Council 'doing all they can' to make sure Queens Drive flooding tragedy isn't repeated

A new safety system has been installed and the road is due to reopen within weeks

Huge signs which will light up if flood warnings are triggered
Author: Harry BoothPublished 24th Jan 2024

The leader of Liverpool City Council says they're doing all they can to make sure the Queens Drive flooding tragedy last year doesn't happen again.

A new safety system has been installed there after elderly couple Elain and Phillip Marco's car got trapped in floodwater under the bridge in Mossley Hill in August.

New sensors will know when water levels under the railway tunnel are getting dangerous and huge signs will light up if the warnings are triggered.

Big metal gates can also be put down to stop anyone driving down the road when the weather gets really severe.

Councillor Liam Robinson said:

"One of the things that we've been made aware of is the circumstances, the actual weather occurrence we had back in August was actually described as monsoon-type conditions.

"That is the first time we're ever aware of of that type of weather being described that way in Liverpool. It was probably one of the most severe instances we've ever had in the city.

"Obviously, tragically, the events happened that did happen and that's why we've got to make sure we're putting the appropriate mechanisms that mean that we're doing everything possible to prevent that ever happening again.

"We've identified the Queens Drive underpass under the railway line is the most significant location within the city (for flood risk) but there are a number of other parts of the city where there is a prone flood risk where we continue to look at what may be the appropriate additional measures we need to put in place.

"When you think about the climate emergency and some of the extremes of weather we're having more often than historically was the case, it's certainly something we have to look at in much more detail than has ever been the case in the past."

It's hoped the road will be safe to reopen within the next few weeks.

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