West Lancashire

West Lancashire is a local government district with borough status in Lancashire, England. The council is based in Ormskirk, and the largest town is Skelmersdale. The borough also contains the town of Burscough and surrounding rural areas. The neighbouring districts are Fylde, South Ribble, Chorley, Wigan, St Helens, Knowsley and Sefton. 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: Ormskirk Urban District Skelmersdale and Holland Urban District West Lancashire Rural District (majority of former district's territory; remainder went to Merseyside) Wigan Rural District (parishes of Dalton, Parbold and Wrightington; remainder went to Greater Manchester) In 2009 the district was awarded 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.