THE first of three sessions giving you a chance to comment on Port Sunlight's bid for World Heritage status takes place today.

The village announced its World Heritage bid on June 16 after the Government reopened the Tentative List.

The open call for applications for World Heritage Site (WHS) inscription gives Port Sunlight a once in a decade opportunity to be considered for global recognition.

Since 2000, the question of Port Sunlight's eligibility for WHS inscription has been raised by the community and local politicians.

Drop-in sessions will be a chance for the public to have its say.

The first takes place today (Monday, June 27) at the pedestrian zone on Bebington Road in New Ferry between 2.30-6.30pm

The other sessions are:

Wednesday, June 29: Bebington Civic Centre between 2.30-6.30pm

Thursday, June 30: Port Sunlight Museum Green between 2.30-6.30pm

Since 2000, the question of Port Sunlight's eligibility for WHS inscription has been raised by the community and local politicians.

As part of its strategic and conservation planning in 2018, village custodians Port Sunlight Village Trust (PSVT) and key stakeholders reconsidered WHS inscription and this time determined that it was a realistic opportunity for Wirral, the community and the heritage site.

The trust is now putting together a bid for Port Sunlight to be recognised as a World Heritage Site, with support from strategic partners Wirral Council, National Museums Liverpool and Unilever.

Paul Harris, chief executive at PSVT said: "The UK's Tentative List is typically only reviewed at ten-yearly intervals so this is a rare opportunity that must be seized.

"Port Sunlight’s ambition for inscription has really developed over two decades.

"We are pursuing inscription to celebrate Port Sunlight's global value - a radical and influential innovation in community design and development for well-being and productivity for all people."

If successful, Port Sunlight could be ranked alongside other globally significant communities, including Saltaire and New Lanark, and famous landmarks such as Stonehenge and The Tower of London.

Department for Digital Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) will select up to ten UK sites to join the Tentative List and announce the results of the bidding process in late Autumn 2022.

PSVT has commissioned community engagement specialists PLACED to assist in delivering some public engagement events for all Port Sunlight’s stakeholders.

This will provide opportunities for individuals and organisations to come and explore with the Team what World Heritage Status could mean for the village and Wirral as a whole.