Briefing
View
Download
Drainage Strategy: Moving to a Risk Based Cleansing Model
CAB
19 Mar 2025
A Liberal Democrat councillor has welcomed plans to tackle Wirral’s blocked grids. A report requested by Oxton councillor Allan Brame reveals that Wirral is responsible for maintaining over 60,000 grids and each one is to be cleansed under a new outsourced contract. Funding will come from the City Region.
The report reveals that Wirral’s existing gully tanker has been condemned. Currently the cost of hiring a replacement vehicle is £1,400 per week.
“Traffic can be forced to make dangerous manoeuvres around ponds that cover half the road and in places pavements can be totally submerged, becoming impassable for pedestrians.
In addition, the Council will be ordering two new gully tankers at a cost of £520k, using capital approved by the Policy and Resources Committee.
Councillor Brame has welcomed these proposals. “Everyone will have seen small lakes that appear regularly around some of our grids when it rains, or noticed rainwater pouring straight over grids that are completely choked with mud or chippings after a road has been resurfaced.
“I have been pressing for action to tackle this issue for some years and am delighted that action is finally going to be taken.”