Esther McVey: Community engagment, the arts - and no signs of election apathy in Wirral West

May 11 2011 By Staff Reporter

WHAT a week of voting and campaigning it’s been, culminating with the rejection of AV (on Wirral 7 out of 10 people said No) as well as the selection of local councillors.

And there were no signs of apathy in Wirral West, people flocked to their polling stations and got involved.

Obviously not everyone got their  favourite candidate elected, but councillors work hard for their communities and represent everyone.

That said I want to take a second to personally mention my team in Wirral West; Councillor Gerry Ellis, David Elderton and Don McCubbin, all convincingly re-elected, and in Greasby, Frankby & Irby we gained two new Conservative councillors, Mike Hornby and Tony Cox.

Well done team and thank you to everyone who voted.

So after a challenging week, I was delighted to relax at the Floral Pavilion Theatre amongst friends and watch another sensational performance by the West Kirby Light Opera Society. An award-winning amateur team that puts on truly professional productions.

 While there, I got to thinking just how much talent and enthusiasm there is for the arts on this peninsula: the Wirral Brass Band, Hillbark Players, Wallasey School of Ballet, the Hoylake Chamber Concert Society to name but a few.

And this year Hoylake is linking the local community and business through art with its ‘Festival of Firsts’.

 Wirral is an area that connects with its community, whether it’s to stand up and vote or encourage talent.

I’m proud of where I live and am continually amazed by the talent here, as well as the support this community provides one another.