Welcome To Wirral

It is an area of contrasts, with sandy beaches, a magnificent coastline, mountain views, country lanes, woodland and the peace of nature reserves, as well as thriving businesses, shopping centres, and a vibrant arts, culture and entertainment scene.

Both small businesses and international firms have flourished and expanded in Wirral, helped in part by easy access to the nationwide motorway network via the M53 which links Wirral to the M56 and M6.

Central Birkenhead is the focus for Wirral's retail trade and has benefited from major regeneration schemes funded by resources from central government and the European Commission.

Liscard Precinct in nearby Wallasey is the other main shopping centre, with local centres in smaller towns such as Upton, Prenton, New Ferry, Moreton, Hoylake, West Kirby, Bebington, Greasby, Heswall and Bromborough, as well as out of centre shopping areas like the South Wirral Retail Park in Bromborough.

Historic locations in Wirral include Birkenhead Priory, the oldest building in Merseyside. It was granted a Royal Charter in 1330 and was the site of the first Mersey Ferry . Port Sunlight is a fascinating example of Victorian industrial philanthropism. The village was built by the first Viscount Leverhulme for his workers, as was much of Thornton Hough.

Industries tend to be in the eastern half of the peninsula, with docklands and a Freeport in Birkenhead and Wallasey. Major industries are also based in Port Sunlight, Bromborough and Eastham. While the western side is famous for its countryside and coastal walks, wildlife, sandy shores, promenades, and watersports.

Population and politics

WIRRAL is home to 312,293* people, (*Census 2001) with a total electorate of 248,043. 30.4 per cent of Wirral's population is under the age of 25 and 18.1 per cent are over 65.

The Metropolitan Borough of Wirral was created in the 1974 local government reorganisation - when it became part of Merseyside. Before then Wirral was made up of five districts based on the old County Boroughs and was part of Cheshire. Wirral is now the third largest metropolitan authority in the northwest.

Wirral Council was Conservative-controlled from its inception in 1974 until 15 October 1986 when the Conservative Group resigned the Chairs of committees. It was then balanced, with no party in overall control, until May 1995, when Labour took control. From December 2001 the Council has again been balanced.

The Council is divided into 22 wards represented by 66 members - 26 Labour, 21 Conservative and 19 Liberal Democrat.

Geography & communications

WIRRAL is a peninsula on the north west coast of England, bounded by the Cheshire Plain, the Dee Estuary, the River Mersey and the Irish Sea.

Birkenhead is Wirral's largest town, followed by Wallasey. Both centres have grown around the dockland areas which have attracted important industrial development.

Over the last decade Birkenhead has benefited from several major regeneration schemes - City Lands, Hamilton Quarter, Lairdside and now Wirral Waterfront - and the town is being transformed thanks to this major investment in shopping, transport, office developments, leisure, culture and education.

Along with Birkenhead and Wallasey, other main industrial areas include Port Sunlight, Bromborough, and Eastham.

A network of roads, rail, air, and sea services connect the peninsula with regional, national and world destinations. Two road tunnels link Wirral to Liverpool. The Queensway Tunnel links Birkenhead and Liverpool, while the Kingsway Tunnel connects Wallasey to Liverpool. They provide the only road routes across the Mersey estuary and the M53, which runs the length of Wirral, connects with the Kingsway Tunnel, making the tunnels an essential part of the area's highway network and vital to the economy of Merseyside.

An extensive rail network serves Wirral providing a direct link with the main station at Liverpool Lime Street for Intercity destinations throughout Britain.

Wirral is also a major location for maritime services, its traditions established through the Mersey Ferries, which date back hundreds of years. The famous ferries still run regular services for commuters across the River Mersey.

Places of interest in Wirral include Birkenhead Priory, Brimstage Hall, Wirral Country Park, Hilbre Island, the famous model industrial village of Port Sunlight, the Williamson Art Gallery and new Wirral Museum in Birkenhead, as well as the seaside resorts of New Brighton, Hoylake, West Kirby and Thurstaston.