Wirral Council is expecting squeaky clean drains following the introduction of two new specialist highways vehicles.
The gully cleansing vehicles are backed by an investment of almost £500,000 and are intended to improve the reliability and performance of the council’s fleet.
Thanks to the new fleet additions, the state of Wirral’s roadside drainage gullies will be boosted, with the ‘frequency and severity’ of flooding also being ameliorated.
According to the local authority, it has experienced years of growing maintenance challenges and increased costs due to its current ‘flagging fleet’, which is ageing and includes a gully cleansing vehicle that has reached the end of its operational life.
The vehicle had required regular repairs and off-road periods and hired replacement vehicles were necessary to help deliver council services.
Following a review of the council’s highway maintenance operations, the Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee approved the purchase of the two new custom-built vehicles that are soon to begin providing drainage maintenance work across the borough.
Cllr Max Booth, Chair of the Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee for Wirral Council, said: ‘It is important that our essential services have the equipment and support they need to continue maintaining Wirral’s highway drainage network efficiently and effectively.
‘Replacing ageing vehicles with high-specification alternatives is a no-brainer in the long-term as the new vehicles will bring improved reliability, reduce costs and support safer working conditions for our staff.’
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Photo: © Wirral Council.
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