Decision

The Director of Neighbourhood Services has approved the publication of the investigation report into the West Kirby Flood in April 2024.

Reasons for the decision

On 9th April 2024 Storm Pierrick, as named by the French meteorological service Meteofrance, was coincident with high spring tides. This combination of conditions resulted in flooding of the highway and 3 residential properties and a store-room to a business at South Parade. Section 19 of the Flood and Water Management 2010 places a duty on Wirral Council as the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) to record, investigate and report flood incidents where it considers it ‘necessary and appropriate’. Although the locally agreed triggers that would ordinarily launch a Section 19 Flood Investigation have not been met in this instance, the issues that occurred during and immediately following the storm have been the focus of much public interest. For this reason, Wirral Council in its role as Lead Local Flood Authority has undertaken an investigation into those events

Alternative options considered

No alternative options were considered as where an authority carries out an investigation under S19 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 the authority must publish the results of its investigation.