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A new online destination for West Kirby has been launched, along with a bid for funding to boost the town and connect its independent high street, heritage, community and coast.
Community organisation One West Kirby has applied for funding through the Nationwide/Visa Let's Celebrate Towns competition.
It comes as they have also launched a new website - www.onewestkirby.org.uk - which brings together visitor information, local businesses, attractions, community activities and the work being undertaken to support the town's future.
At its heart is Discover West Kirby, a new visitor-focused section showcasing six aspects of the town: Sea More, Taste West Kirby, Shop Independent, Art & Soul, Tides of Time and Feel Good West Kirby.
From independent shops, cafés and restaurants to Hilbre Island, Marine Lake, the Wirral Way, local heritage, arts and outdoor activities, the website aims to encourage residents and visitors to discover more of West Kirby and spend longer exploring the town.
It will also provide a digital home for a new illustrated visitor map, currently being developed by local designer Kim Waters and illustrator Sam Rainford and funded by local councillors via the Wirral Together Fund and West Kirby Rotary.
The map, expected in January 2027, will use the same visitor themes and feature QR codes linking printed maps to interactive online information, business listings, walks and trails.
Iona Horsburgh, Co-Chair of One West Kirby, said: "We have an extraordinary combination of independent businesses, beautiful coastal surroundings, heritage, culture and community activity, but we haven't always made it easy for people to discover everything West Kirby has to offer.
"The new website is about bringing those things together in one place. We want someone coming to walk around Marine Lake or visit Hilbre Island to discover our independent shops and restaurants too, and equally for local residents to find activities, places and stories they might not have known about."
The website has been developed with the support of Adam Crouch of Northern Sites, who has provided his professional expertise and website development services entirely free of charge as a contribution to the local community.
Adam said: "West Kirby has so much to offer, and the aim was to create a website that brings it all together in a way that's easy for people to explore. From discovering independent businesses to finding places to visit and things to do, we wanted to make the information accessible and easy to navigate.
"It's been great to work with One West Kirby on something that will benefit the town and help more people discover what's here."
£20,000 Community Pride competition entry
Alongside the website launch, One West Kirby has submitted an entry to the Community Pride category of the Nationwide/Visa Let's Celebrate Towns competition, which offers a £20,000 award to a winning town.
Its proposal, Love West Kirby – High Street to Coast, builds on the new website and visitor maps to create a more connected experience of the town.
The programme would include:
Discovery routes celebrating West Kirby's history, food, creative life, health and wellbeing.
Heritage displays in local businesses, bringing historic photographs and stories onto the high street.
A paid Young Ambassador programme, offering local young people training, employment experience and opportunities to welcome visitors.
Love West Kirby Welcome Partners, helping businesses provide visitor information and encourage people to explore.
Improved wayfinding and trail markers, connecting the railway station, independent high street, Marine Lake and coast.
Stronger community connections, helping local organisations, businesses and public partners collaborate.
The competition entry also celebrates the contribution already made by West Kirby's volunteers, community groups, schools and businesses, including West Kirby in Bloom, the Christmas Lights, local markets, the Museum, the RNLI and the Friends groups caring for the town's parks.
Dawn Wormell, Co-Chair of One West Kirby, said: "The competition gave us an opportunity not only to celebrate the fantastic things that local people already do for West Kirby, but to think about how we can connect those efforts and achieve even more together.
"Winning £20,000 would make an enormous difference, but we recognise that this is a national competition. The encouraging thing is that the individual ideas we've developed have real potential in their own right, and we'll be looking at other funding and partnership opportunities to take them forward."
The Love West Kirby initiative has also received the support of the Leader of Wirral Council, Cllr Paula Basnett, who has welcomed the role of local communities in strengthening town centres and bringing businesses, residents and organisations together.
The website and competition entry form part of One West Kirby's wider 2030 Strategy, which sets out a vision for a prosperous, welcoming and distinctive coastal town, with thriving independent businesses, attractive public spaces, a connected community and a strong local voice.
Photo credit: One West Kirby
