View source for West Lancashire

{{short description|District of Lancashire, England}}
{{About||the constituency|West Lancashire (UK Parliament constituency)|the former rural district|West Lancashire Rural District}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = West Lancashire
| type               = Borough
| image_skyline      = West Lancashire plain near Burscough.jpg
| image_size         = 240px
| image_caption      = The West Lancashire plain near [[Burscough]]
| image_blank_emblem = 
| blank_emblem_type  = Arms of West Lancashire Borough Council
| image_map          = West Lancashire UK locator map.svg
| map_caption        = Shown within the ceremonial county of [[Lancashire]]
| mapsize            = frameless
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Sovereign state]]
| subdivision_name   = United Kingdom
| subdivision_type1  = [[Countries of the United Kingdom|Constituent country]]
| subdivision_name1  = England
| subdivision_type2  = [[Regions of England|Region]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[North West England]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[Ceremonial counties of England|Ceremonial county]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[Lancashire]]
| seat_type          = Admin.&nbsp;HQ
| seat               = [[Ormskirk]]
| government_type    = West Lancashire Borough Council
| leader_title       = Leadership
| leader_name        = Leader and Cabinet
| leader_title1      = 
| leader_name1       = 
| leader_title2      = 
| leader_name2       = 
| leader_title3      = 
| leader_name3       = 
| leader_title4      = [[List of MPs elected in the 2019 United Kingdom general election|MPs]]:
| leader_name4       = {{plainlist|
* [[Ashley Dalton]] ([[Labour Party (UK)|Lab]]) (West Lancashire)
* [[Paul Foster (politician)|Paul Foster]] ([[Labour Party (UK)|Lab]]) (South Ribble)
  }}
| established_title  = Founded
| established_date   = 
| founder            = 
| area_rank          = [[List of English districts by area|{{English district area rank|GSS=E07000127}}]]
| area_total_km2     = {{formatnum:{{English district area|GSS=E07000127}}|R}}
| latd               = 
| latm               = 
| lats               = 
| latNS              = 
| longd              = 
| longm              = 
| longs              = 
| longEW             = 
| population_as_of   = {{English statistics year}}
| population_total   = {{formatnum:{{English district population|GSS=E07000127}}|R}}
| population_rank    = [[List of English districts by population|Ranked {{English district rank|GSS=E07000127}}]]
| population_density_km2 = auto
| timezone           = [[Greenwich Mean Time]]
| utc_offset         = +0
| timezone_DST       = [[British Summer Time]]
| utc_offset_DST     = +1
| postal_code_type   = Postcode
| postal_code        = [[L postcode area|L]], [[PR postcode area|PR]], [[WN postcode area|WN]]
| area_code          = 
| blank_name         = [[ISO 3166-2:GB|ISO 3166-2]]
| blank_info         = <!-- GB-?? -->
| blank1_name        = [[ONS coding system|ONS code]]
| blank1_info        = {{plainlist|
* 30UP (ONS)
* E07000127 (GSS)
  }}
| blank2_name        = [[British national grid reference system|OS grid reference]]
| blank2_info        = <!-- {{gbmappingsmall|####}} -->
| blank3_name        = [[Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics|NUTS]] 3
| blank3_info        = <!-- UKG## -->|<!-- demographics (section 1) -->
| demographics_type1 = Ethnicity <span style="font-weight:normal;">([[2021 United Kingdom census|2021]])</span>
| demographics1_footnotes = <ref name="2021 Nomis">{{NOMIS2021|id=E07000127|title=West Lancashire Local Authority|access-date=5 January 2024}}</ref>
| demographics1_title1 = [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|Ethnic groups]]
| demographics1_info1 = {{Collapsible list
 | 96.9% [[White people in the United Kingdom|White]]
 | 1.3% [[Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|Mixed]]
 | 1.3% [[British Asians|Asian]]
 | 0.4% [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|other]]
 | 0.3% [[Black British people|Black]]
 }}
<!-- demographics (section 2) -->| demographics_type2 = Religion <span style="font-weight:normal;">(2021)</span>
| demographics2_footnotes = <ref name="2021 Nomis"/>
| demographics2_title1 = [[Religion in England|Religion]]
| demographics2_info1 = {{Collapsible list
 | 61.5% [[Religion in England#Christianity|Christianity]]
 | 31.5% [[Irreligion in the United Kingdom|no religion]]
 | 5.6% not stated
 | 0.4% [[Islam in England|Islam]] 
 | 0.3% [[Religion in England|other]]
 | 0.2% [[Buddhism in England|Buddhism]]
 | 0.2% [[Hinduism in England|Hinduism]]
 | 0.1% [[Sikhism in England|Sikhism]]
 | 0.1% [[History of the Jews in England|Judaism]]
 }}
}}
'''West Lancashire''' is a [[Local authority district|local government district]] with [[borough status in the United Kingdom|borough status]] in [[Lancashire]], England. The council is based in [[Ormskirk]], and the largest town is [[Skelmersdale]]. The district borders [[Borough of Fylde|Fylde]] to the north, over the Ribble Estuary; [[South Ribble]], [[Borough of Chorley|Chorley]], and [[Metropolitan Borough of Wigan|Wigan]] to the east; [[Metropolitan Borough of St Helens|St Helens]] and [[Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley|Knowsley]] to the south; and [[Metropolitan Borough of Sefton|Sefton]] to the south and west.

The borough has a population of 117,400 and an area of {{Convert|133.8|sqmi|km2|abbr=out}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How life has changed in West Lancashire: Census 2021 |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/visualisations/censusareachanges/E07000127/ |access-date=2023-12-18 |website=[[Office for National Statistics]] |language=en}}</ref> It is primarily rural, and the most populous settlements after Ormskirk and Skelmersdale are [[Burscough]] (9,935), [[Up Holland]] (7,578), and [[Tarleton]] (5,959).<ref>Parish populations.</ref> The borough council is based in Ormskirk, and there are twenty-one [[Civil parish|civil parishes]].

The west of the borough contains much of the southern part of the Lancashire Plain, a low-lying region of mossland. A large lake called [[Martin Mere]] occupied much of the area until it was drained for agriculture. The northern border of the borough is the [[Ribble and Alt Estuaries|Ribble Estuary]], and both it and the remnant of Martin Mere are [[Ramsar site|Ramsar sites]].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=NCA Profile: 32 Lancashire and Amounderness Plain - NE512 |url=https://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/5418383067578368 |access-date=2023-12-18 |website=[[Natural England]] |language=en-gb}}</ref> In the east the land rises to Harrock Hill, Parbold Hill, and [[Ashurst Hill]]; the [[River Douglas, Lancashire|River Douglas]] flows west through the valley between the last two, then turns north and forms the borough boundary.

==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:<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972|year=1972|number=2039|accessdate=22 August 2022}}</ref>
*[[Ormskirk Urban District]]
*[[Skelmersdale and Holland]] [[Urban district (Great Britain and Ireland)|Urban District]]
*[[West Lancashire Rural District]] (majority of former district's territory; remainder went to [[Merseyside]])
*[[Wigan Rural District]] (parishes of [[Dalton, Lancashire|Dalton]], [[Parbold]] and [[Wrightington]]; remainder went to [[Greater Manchester]])

In 2009 the district was awarded [[Borough status in the United Kingdom|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://s3-eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/lgbce/__data/assets/pdf_file/0015/17520/bulletinchanges08-09.pdf|title=Orders and changes made by the Government and Councils between 1 April 2008 and 31 March 2009|publisher=Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government|accessdate=4 July 2022|archive-date=20 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320004635/https://s3-eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/lgbce/__data/assets/pdf_file/0015/17520/bulletinchanges08-09.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=The Royal Charter | url=http://www.westlancsdc.gov.uk/council__democracy/borough_status/royal_charter.aspx | publisher=West Lancashire District Council | date=13 May 2009 | access-date=28 May 2009 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606064405/http://www.westlancsdc.gov.uk/council__democracy/borough_status/royal_charter.aspx | archive-date=6 June 2011 }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-53573174|title=Lancashire councils face abolition in shake-up|work=BBC News |date=29 July 2020 |publisher=[[BBC]]|access-date=22 September 2020}}</ref> The Government did not pursue that proposed reform, although left open the possibility of other forms of reorganisation in future.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Faulkner |first1=Paul |title=Where plans to carve up Lancashire and abolish its 15 councils are up to |url=https://www.lancs.live/news/lancashire-news/plans-carve-up-lancashire-abolish-21156748 |access-date=26 August 2022 |work=Lancs Live |date=28 July 2021}}</ref>

==Governance==
{{Infobox legislature
| name               = West Lancashire Borough Council
| native_name        = 
| transcription_name =
| legislature        =
| coa_pic            = 
| coa_res            = 
| logo_pic           = West Lancashire Borough Council logo.jpeg
| logo_res           = 
| house_type         = Non-metropolitan district
| body               = 
| houses             =
| leader1_type       = [[Mayors in England|Mayor]]
| leader1            = Anne Fennell
| party1             = <br/>[[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| election1          = 21 May 2025<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 21 May 2025 |url=https://democracy.westlancs.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=137&MId=3352 |website=West Lancashire Borough Council |access-date=31 July 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Councillor Anne Fennell elected new Mayor of West Lancashire, 23 May 2025 |url=https://www.westlancs.gov.uk/news/councillor-anne-fennell-elected-new-mayor-of-west-lancashire.aspx |website=West Lancashire Borough Council |access-date=26 May 2025}}</ref>
| leader2_type       = [[Leader of the Council|Leader]]
| leader2            = Yvonne Gagen
| party2             = <br/>[[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| election2          = 18 May 2022<ref name=minutes>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 18 May 2022 |url=https://democracy.westlancs.gov.uk/documents/g2709/Printed%20minutes%2018th-May-2022%2019.30%20Council.pdf?T=1 |website=West Lancashire Borough Council |access-date=26 August 2022}}</ref>
| leader3_type       = [[Chief Executive|Chief Operating Officer]]
| leader3            = Jacqui Sinnott-Lacey<ref name="Management"/>
| party3             = <!-- Non-political role -->
| election3          = 2020<ref>{{cite news |title=Jacqui Sinnott-Lacey appointed as West Lancashire Borough Council's new Chief Operating Officer |url=https://skemnews.com/jacqui-sinnott-lacey-appointed-as-west-lancashire-borough-councils-new-chief-operating-officer/ |access-date=27 June 2023 |work=Skem News |date=7 January 2020}}</ref>
| members            = 45 councillors
| house1             =
| house2             =
| structure1         = 
| structure1_res     = 250px
| structure2         =
| structure2_res     =
| political_groups1 =
;Administration (21)
: {{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] (21)}}
;Other parties (24)
: {{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservatives]] (14)}}
: {{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Our West Lancashire}}|border=darkgray}} [[Our West Lancashire]] (7)}}
: {{Color box|{{party color|Your Party (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Your Party (UK)|Your Party]] (1)
: {{Color box|{{party color|Independent politician}}|border=darkgray}} [[Independent politician|Independent]] (2)
| committees1        =
| committees2        =
| joint_committees   =
| voting_system1     = 
| voting_system2     =
| last_election1     = [[2024 West Lancashire Borough Council election|2 May 2024]]
| next_election1     = 7 May 2026
| session_room       =
| session_res        =
| meeting_place      = 52 Derby Street, [[Ormskirk]], L39{{nbsp}}2DF
| website            = {{url|www.westlancs.gov.uk}}
| footnotes          =
}}

West Lancashire Borough Council provides [[Non-metropolitan district|district-level]] services. [[Non-metropolitan county|County-level]] services are provided by [[Lancashire County Council]].<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government Act 1972|year=1972|chapter=70|access-date=31 May 2023}}</ref> Parts of the district are also covered by [[civil parish]]es, which form a third tier of local government.<ref>{{cite web |title=Election maps |url=https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/election-maps/gb/ |publisher=Ordnance Survey |access-date=6 June 2023}}</ref>

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.<ref name="Management">{{cite web |title=Management of the Council |url=https://www.westlancs.gov.uk/about-the-council/how-the-council-works/management-of-the-council.aspx |publisher=West Lancashire Borough Council |access-date=13 December 2020}}</ref>

===Political control===
The council has been under no overall control since May 2025, with [[Labour Party (UK)|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:<ref name=compositions>{{cite web |title=Compositions Calculator |url=https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/composition_calc.html |access-date=21 May 2025 |website=The Elections Centre |publisher=University of Exeter}} (Put "West Lancashire" in search box to see specific results.)</ref><ref name=change>{{cite news| url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/bsp/hi/elections/local_council/08/html/30up.stm | title = West Lancashire | access-date = 2010-04-13 | work = [[BBC News Online]] | date=19 April 2008}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!colspan="2"|Party in control!!Years
|-
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 1974–1976
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || 1976–1986
|-
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 1986–1987
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || 1987–1991
|-
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 1991–1994
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || 1994–2002
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || 2002–2014
|-
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 2014–2015
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || 2015–2021
|-
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 2021–2023
|-
|{{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || 2023–2025 
|-
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 2025–present
|}

===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:

{| class=wikitable
! Councillor !! colspan=2|Party !! From !! To
|-
| Alan Bullen<ref>{{cite news |last1=Horn |first1=Matthew |title=Happy returns for Labour |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0001548%2F19940512&page=19 |access-date=31 July 2025 |work=Ormskirk Advertiser |date=12 May 1994 |page=19}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Conservatives defend West Lancashire |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0005196%2F20030429&page=4 |access-date=31 July 2025 |work=Wigan Observer |date=29 April 2003}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=right|May 1994 || align=right|May 2002
|-
| Geoff Roberts<ref name=21May2008/> || {{party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|May 2002 || align=right|21 May 2008
|-
| Ian Grant<ref name=21May2008>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 21 May 2008 |url=https://democracy.westlancs.gov.uk/Data/Council/200805211930/Agenda/001120_Minutes.pdf |website=West Lancashire Borough Council |access-date=31 July 2025}}</ref><ref name=11Jun2014/> || {{party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|21 May 2008 || align=right|May 2014
|-
| David Westley<ref name=11Jun2014>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 11 June 2014 |url=https://democracy.westlancs.gov.uk/Data/Council/201406111930/Agenda/004483_Minutes.pdf |website=West Lancashire Borough Council |access-date=31 July 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=McCoid |first1=Sophie |title=Former Conservative leader of West Lancashire Borough Council attacks new Labour leader |url=https://www.southportvisiter.co.uk/news/southport-west-lancs/former-conservative-leader-west-lancashire-9334211 |access-date=31 July 2025 |work=Southport Visiter |date=26 May 2015}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|11 Jun 2014 || align=right|May 2015
|-
| Ian Moran<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 20 May 2015 |url=https://democracy.westlancs.gov.uk/Data/Council/201505201930/Agenda/004830_Minutes.pdf |website=West Lancashire Borough Council |access-date=31 July 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Macdonald |first1=Robert |title=West Lancashire council leader to step down at 2022 local elections |url=https://www.lancs.live/news/lancashire-news/west-lancashire-council-leader-step-23485865 |access-date=31 July 2025 |work=Lancs Live |date=25 March 2022}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=right|20 May 2015 || align=right|May 2022
|-
| Yvonne Gagen<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 18 May 2022 |url=https://democracy.westlancs.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=137&MId=2709 |website=West Lancashire Borough Council | date=18 May 2022 |access-date=31 July 2025}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=right|18 May 2022 || align=right|
|}

===Composition===
Following the [[2024 West Lancashire Borough Council election|2024 election]] and subsequent changes of allegiance up to May 2025, the composition of the council was:<ref name=Thorncliffe>{{cite web |title=West Lancashire |url=https://www.localcouncils.co.uk/councils/?council=west_lancashire |website=Local Councils |publisher=Thorncliffe |access-date=31 July 2025}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
! colspan=2| Party
! Councillors
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=center|22
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=center|14
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Our West Lancashire|full=yes}} || align=center|6
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Independent politician}} || align=center|3
|-
! colspan=2|Total !! align=center|45
|}
The next election is due in 2026.<ref name=Thorncliffe/>

===Premises===
The council is based at 52 Derby Street in Ormskirk, which was originally a pair of large semi-detached Victorian houses called Beaconsfield (number 52) and Abbotsford (number 54).<ref>1911 Census, Class RG14; Piece 22822; Schedules 220–221</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |title=West Lancashire Council's new offices |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/ |access-date=27 August 2022 |work=Ormskirk Advertiser |date=6 August 1925 |page=3}}</ref> Abbotsford was acquired later and the building has been significantly extended to the rear.<ref>{{cite web |title=West Lancashire Borough Council |url=https://www.westlancs.gov.uk/ |access-date=27 August 2022}}</ref>

===Elections===
{{also|West Lancashire Borough Council elections}}
Since the last boundary changes in 2023 the council has comprised 45 [[councillor]]s representing 15 [[wards and electoral divisions of the United Kingdom|wards]], with each ward electing three councillors. Elections are held three years out of every four, with a third of the council (one councillor for each ward) 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.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The West Lancashire (Electoral Changes) Order 2022|year=2022|number=1179|access-date=27 June 2023}}</ref>

===Parliamentary constituencies===
The south of West Lancashire, including the towns of [[Burscough]], [[Skelmersdale]] and [[Ormskirk]] fall under the [[West Lancashire (UK Parliament constituency)|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 (UK Parliament constituency)|South Ribble]] constituency, which has been represented by Conservative Party MP [[Katherine Fletcher]] since the [[2019 United Kingdom general election|2019 general election]].

==Geography==

{{Location map+|United Kingdom Borough of West Lancashire
 |caption={{center|Towns and villages in West Lancashire}}
 |float=right
 |width=450
 |places = 
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of West Lancashire|lat=53.567|long=-2.887|label='''[[Ormskirk]]'''|marksize=12|label_size=100|position=top}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of West Lancashire|lat=53.550|long=-2.774|label='''[[Skelmersdale]]'''|marksize=12|label_size=100|position=right}}

   <!-- please keep this list in alphabetical order to ease maintenance-->
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of West Lancashire|lat=53.622|long=-2.738|label=[[Andertons Mill]]|label_size=85|position=top}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of West Lancashire|lat=53.579|long=-2.721|label=[[Appley Bridge]]|label_size=85|position=right}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of West Lancashire|lat=53.538|long=-2.918|label=[[Aughton, Lancashire|Aughton]]|label_size=85|position=left}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of West Lancashire|lat=53.681|long=-2.925|label=[[Banks, Lancashire|Banks]]|label_size=85|position=left}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of West Lancashire|lat=53.518|long=-2.836|label=[[Barrow Nook]]|label_size=85|position=left}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of West Lancashire|lat=53.575|long=-2.978|label=[[Barton, West Lancashire|Barton]]|label_size=85|position=right}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of West Lancashire|lat=53.532|long=-2.838|label=[[Bickerstaffe]]|label_size=85|position=right}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of West Lancashire|lat=53.615|long=-2.773|label=[[Bispham Green]]|label_size=85|position=left}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of West Lancashire|lat=53.551|long=-2.818|label=[[Blaguegate]]|label_size=85|position=top}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of West Lancashire|lat=53.600|long=-2.845|label=[[Burscough]]|label_size=85|position=left}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of West Lancashire|lat=53.520|long=-2.754|label=[[Crawford, Lancashire|Crawford]]|label_size=85|position=left}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of West Lancashire|lat=53.567|long=-2.763|label=[[Dalton, Lancashire|Dalton]]|label_size=85|position=right}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of West Lancashire|lat=53.555|long=-2.960|label=[[Downholland Cross]]|label_size=85|position=right}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of West Lancashire|lat=53.550|long=-3.021|label=[[Great Altcar]]|label_size=85|position=bottom}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of West Lancashire|lat=53.585|long=-2.954|label=[[Halsall]]|label_size=85|position=left}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of West Lancashire|lat=53.565|long=-2.968|label=[[Haskayne]]|label_size=85|position=left}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of West Lancashire|lat=53.703|long=-2.841|label=[[Hesketh Bank]]|label_size=85|position=left}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of West Lancashire|lat=53.603|long=-2.765|label=[[Hilldale, Lancashire|Hilldale]]|label_size=85|position=right}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of West Lancashire|lat=53.668|long=-2.858|label=[[Holmes, Lancashire|Holmes]]|label_size=85|position=left}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of West Lancashire|lat=53.645|long=-2.862|label=[[Holmeswood]]|label_size=85|position=left}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of West Lancashire|lat=53.695|long=-2.883|label=[[Hundred End]]|label_size=85|position=left}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of West Lancashire|lat=53.590|long=-2.820|label=[[Lathom]]|label_size=85|position=left}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of West Lancashire|lat=53.662|long=-2.882|label=[[Mere Brow]]|label_size=85|position=left}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of West Lancashire|lat=53.587|long=-2.782|label=[[Newburgh, Lancashire|Newburgh]]|label_size=85|position=bottom}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of West Lancashire|lat=53.593|long=-2.765|label=[[Parbold]]|label_size=85|position=right}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of West Lancashire|lat=53.560|long=-2.729|label=[[Roby Mill]]|label_size=85|position=right}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of West Lancashire|lat=53.633|long=-2.819|label=[[Rufford, Lancashire|Rufford]]|label_size=85|position=left}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of West Lancashire|lat=53.613|long=-2.943|label=[[Scarisbrick]]|label_size=85|position=right}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of West Lancashire|lat=53.552|long=-2.863|label=[[Scarth Hill]]|label_size=85|position=bottom}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of West Lancashire|lat=53.608|long=-2.968|label=[[Shirdley Hill]]|label_size=85|position=left}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of West Lancashire|lat=53.505|long=-2.878|label=[[Simonswood]]|label_size=85|position=right}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of West Lancashire|lat=53.663|long=-2.826|label=[[Sollom]]|label_size=85|position=bottom}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of West Lancashire|lat=53.679|long=-2.832|label=[[Tarleton]]|label_size=85|position=left}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of West Lancashire|lat=53.620|long=-2.856|label=[[Tarlscough]]|label_size=85|position=left}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of West Lancashire|lat=53.541|long=-2.728|label=[[Upholland]]|label_size=85|position=bottom}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of West Lancashire|lat=53.562|long=-2.843|label=[[Westhead]]|label_size=85|position=top}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of West Lancashire|lat=53.615|long=-2.703|label=[[Wrightington Bar]]|label_size=85|position=bottom}}
   <!-- please keep this list in alphabetical order to ease maintenance-->
}}

Skelmersdale, a former [[New towns in the United Kingdom|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===
[[File:Borough of West Lancashire parishes map.svg|thumb|Civil parishes in West Lancashire]]

There are 21 [[civil parish]]es in West Lancashire. The main towns of [[Skelmersdale]] and [[Ormskirk]] are [[unparished area]]s. There is a movement to establish a town council in Skelmersdale.<ref name="SkemTC">{{cite web|url=https://www.skemtc.org.uk/SkemIndPty.htm|title=Skelmersdale Independent Party|publisher=Skelmersdale Independent Party|access-date=22 September 2020}}</ref> The parish council of Burscough takes the style "town council".<ref>{{cite web |title=Parish councils contact information |url=https://democracy.westlancs.gov.uk/mgParishCouncilDetailsList.aspx |website=West Lancashire Borough Council |access-date=28 June 2023}}</ref>

{{columns-list|colwidth=12em|
# [[Aughton, Lancashire|Aughton]]
# [[Bickerstaffe]]
# [[Bispham, West Lancashire|Bispham]]
# [[Burscough]]
# [[Dalton, Lancashire|Dalton]]
# [[Downholland]]
# [[Great Altcar]]
# [[Halsall]]
# [[Hesketh-with-Becconsall]]
# [[Hilldale, Lancashire|Hilldale]]
# [[Lathom]]
# [[Lathom South]]
# [[Newburgh, Lancashire|Newburgh]]
# [[North Meols]]
# [[Parbold]]
# [[Rufford, Lancashire|Rufford]]
# [[Scarisbrick]]
# [[Simonswood]]
# [[Tarleton]]
# [[Up Holland]]
# [[Wrightington]]
}}

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 transmitting station|Winter Hill]] transmitter.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Winter_Hill |title=Full Freeview on the Winter Hill (Bolton, England) transmitter |date=May 2004 |publisher=UK Free TV |access-date=23 April 2024}}</ref>

Radio stations for the area are:
*[[BBC Radio Lancashire]]
*[[BBC Radio Merseyside]]
*[[Heart North West]]
*[[Smooth North West]] 
*[[Sandgrounder Radio|Dune Radio]]
*[[Greatest Hits Radio Lancashire]]
*[[Central Radio (Lancashire)|Central Radio North West]]
*[[Dune FM]]

Local newspaper is the ''[[Lancashire Telegraph]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britishpapers.co.uk/england-nw/lancashire-telegraph/|title=Lancashire Telegraph|date=30 May 2014|website=British Papers|accessdate=23 April 2024}}</ref>

==Twin towns==
West Lancashire is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:<ref>[https://www.westlancs.gov.uk/more/your-community/town-twinning.aspx West Lancashire Borough Council, Town Twinning] retrieved 21 January 2019</ref>
* [[Cergy-Pontoise]], France	
* [[Erkrath]], Germany

== References ==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

{{NW_England}}
{{Lancashire}}
{{West Lancashire geography}}
{{West Lancashire culture and politics}}
{{West Lancashire buildings and structures}}
{{West Lancashire transport}}

{{coord|53.562|-2.827|display=title|region:GB_scale:20000}}

[[Category:Borough of West Lancashire| ]]
[[Category:Non-metropolitan districts of Lancashire]]
[[Category:Boroughs in England]]