Don’t brick up the tunnels – we need Wirral!

Jan 15 2008 by Liza Williams, Liverpool Daily Post

AN ACTRESS who understands the rivalry between Liverpool and Wirral all too well has nominated Birkenhead to be included in the Daily Post’s Liverpool Map campaign.

Members of Merseyside’s Scousearati have been lodging their votes this week to help shape the Capital of Culture project and want you to follow their example.

Suzanne Collins, who stars in the smash hit show Brick Up the Mersey Tunnels at the Royal Court theatre, Liverpool, has nominated Birkenhead.

The former Brookside star was born in Liverpool but lives in the town across the water and feels Wirral is part of Liverpool, despite the rivalry between the areas.

She said: “I would definitely like Birkenhead to be included in the map. The Wirral and Liverpool need each other.

“Without the Wirral Liverpool would not have iconic symbols like the ferry across the Mersey, the tunnels, or the friendly rivalry which does both sides good.

“I am a bit of both and I think many people who live on the Wirral are. I was born in Liverpool but now live in Birkenhead. My dad’s side of the family are from Liverpool, my mum’s from Wirral so I can’t win, I get it from both sides!

“But this is the point, the places are linked and part of each other.” The Liverpool Map project is aiming to define the city’s boundaries geographically, historically and culturally to celebrate 2008.

The new map will show where the people of Merseyside think Liverpool’s borders are and it will also highlight Liverpool’s local, national and global influences.

The final outcome will be an artistic representation of the Liverpool Map, which will be donated to Museum of Liverpool as part of the 2008 celebrations.

The project is part of Open Culture – a platform to enable the people of Liverpool to engage with the celebrations for 2008.

It is a collaboration between Radio City, BBC Radio Merseyside, Liverpool Daily Post and Echo, Phil Redmond with the International Centre for Digital Content (ICDC), and Liverpool Culture Company.

lizawilliams