matheson is calling on the Government to provide £600,000 a year to go towards the upkeep of the city's historic walls.

He has written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, proposing a budget change that would create more funding for their maintenance.

Not all local authorities are responsible for the upkeep of ancient monuments, but currently Cheshire West and Chester Council have to use cash set aside for investment in the highways in order to maintain the walls.

Mr Matheson is concerned that "if funding for local government continues to decline then this will ultimately impact either the maintenance of the walls, our roads, or potentially both".

He proposes that the walls are "re-profiled as a unique and important historical monument" for the UK and has invited the Chancellor to visit the city and take a tour of the walls to see the recent investment and restoration work that has been carried out.

"Chester’s walls are a much-loved and iconic feature of our city", said Mr Matheson. "And in recent years the council has demonstrated its commitment to their upkeep and restoration through the allocation of specific funding for their maintenance.

"My worry is that because this pot is linked to the council’s highways budget, and if funding for local government continues to decline, then this will ultimately impact either the maintenance of the walls, our roads, or potentially both.

"We should not be in a position where we have to choose between the safety of our roads or the preservation of the history and identity of our city."

He added: "Whilst the largest proportion of money spent on the walls since Cheshire West and Chester Council was formed has been spent in more recent years, the average over the past twelve years is around £600,000.

"Last year the highways funding allocation from the government to Cheshire West and Chester Council was cut by 22%. With more pressure on locally generated resources for highways maintenance and less money coming from central government, this is not a sustainable position.

"My proposal to the Treasury is that the walls are re-profiled as a unique and important historical monument for all of Britain, and that we use the investment record of the local council as a marker to allocate an additional line in Cheshire West and Chester’s funding settlement which must be used exclusively for the upkeep of the historic walls.

"I have suggested £600,000 per annum based on the past twelve years of expenditure."

In his letter, Chris described the rationale for this suggestion: "It would allow the council to continue with its pragmatic approach of annual maintenance and investment without it impacting on their ability to deliver wider road improvements across Cheshire West and Chester."