West Lancashire is a local government district with borough status in Lancashire, England. It is located in the south-west of the county and is bordered by Greater Manchester to the east and Merseyside to the south and west. The Lancashire district of Fylde lies the north, over the Ribble Estuary, and South Ribble and Chorley to the east.
The borough has an area of 133.8 square miles (347 km2) and had an estimated population of 121,995 in 2024. It is primarily rural, and the most populous settlements are Ormskirk and Skelmersdale; other settlements include Burscough, Up Holland, and Tarleton. The borough council is based in Ormskirk, and there are twenty-one civil parishes. Employment in the borough is largely in the service sector, with above-average employment in the education sector due to Edge Hill University in Ormskirk.[2] West Lancashire has strong economic links to the Merseyside boroughs of Sefton, St Helens, and Liverpool and the Greater Manchester borough of Wigan.[2]
The west of the borough contains much of the southern part of the Lancashire Plain, a low-lying region of mossland. A large lake called Martin Mere occupied much of the area until it was drained for agriculture. The northern border of the borough is the Ribble Estuary, and both it and the remnant of Martin Mere are Ramsar sites. In the east the land rises to Harrock Hill, Parbold Hill, and Ashurst Hill; the River Douglas flows west through the valley between the last two, then turns north and forms the borough boundary.
History
The district was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, covering the whole area of two former districts and parts of another two districts, all of which were abolished at the same time:[3]
- Ormskirk Urban District
- Skelmersdale and Holland Urban District
- West Lancashire Rural District (majority of former district's territory; remainder went to Merseyside)
- Wigan Rural District (parishes of Dalton, Parbold and Wrightington; remainder went to Greater Manchester)
In 2009 the district was awarded borough status, causing the council to change its name from West Lancashire District Council to West Lancashire Borough Council, and allowing the chairman of the council to take the title of mayor.[4][5]
Under current local government reorganisation plans, all district councils in Lancashire, as well as the county council, will be abolished in 2028, with the district becoming part of a new South Lancashire unitary authority.[6][7]
Governance
West Lancashire Borough Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Lancashire County Council.[11] Parts of the district are also covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government.[12]
The council employs around 600 people, making it one of West Lancashire's largest employers. It is responsible for the administration of various services, such as leisure, waste collection, planning permission and pest control.[13]
Political control
The council has been under no overall control since May 2025, with Labour as the largest party.
The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new arrangements came into effect on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows:[14][15]
| Party in control | Years | |
|---|---|---|
| No overall control | 1974–1976 | |
| Conservative | 1976–1986 | |
| No overall control | 1986–1987 | |
| Conservative | 1987–1991 | |
| No overall control | 1991–1994 | |
| Labour | 1994–2002 | |
| Conservative | 2002–2014 | |
| No overall control (Conservative minority) | 2014–2015 | |
| Labour | 2015–2021 | |
| No overall control (Labour minority) | 2021–2023 | |
| Labour | 2023–2025 | |
| No overall control (Labour minority) | 2025–2026 | |
| No overall control (Conservative-Our West Lancashire coalition) | 2026-Present | |
Leadership
The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in West Lancashire. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1994 have been:
| Councillor | Party | From | To | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alan Bullen[16][17] | Labour | May 1994 | May 2002 | |
| Geoff Roberts[18] | Conservative | May 2002 | 21 May 2008 | |
| Ian Grant[18][19] | Conservative | 21 May 2008 | May 2014 | |
| David Westley[19][20] | Conservative | 11 Jun 2014 | May 2015 | |
| Ian Moran[21][22] | Labour | 20 May 2015 | May 2022 | |
| Yvonne Gagen[23] | Labour | 18 May 2022 | 20 May 2026 | |
| David Whittington | Conservative | 21 May 2026 | ||
Composition
Following the 2026 election, the composition of the council was:[24]
| Party | Councillors | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour | 13 | |
| Conservative | 12 | |
| Reform | 7 | |
| Our West Lancashire | 11 | |
| Independent | 2 | |
| Total | 45 | |
The next election is due in 2027 (TBD).
Premises
The council is based at 52 Derby Street in Ormskirk, which was originally a pair of large semi-detached Victorian houses called Beaconsfield (number 52) and Abbotsford (number 54).[25] Beaconsfield was purchased in 1925 by West Lancashire Rural District Council, one of the modern council's predecessors, and converted to become its headquarters, being formally opened on 30 July 1925.[26] Abbotsford was acquired later and the building has been significantly extended to the rear.[27]
Elections
Since the last boundary changes in 2023 the council has comprised 45 councillors representing 15 wards, with each ward electing three councillors. Elections are held three years out of every four, with a third of the council (one councillor for each ward) being elected each time for a four-year term. Lancashire County Council elections are held in the fourth year of the cycle when there are no borough council elections.[28]
Parliamentary constituencies
The south of West Lancashire, including the towns of Burscough, Skelmersdale and Ormskirk fall under the West Lancashire constituency in the House of Commons, which has been represented by Labour Party MP Ashley Dalton since the 2023 West Lancashire by-election, whereas the north of West Lancashire falls under the South Ribble constituency, which has been represented by Conservative Party MP Katherine Fletcher since the 2019 general election.
Geography
Skelmersdale, a former New Town, and Ormskirk are the two main towns in the borough. These are surrounded by a patchwork of smaller settlements to the west and north.
Civil parishes
There are 21 civil parishes in West Lancashire. The main towns of Skelmersdale and Ormskirk are unparished areas. There is a movement to establish a town council in Skelmersdale.[29] The parish council of Burscough takes the style "town council".[30]
All the civil parishes have a parish council, with the exception of Bispham, which has a parish meeting instead.
Media
In terms of television, the area is served by BBC North West and ITV Granada broadcasting from the Winter Hill transmitter.[31]
Radio stations for the area are:
- BBC Radio Lancashire
- BBC Radio Merseyside
- Heart North West
- Smooth North West
- Dune Radio
- Greatest Hits Radio Lancashire
- Central Radio North West
- Dune FM
Local newspaper is the Lancashire Telegraph.[32]
Twin towns
West Lancashire is twinned with:[33]
- Cergy-Pontoise, France
- Erkrath, Germany
References
- 1 2 UK Census (2021). "2021 Census Area Profile – West Lancashire Local Authority (E07000127)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
- 1 2 "West Lancashire district – commuter flows from Census 2021". Lancashire County Council. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
- ↑ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1972/2039, retrieved 22 August 2022
- ↑ "Orders and changes made by the Government and Councils between 1 April 2008 and 31 March 2009" (PDF). Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 March 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
- ↑ "The Royal Charter". West Lancashire District Council. 13 May 2009. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2009.
- ↑ "Lancashire council leaders react to local government shake-up". BBC News. 16 July 2026.
- ↑ "Local government reorganisation: decision letter to Leaders in Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool" (PDF). gov.uk. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
- ↑ "Following West Lancashire Borough Council's Annual meeting, Councillor Janet..." West Lancashire Borough Council - Facebook. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
- ↑ "Following West Lancashire Borough Council's Annual meeting, Councillor Janet..." West Lancashire Borough Council - Facebook. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
- ↑ "West Lancashire Borough Council Chief Executive retires". West Lancashire Borough Council. 17 October 2025. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
- ↑ "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 31 May 2023
- ↑ "Election maps". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
- ↑ "Management of the Council". West Lancashire Borough Council. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- ↑ "Compositions Calculator". The Elections Centre. University of Exeter. Retrieved 21 May 2025. (Put "West Lancashire" in search box to see specific results.)
- ↑ "West Lancashire". BBC News Online. 19 April 2008. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
- ↑ Horn, Matthew (12 May 1994). "Happy returns for Labour". Ormskirk Advertiser. p. 19. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
- ↑ "Conservatives defend West Lancashire". Wigan Observer. 29 April 2003. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
- 1 2 "Council minutes, 21 May 2008" (PDF). West Lancashire Borough Council. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
- 1 2 "Council minutes, 11 June 2014" (PDF). West Lancashire Borough Council. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
- ↑ McCoid, Sophie (26 May 2015). "Former Conservative leader of West Lancashire Borough Council attacks new Labour leader". Southport Visiter. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
- ↑ "Council minutes, 20 May 2015" (PDF). West Lancashire Borough Council. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
- ↑ Macdonald, Robert (25 March 2022). "West Lancashire council leader to step down at 2022 local elections". Lancs Live. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
- ↑ "Council minutes, 18 May 2022". West Lancashire Borough Council. 18 May 2022. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
- ↑ "West Lancashire". Local Councils. Thorncliffe. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
- ↑ 1911 Census, Class RG14; Piece 22822; Schedules 220–221
- ↑ "West Lancashire Council's new offices". Ormskirk Advertiser. 6 August 1925. p. 3. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
- ↑ "West Lancashire Borough Council". Retrieved 27 August 2022.
- ↑ "The West Lancashire (Electoral Changes) Order 2022", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2022/1179, retrieved 27 June 2023
- ↑ "Skelmersdale Independent Party". Skelmersdale Independent Party. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
- ↑ "Parish councils contact information". West Lancashire Borough Council. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
- ↑ "Full Freeview on the Winter Hill (Bolton, England) transmitter". UK Free TV. May 2004. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ↑ "Lancashire Telegraph". British Papers. 30 May 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ↑ West Lancashire Borough Council, Town Twinning retrieved 21 January 2019
