Parents forced to carry their children because of big problem outside school gates for months
For the last few months, parents have had to carry their children over large pools of water, just to get them into school, according to one local councillor.
The issue relates to the persistent flooding of the gullies outside St Patrick’s RC primary school in Southport, which have become blocked with leaves and other detritus, resulting in huge puddles flowing over the pavements.
Having been alerted to the issue, ward councillor Mike Sammon visited the road just outside of the school to see the problem first-hand. Cllr Sammon then went on to share his thoughts on social media, as a way of updating his constuituents, posting: “The flooding outside St Patrick’s has now got to the point where parents are having to lift their children over the water to get them into school.
“This stretch has been like this for months. The gullies are completely blocked and the water is going nowhere.
“Sefton Council really needs to get a grip on this and sort it properly. I have reported it and expect it to be sorted asap. If you know of any similar flooding issues in Cambridge Ward, feel free to let me know (ideally with images) and I’ll get onto it.”
Cllr Sammon post was shared to a local Facebook group, prompting several comments about flooded gullies on Marshide Road and streets in the surrounding area. Debra Judge commented: “It’s the same further down Marshside Road from Longacre to little Morrisons, by some of the houses you have to walk in the road, the flooding is that bad.
Stephen Hesketh agreed, writing directly to Cllr Sammon: “As Debra Judge suggests, it is really bad Mike, and recently you do indeed have to go out into the road after heavy rain.
“It’s the stretch between Longacre and Knob Hall Lane. I’ll send you a photograph. As at St Patrick’s, it is that little gutter along the walls.”
After asking for an update on the situation, Cllr Sammon told the LDRS: “What we’re seeing outside St Patrick’s is the result of basic cleansing and drainage maintenance being allowed to slip for far too long.
“Parents have been carrying their children over pooling water for months and it is completely avoidable. Part of the issue appears to be that leaf clearance sits with the cleansing team while blocked gullies sit with highways.
“Unless those departments work together problems like this will just keep happening. Residents deserve a proper plan from Sefton Council to clear the backlog of blocked gullies and stop issues like this becoming a permanent feature of the school run.”
The LDRS contacted Sefton Council and was told the local authority will be mechanically sweeping the area to ensure there is no debris blocking the gully and, if the area remains flooded, it will work with the gully cleansing team to deal with the issue.