SOUTHAMPTON’S historic walls could be set for a hi-tech revamp if a funding bid goes ahead.

A £25,000 grant from 600 city businesses has been earmarked to improve signage along the medieval walls.

The cash from Go!Southampton – the city’s Business Improvement District – will go towards the cost of digital panels and street furniture to replace the current signs.

The project is part of Mayflower 400 – a year-long series of events designed to commemorate the sailing of the historic ship to New England in 1620.

As reported, city culture bosses are working with 10 other towns and cities across England and the Netherlands to attract visitors to the city.

Organisers say they want to bring the descendants and other ancestral tourists to England for the anniversary.

The calendar of events in Southampton will highlight the city’s unique culture and heritage offering, and hopes to encourage a significant increase in visitors particularly from the United States – many of whom were descended from those who sailed from Southampton.

The new signs will also highlight key points in the Mayflower history – as part of a special ‘Mayflower Trail’ around the city.

Now business bosses at BID have pledged to support the events and have been named as a sponsor – just weeks after law firm Paris Smith LLP were announced as headline sponsor of the project.

Go! Southampton chief executive Giles Semper said: “The programme of activity for the city during 2020 is promising to attract and entertain thousands of international visitors as well as locals, and the city’s business community is keen to play a part in it. We were also particularly keen that our contribution left a visible legacy by way of improving the city’s heritage assets.”

Mayflower 400 Southampton Project manager Jim Zalles, from Southampton Cultural Development Trust, said: “The Mayflower 400 commemorations will be a transformational event for Southampton, and we’re pleased Go! Southampton is supporting us on this journey.

“During 2020, we will be staging world class events and a cultural programme the city and its residents will be proud of, and we’re confident it will be of significant economic value to the business community in the city.”

The Mayflower 400 programme will be announced early next year alongside opportunities for community and other groups to get involved and to run their own activities to commemorate the anniversary.