From S Anderson:-

ALTHOUGH my only connection with Wirral has been through visiting relatives for the past 30 years, I do read Mailbox occasionally and I would like to comment on the hysteria surrounding the postcode change.

It is claimed that 'Wirral is a pleasant place to grow'. I have observed many not-so-pleasant areas when travelling from the 'other side' by road and rail - from which I am only too thankful to 'retreat to my origins'.

It's a depressing journey from Birkenhead onwards; the discarded rubbish along the track-side and the missiles apparently aimed at trains tell their own story. The dog-fouled streets more than match anything in Liverpool.

As for Wirral leaving Merseyside and joining Cheshire, that's fine, go ahead. Whether or not Cheshire, which has its own problem areas, would agree is debatable.

The anti-Liverpool mentality has existed for decades; since before its decline and certainly long before 'Merseyside' was invented; incidentally, the Liverpool in which I grew up was situated in Lancashire.

Despite all that's happened to this once great city, like it or not, it has retained its culture and has more to offer than Wirral. This is demonstrated by the high proportion who depend on us for employment, shopping and leisure.

Woolton Hill Road,

Woolton,

Liverpool.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.