Neighbours fear 'horrendous' water tank build

Residents near the site of a proposed large underground water tank which is expected to prevent flooding in south Liverpool say the prospect of the construction work taking two years is "horrendous".

The tank is going to be installed under a section of a Wavertree Park known locally as The Mystery.

United Utilities said the £30m project was essential to ease the pressure on Liverpool's 100-year-old sewage system.

The company said disruption would be kept to a minimum and the park would look no different once the work was finished, apart from a new access road for maintenance.

Residents Helen and Damon attended a United Utilities information session and said they were glad the firm had moved the tank further away from homes.

However, Damon said the thought of building work and "40 vehicles per day for the next two years carrying tonnes of hard core in and out of the site" was "horrendous".

Carol, another resident, said she was "devastated", adding: "All the green space that we look over every day will be a building site for two years."

She said the park meant "everything" to her.

Local Liberal Democrat councillor Laurence Sidorczuk said the project would cause disruption but it was necessary to address the frequent flooding in the area.

He said no-one wanted a repeat of the tragedy in which a couple lost their lives after a deluge of heavy rain caused flash flooding on a section of Queens Drive in Liverpool in August 2023.

The tank was one of a number of measures being introduced, he added.

Mark Booth, Liverpool city region area engagement manager for United Utilities, said he understood residents had concerns.

He said: "This is a big tank, but we want to try and mitigate the disruption during the two years."

He said after construction the park would be restored and even improved if the community agreed.

Booth said The Mystery was the "only viable location" for the tank.

He added: "This is for the benefit of the local community, this is significant work."

The tank will hold 7 million litres of rain water, which will be pumped through the system to be treated and then released.

Booth said Liverpool's 100-year-old water drainage system needed upgrading, which would likely include the addition of more tanks.

"We've got a big challenge that we've got to tackle head on, about how we drain the city in the future," he said, adding: "We want to put the right infrastructure forward for the next 100 years."

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.