Merseyside

Merseyside is a metropolitan county, located in the North West of England, Merseyside is named after the River Mersey and comprises the conurbation by the Mersey estuary centred upon Liverpool. The county was created in 1974 by the 1974 local government reform.

History and administration

Merseyside was created on 1 April 1974 from areas taken from the historic counties of Lancashire and Cheshire. Merseyside was a controversial creation, especially amongst the inhabitants of the Wirral, who had a strong sense of belonging to Cheshire and amongst those of St Helens and Southport who had an equally strong sense of Lancastrian identity. Original plans included a much larger Merseyside, including Ellesmore Port and Neston and Ormskirk.

Related Topics:
1 April - 1974 - Historic counties - Lancashire - Cheshire - Wirral - Ellesmore Port and Neston - Ormskirk

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Between 1974 and 1986 the county had a two tier system of local government with the five boroughs sharing power with the Merseyside County Council. However in 1986 the government of Margaret Thatcher abolished the county council along with all other metropolitan county councils, and so its boroughs are now effectively unitary authorities.

Related Topics:
1986 - Margaret Thatcher - Unitary authorities

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Merseyside however still exists legally, and as a ceremonial county.

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Despite the abolition of the county council some local services are still run on a county-wide basis, now administered by joint-boards of the five metropolitan boroughs, these include the:

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• Merseyside Police
• Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service
• Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive (who are responsible for public transport including Merseyrail)

Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority

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