Ex-council worker warned of flooding dangers of Queens Drive
A former Liverpool Council worker said he raised concerns and called for action about a road where a married couple died in flooded conditions last month.
Frank Jones was a neighbourhood environment officer at the council and covered the Queens Drive area where Elaine and Philip Marco died[1] after their car drove into a flooded area of the road underneath a railway bridge on Saturday, August 26.
Emergency services fought frantically to save the married couple, aged 75 and 77[2], but both were pronounced dead at hospital after being pulled from the flooded road.
The tragic events have raised serious questions about why more hasn't been done to tackle - or warn about - an issue that has been ongoing for decades. Local residents have reported long-term flooding of the road and ECHO archives show reports of a number of incidents of drivers becoming stranded in the same spot over the years.
The coroner has now asked Merseyside Police to carry out a full investigation into what took place, with Liverpool Council, United Utilities and Network Rail all expected to be involved.
Former council officer Mr Jones said raised concerns about Queens Drive more than a decade ago.
He worked for the local authority between 2005 and 2013 and said around 2007 and 2008 he raised concerns about the flooding in the road to managers several times.
Mr Jones told the ECHO: "I had seen cars breaking down in the middle of the flooded area numerous times. It wasn't good.
"I highlighted this to my manager but I was told there was no money to do anything about it. I don't think it would have taken a lot.
"They could have put railway sleepers down to block the road when the rain was very bad to stop cars going through the area. I suggested that but again was told there was no money for it. Surely it wouldn't cost too much to at least put traffic lights or warning signs there.
Mr Jones, now 66 and retired, added: "I raised the concerns at meetings several times. I had a bee in my bonnet about it because the flooding would happen every time it rained heavily going back for many years."
Speaking about hearing news of the deaths of Elaine and Philip Marco last month, he said: "While I was concerned about it, I never expected anybody to drown in there. I felt sick when I saw that news. They were needless deaths that could have been prevented, without a shadow of a doubt."
Last week inquests were opened for both Elaine and Philip Marco at Liverpool coroner's court, which heard of the desperate battle to save the couple,
Coroner Andre Rebello also said there were "clearly questions that needed to be answered" with regard to the local highways authority, the maintenance of the road, the "vigilance of inclement weather" and who had responsibility for the drainage in the area.
He added: "Inquiries will need to be made with regard to the history of this road and lessons learned from previous experience, particularly from residents of the area and that will all take some time."
A Liverpool City Council spokesperson said: “We have committed to fully co-operating with an investigation into the incident on Queens Drive on Saturday 26 August, which tragically led to the deaths of two people.
"We are working with other agencies to determine what happened and why, and to take any appropriate action.”
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References
- ^ the Queens Drive area where Elaine and Philip Marco died (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
- ^ Emergency services fought frantically to save the married couple, aged 75 and 77 (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
- ^ Win a 5-night holiday to the Turkish coast at Cook’s Club Adakoy Hotel (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
- ^ Don't miss the biggest and breaking stories by signing up to the Echo Daily newsletter here (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)