Council reopen Southport Road after closure caused by severe flooding

Regular flooding has recently plagued the road near the entrance to Astley Park, and police were forced to close it for the second time in less than a week after heavy rainfall on January 20.

But Chorley Council has announced this afternoon that the road is open again after a "multi-organisational operation" resolved the recent flooding issues.

Work has since been completed on a small underground tunnel which was blocked and prevented water running through it in a bid to create a solution to the flooding problems.

And they announced they will be working with Lancashire County Council on a longer term solution and will announce updates when they become available.

The council statement said: "Following a massive multi-organisation operation to bring the flooding situation under control on Southport Road, Chorley, we can now announce that the section of the road that was closed last week has been reopened.

"Furthermore, work has been completed to clear the blocked ‘culvert’ – a small tunnel underneath a road which allows water to flow beneath it – and this is a really important step towards ensuring flooding in this area is less likely in the immediate future."

On January 20, fire crews were called to the scene to pump out floodwater, but the road stayed closed due to being unsafe.

And residents feared that the historic Grade-II listed Ackhurst Lodge was at risk of permanent damage, having been photographed nearly completely submerged by floodwater.

The Ackhurst entrance to Astley Park still remains closed while Chorley Council continue to clean up the area.

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