Merseyside
Main towns: Merseyside County Council was abolished in 1986, so its 5 districts are essentially now unitary authorities. However, the metropolitan county still exists in law and as a geographic frame of reference. The five districts of Merseyside are Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral. It does not include Birkenhead, Wallasey, Bootle or Southport.
Demographics: Merseyside has an aging population. In the last ten years the number of pensionable residents living in the county has consistently risen at above the national average. 2% of the population in Merseyside are from black or minority ethnic backgrounds, many of them established from many generations.
The area has significant pockets of deprivation. All five of Merseyside’s districts are above the top 25% most deprived areas in England. At one end of the scale, Knowsley and Liverpool are the first and second most deprived areas in the country. At the other end, however, Sefton and Wirral both contain areas of affluence.
Unemployment in Merseyside is above both the regional average and the national average. Most of the industries for which Merseyside was renowned are now defunct. As such, work is often scarce. Unemployment in the county tends to stand at around 8-10%, compared to the national average of 5%. However, there are pockets within the county where unemployment stands at closer to 20%.
The county suffers from a high percentage of poor health. In the last ten years, the number of residents suffering from long term, debilitating illnesses has risen by over 30%.
The area has low levels of car ownership. For instance, in Knowsley and Liverpool less than 60% of residents own cars.
Population: Merseyside has an estimated population of 1.4million residents living in just over half a million households. The area has a population density of 22 people per hectare of land, which would suggest that the area is largely urban, but it is worth taking into account that these figures include tourist resorts, which are highly concentrated.
Places of Interest: The county of Merseyside is named after the river Mersey, which is the river that splits the county in two. The Wirral district is found on the west side of the river upon the Wirral Peninsula. The rest is found on the east, which borders on Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Cheshire. Day trippers can explore the county with a ferry ride down the river.
Merseyside has a rich cultural history and the city of Liverpool in particular. In fact, last year Liverpool was named the City of Culture. The city is home to landmarks such as Liverpool Cathedral but also modern structures such as the Tate Liverpool and Anfield football ground.
For those seeking a quieter life, Wirral offers much more greenery including the Wirral Country Park, North Wirral Coastal Park and the Birkenhead Park.
House/Flat Prices: The average price of a property in Merseyside today, including houses and flats, is £185,000. The average price five years ago, in February 2004, was £100,000.
Planning issues: Liverpool’s transport network is to receive £6million to spend on regeneration. One central focus of the scheme will be James Street underground station, which will get a new entrance and exit, new ticket barriers, new lighting and more. Work will also be carried out on bus stops, new traffic lights, new pedestrian crossings and all new bus routes to improve accessibility to the city centre. Other work will include refurbishment of most city centre underground stations.