West Lancashire


West Lancashire is a local government district in the ceremonial county of Lancashire, England, located immediately to the north and east of the Liverpool urban area.
The district consists largely of rural land, alongside several towns and villages, the largest of which are Skelmersdale and Ormskirk. While agriculture remains an important part of the local economy, areas in the south and west of the district are closely connected to Liverpool through commuting patterns, transport links, and economic activity.
According to 2021 Census data analysed by Lancashire County Council, there were significant commuter flows between West Lancashire and neighbouring Merseyside authorities, including more than 2,000 residents travelling daily to work in Liverpool and thousands more commuting with Sefton, highlighting strong cross-border employment links. Modern West Lancashire reflects a combination of rural character and suburban development, shaped by population growth, housing expansion, and its position on the edge of the Liverpool City Region.

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:
  • Ormskirk Urban District
  • Skelmersdale and Holland Urban District
  • West Lancashire Rural District
  • Wigan Rural District
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.
Proposals to divide Lancashire into three unitary authorities were put forward in 2020, which would have seen both Lancashire County Council and West Lancashire Borough Council abolished. The Government did not pursue that proposed reform, although left open the possibility of other forms of reorganisation in future.

Governance

West Lancashire Borough Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Lancashire County Council. Parts of the district are also covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government.
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.

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:

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:

Composition

Following the 2024 election and subsequent changes of allegiance up to May 2025, the composition of the council was:
The next election is due in 2026.

Premises

The council is based at 52 Derby Street in Ormskirk, which was originally a pair of large semi-detached Victorian houses called Beaconsfield and Abbotsford. 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. Abbotsford was acquired later and the building has been significantly extended to the rear.

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 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.

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. The parish council of Burscough takes the style "town council".
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.
Radio stations for the area are:
Local newspaper is the Lancashire Telegraph.

Twin towns

West Lancashire is twinned with: