Liverpool flood death road could remain closed for another year

Elaine and Philip Marco were described as "devoted grandparents" by their family

A road where a couple died in floodwater could remain closed for another year while safety work is carried out.

Elaine and Philip Marco died after getting stuck inside a car on Queens Drive in Liverpool, on 26 August.

The road has been shut since the incident and Liverpool City Council now has permission to close the road until November 2024 if necessary.

The authority thanked motorists for their patience.

A council spokesman told the BBC, despite it having permission to keep the road closed for a year, it was seeking to reopen it as soon as possible and the majority of repairs had now been completed.

They included installing modern gullies to provide better cleaning and CCTV accessibility.

Repairs to the carriageway and footway have been carried out and signs stating the road was liable to flood have been put in place.

The local authority said a report on the safety of the road bridge was currently being reviewed.

Gully sensors, which detect flood water, were due to be installed in early December, but due to supply issues there could be a three-month delay, the council said.

A full risk assessment will be carried out shortly, the spokesman added.

Liberal Democrat councillor Richard Kemp, who represents the ward, said he hoped the long-term closure plan was just "a precautionary measure" and that it might reopen a lot sooner.

A photo taken in 2010 by a local resident shows vehicles stuck in standing water the day after a flood

Mr Kemp added: "Once the sensors are in and connected to a series of mobile phones staff can come down and immediately erect barriers if the water rises.

"In the slightly longer term, these sensors will be connected to warning signs which will automatically go off and trigger warning lights."

Mrs Marco, 75, and her husband, 77, were pronounced dead in hospital a week before their 54th wedding anniversary.

Liverpool City Council says the road is expected to remain closed for some time

Passers-by had fought to help the pair, where amateur footage appeared to show water gushing on to the road, which dips under a bridge.

At the opening of an inquest, the senior coroner said Liverpool City Council, Network Rail and United Utilities needed to answer questions.

He asked for inquiries into past incidents on the road, which had been flooded on several occasions, and the "lessons learned from previous experience".