Work on 'contentious' flood-hit road to go ahead

Upgrade works on "the most contentious piece of road in Liverpool" are to go ahead despite concerns being raised about a perceived lack of consultation over the sensitivity of the scheme.

Councillors have argued the work on Queens Drive is needed to improve road maintenance and safety, but opposition members have said the £1.8m package lacks clarity.

In 2023, an elderly couple died after their car was trapped in heavy rain which caused flash floods on a section of the road that dips below a railway bridge.

An inquest following the deaths of Philip Marco, 77, and Elaine Marco, 76, said council officers had "failed to appreciate the risk to life" caused by flooding in the area.

Earlier this month, a group of councillors "called-in" the upgrade plans, citing a lack of consultation in the city council's decision to award the contract.

A "call-in" is a process by which councillors can ask a committee to look more closely at decisions by a council's cabinet, which have been made but are yet to be implemented.

At the time, fellow Lib Dem councillor Rob McAllister-Bell said the plans were not clear enough.

Councillors have also previously cited concerns regarding continued parking issues in the area caused by the school run, and the subsequent traffic problems - which are likely to be exacerbated by any roadworks.

Now, after a fresh meeting was convened at Liverpool Town Hall, it was decided the planned upgrades would go through.

Liverpool Council said improvements were needed now to avoid future deterioration - with upgrades planned for the carriageway, footpaths and highway drainage infrastructure at the site.

The work will be focused at the southern end of the road around Sefton Park, Mossley Hill and Penny Lane.

The authority also said the works would seek to improve journey times, reliability, reduce congestion, enhance safety by reducing collisions and improve access to essential services.

Councillor Dan Barrington said the council had an obligation to keep the roads to a "safe and sustainable" standard, before noting cracking in the road infrastructure which added to the risk of water penetration.

Citing the findings of the coroner last year, the Labour deputy leader said works taken out by United Utilities would only reduce the risk of flooding on Queens Drive.

He said improvement works would not remove the risk entirely but would ensure any closures of the road as a result would ultimately be shorter.

The committee agreed to back the original cabinet decision, allowing it to move forward.

Liberal Democrat councillor Richard Kemp, the lead councillor for the "call-in" said: "I regret the lack of consultation and quality of the report submitted to you - this raises more questions than answers.

"This is the most contentious piece of road in Liverpool and we all know why."

Additional reporting from the Local Democracy Reporting Service

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