A multi-million pound project is underway to alleviate sewer flooding impacting homes in Churchtown in Southport.

United Utilities will spend the next 12 months above and below ground in the Verulam Road and Merlewood Avenue area increasing the capacity of the sewer network; its work will take place along Bankfield Lane between Verulam Road and Merlewood Avenue, and in a section of land off Blundell Lane.

Programme manager Mark Walker said UU wanted to improve the lives of many homeowners whose properties were at risk of flooding during periods of heavy rainfall along Verulam Road and Merlewood Avenue.

“It’s been a horrible problem for them and we want to sort it out,” he said.

“There is quite a lot of work to do. We need to lay new sections of sewer pipe and increase the capacity of the network by constructing a deep underground storage tank that can store storm water until the rain subsides, when it's released back out to the sewer and onto the sewage works for treatment.

“We will be working hard to keep people informed as our work progresses.

“Unfortunately there’s no way of doing engineering work of this scale without causing some temporary disruption. But we have a responsibility to the community to do everything possible to get the work done as safely and quickly as we can.”

Southport MP Damien Moore has supported local residents in their bid for action to be taken to alleviate the flooding problems in the area.

He said: “I am delighted to see that United Utilities has committed to upgrading the capacity of the sewer network in Churchtown over the next few months.

“This is a substantial project that will bring huge benefits to people living particularly on Verulam Road and Merlewood Avenue but also to others living in the Churchtown area whose lives are frequently adversely impacted by periods of heavy rainfall.

“I would like to thank the many local residents who have contacted me on this issue and hope that this action by United Utilities will greatly improve their quality of life.”

'Liquid manure' coating the living room floor, as residents of Northwich recently discovered, is a distinctly unwelcome delight of climate change.....Yet so many of us continue with our unsustainable high-carbon lifestyles, seemingly oblivious to what will come down the line as a result.

if someone around 30+ years ago had'nt blocked off both ends of the inlet,and outlet of The Botanic Lake,from the Meols Hall,and also the culvert that ran under Verulam Road,and then went underground out into the Three Pools in Crossens,then the risk of flooding around that area would be less likely to happen...Perhaps the chances both ends being opened again,it would also help with the Botanic Lake from getting stagnant every year during the summer.

Plus the fact hundreds of new houses are being built in that area right now. Need to sort them drains at last.