THE Inferno has crossed the 80 barrier.

One of my earlier columns focused on the fact that Wirral Borough Council had no arts policy.

Forsooth.

This was a revelation to many readers who believe as I do that the arts are clearly a great source for tourism – and a creative booster to the local economy.

Wirral has a strong tradition in entertainment (just look at council meetings).

I read with growing interest that council leader Phil Davies has, like Baldrick in Blackadder, a cunning plan with his visionary 20/20 project but it was art less.

Maybe he was too busy twinning with Reno in the United States to see that closer to home the arts can give the area a real identity and a positive image.

Recently Angela Eagle, MP for Wallasey, received a letter from one reader asking the now shadow business secretary to look into the matter.

It is more than refreshing that the soaring politician Ms Eagle was on the case and wrote to Eric Robinson, council chief executive.

So here's to you Mr Robinson for getting back with the message: "While the council does not have a current arts policy it is working on developing a cultural strategy for Wirral which will include the arts."

But please no more outside consultants. We need real consultation with committed parties from all sectors of the arts.

He goes on to say that the strategy will be produced following the completion of “some work that the council is currently undertaking in relation to a review of its cultural services”.

It is expected to be completed "around December 2015".

In the name of art and transparency we shall give you an update on the progress of this review in December.

The Inferno will be approaching 90 by then.

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ONE of the great singer-songwriters pays his own tribute to Wirral on his world tours.

Actually, he sings the praises of Birkenhead’s very own Half Man Half Biscuit.

Dean Friedman, who had hits with Lucky Stars and Lydia in a career spanning 35 years, said he was bemused when he first heard of the song called The Bastard Son of Dean Friedman.

But he liked it so much he eventually agreed to appear on stage with them.

Yet revenge is sweet. Dean has penned a return musical message called A Baker's Tale in which he talks about the curious culinary origins of the band's singer Nigel Blackwell.

"I heard Nigel's mum likes it," said Dean, with a Big Apple grin.

Dean promises to sing it when he next plays Wirral.

He even signed a copy of his new album Words and Music which features the song during a gig last week to a fan saying: "Best wishes from Deano, Half New Yorker – Half Liverpudlian."

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I OVERHEARD two men in a Wirral pub last week talking about funny coincidences.

They believed that double acts Little and Large and Cannon and Ball were real names.

I thought back to my days as a TV critic when I sighed with every contrived television series title whereby somebody clearly had a name first then came up with a series to suit it – the dire gardening detective pair, Rosemary and Thyme, being one.

But the worst was Moon and Son about a psychic mum and her offspring who ran a clairvoyance agency solving mysteries.

I sat through the premier screening in London in 1992 with members of the cast and when the lights went up I turned to the lady next to me and said "what a load of predictable rubbish".

I later saw her at the press conferences and it was the star herself Millicent Martin.

I didn't see that coming.

And she couldn't predict it would be axed after one series. Now on our screens we have Doc Martin and Marley's Ghosts. Nothing changes in the uninspired name game.

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AND finally ... The Apprentice starts tonight.

It is rumoured that it could be Lord Sugar's last series, as he may take the hot seat of the US version should Donald Trump exit stage right for politics.

Tipped to take over the keys for the UK's boardroom is Piers Morgan.

If this happens I will write immediately to the BBC commissioning editor and say: "You're fired."

Peter Grant