Time to fix city centre crossing that floods in heavy rain, say Lib Dems

Labour-run Plymouth City Council needs to fix the repeated surface water flooding that regularly transforms a busy city centre pedestrian crossing into an urban water feature every time it rains heavily – that’s according to a leading local Liberal Democrat.

The crossing, at the junction of Exeter Street and Charles Cross roundabout, outside the entrance to Primark, is in near-constant daytime use by shoppers and residents.

Commenting, Hugh Janes, president of Plymouth Liberal Democrats and the party’s candidate for St Peter and the Waterfront in the city council elections on 7 May, said: “This is a busy pedestrian crossing, particularly important for people who live in Bretonside walking to or from Drake Circus shopping centre and the city centre.

“Residents have told me that this is a real hotspot for surface water flooding. It is not good enough that such an important, busy crossing is so susceptible to this.

“There is a drain but it clearly gets overwhelmed. It is the council’s job to maintain roads and pedestrian crossings and that’s not happening.

“The council needs to fix this so the experience of visiting the city centre continues to be a pleasant one for everyone.”

Fixing the poor state of Plymouth’s roads is a priority for the Lib Dems going into the city council elections on 7 May. Surface water flooding is a hazard for both pedestrians and drivers, and can lead to anything from wet feet from having to walk through flooded areas to more serious risks linked to a driver’s reduced control when driving through standing water.