It's a sadly familiar tale - but that shouldn't make it any less disturbing.
Merseyside today finds itself once again reeling from funding decisions made by a Conservative government. No, it wasn't all bad news for the region from the latest round of Levelling Up cash awards, but it was mainly bad news - as it has been for the past 12 years.
While last night's announcement of so-called 'Levelling Up' awards contained money to regenerate Earlestown's historic market square and for transport and leisure facilities in Halewood, the majority of bids from across the region were knocked back.