RESIDENTS in Meols are demanding urgent action to unblock a drain that has caused severe flooding.

For months, pedestrians walking past a crossing on Birkenhead Road, near its junction with Fornalls Green Lane, run the risk of being splashed by passing motorists as some plough through the widespread pool that has formed on the road.

People cannot even use the crossing, which is turning the flood into a road safety issue.

A Council spokesperson said the authority was working with United Utilities to resolve the problem, adding that all was being done to minimise the impact of any standing water on cars and pedestrians.

But Wirral West MP Margaret Greenwood wants an end to the issue.

She told the Globe: "I am aware of the flooding at the junction of Birkenhead Road and Fornalls Green Lane in Meols, and know that this has been a problem in the past.

"Constituents are especially concerned that the flooding is causing traffic to swerve to avoid it, and also that it encroaches onto the nearby pedestrian crossing.

"This could have implications for elderly people, school children, and others who use the crossing.

"I have been in contact with United Utilities and Wirral Council to push for a speedy resolution.”

In an email sent to Ms Greenwood, seen by the Globe, Steven Wong, United Utilities area stakeholder manager for programme services, said a network team had investigated the problem and concluded it was caused by a blocked highway drain, but denied it was their responsibility to sort out.

He added: "This will come under the authority of Wirral council. Highway drainage is classed as surface water and should direct any rainfall to a surface water system and not the sewerage network. If it becomes blocked it will naturally pool.

"It is possible for the water to enter the sewer network but if the event is during or after a heavy rainfall event, the system will already be full and won't be able to accept any additional non foul water as in this instance.

"The local highways team from Wirral Borough Council should immediately investigate and unblock the drain to allow the release of the rainwater into the surface water system to drain away."

A Council spokesperson said: "We are well aware that there is a problem with slow draining of surface water at this location.

"However, we can only fully investigate and look to remedy the issue once a water leak at the same location has been fixed and we are working with United Utilities to try to get this done as soon as possible.

"In the meantime, we will do what we can to minimise the impact of any standing water on cars and pedestrians travelling along Birkenhead Road.”