Wirral is continuing to deal with the aftermath of the catastrophic Storm Arwen, which battered the borough over the weekend.
More than 160 separate incidents were reported through the council’s out of hours phone line on Friday and Saturday, with the majority relating to trees having been brought down by the strong winds.
Some houses and cars were reported as damaged during the storm, while many roads in the borough were blocked as a result of fallen trees – some still remain so as the council and its contractors continue to work around the clock to deal with all the reported damage.
The level of damage was such that it could take a number of weeks before the whole clear-up operation is complete.
Wirral Council Leader, Cllr Janette Williamson, said, “This was an extreme weather event and its impact was felt all over the borough – on roads, properties, gardens, parks; even Landican Cemetery was affected, with a loss of power over the weekend and fallen trees damaging a number of headstones.
“I’d like to pay tribute to everyone who was called into action on Friday and Saturday especially to deal with emergencies, in many cases putting themselves at risk as they battled against the worst of the storm. From the blue light responders, to switchboard and control room staff, council officers and contractors on behalf of all public services – they were tireless in their efforts and many are still working on the clean up operation even now.
“I’d also like to thank residents for their patience and co-operation, firstly in heeding the warnings ahead of the storm and staying home as much as possible, but also as we continue to assess the extent of the damage and deal with the clear up. I know staff are working as hard as they can to get to every incident, but it will take time and we appreciate the support of residents during this time.”
Image: Ford Road. Credit: Kay Mitchell
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