Wirral Council to investigate flooding problem

Sep 17 2008 by Lorna Hughes, Birkenhead News

flood

WIRRAL Council has agreed to investigate how flood-prone areas of Wirral could be protected.

Last week the borough suffered some of the wettest weather of the year with 15mm of rain falling in just one hour on the evening of Friday, September 5.

Shoppers were stranded in the car park of Tesco in Bidston after roads were blocked by water.

And in Greasby elderly residents in sheltered accommodation had to be evacuated after flood water poured into their homes.

Members of the council’s Streetscene and Transport Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee have now agreed to set up a working party to identify the worst-hit areas and look at possible solutions.

Council officers have been asked to prepare a report into the issue for the all-party group, which could ask to meet with organisations like United Utilities and the Environment Agency.

Eastham councillor Dave Mitchell, who asked for the working party to be set up, said: “In Wirral we have problems in certain areas with flooding and those problems occur every time we have major rainfall.

“It used to be just in the winter but with the changes in weather patterns it doesn’t necessarily fit in with the old system - now we’re getting flash flooding in spring and autumn as well.”

During last week’s heavy rainstorm, drains overflowed and the River Birket - which flows from Meols, through Moreton, Leasowe and Bidston - breached its banks.

Merseyside Fire Service received more than 200 calls in just three hours on Friday and a spokesman said the deluge of rain was “too much to handle in a short space of time” for Wirral’s drains.

Cllr Mitchell added: “We’ve asked for a report in the first instance then we’ll involve different parties like United Utilities.

“What we need to do is talk about ways of providing increased drainage to people’s properties.

“We need to address the whole system because the problem isn’t going to go away.”