AS PART of our Liverpool Map campaign, today we ask one of the most controversial questions of all – is Wirral part of the city’s identity? Should we brick up the Mersey tunnels, or do Wirralian’s deem themselves as Scousers?
We want readers of the Daily Post to tell us what areas should be classed as Liverpool as part of the Liverpool Map campaign.
Nowhere outside the city’s current limits will be assumed to be included in the map, so it is up to you to shape the project.
The outcome of the project will be an artistic representation of the Liverpool Map, which will be donated to Museum of Liverpool as part of the 2008 celebrations.
Co-writer of the smash hit play, Brick Up the Mersey Tunnels, Dave Kirby, says there is a definite divide between the two areas, but that most people from Wirral have taken the play in good humour.
He said: “It is all about snobbery really. The title could have easily been Brick Up The Formby Bypass or Childwall Valley.
“The play was sparked off by a woman who wrote to the Liver- pool Echo from Wirral, complain- ing about the Scouse accent and how it lets down the city that has been chosen as Capital of Culture.
“She worked in Liverpool and used the city when it suited her but, like many others, distanced herself from it.
“A lot of people who live close to the city are happy to use the notoriety of Liverpool when it is something positive, like The Beatles. For instance, many people claim they are from Liverpool when they go on holiday, because it is a world-famous city.
“However, from day to day they are snobby about the place and will distinguish between Liverpool and say Wirral.
“But I have a lot of friends who live over the water and have a completely different outlook.
“Loads of people from the Wirral have come to see the play and take it in good humour.
“And after all the hero is a man from Birkenhead, so the divide is not clear cut.”
Dave sees Liverpool as a proud and parochial city and he thinks this is why it has such a strong identity.
He added: “We were isolated from the rest of Britain in the 1980’s with the dockers strike and all that went with that.
“Many people turned on us at that time in the UK and in many ways the city has more in common with Glasgow, Dublin and even New York than London.
“The debate about how we define ourselves is a very interesting one.”
lizawilliams
