United Utilities teams up with Deysbrook residents and flood action group to manage rainwater in the community

UNITED Utilities is embarking on its biggest ever water butt provision in the North West, supporting the community of Deysbrook to divert surface water away from the drains into specialised storage, so residents can recycle rainwater for use in their homes and gardens, and reduce potential flood risk in the area.

An amazing 720 planters are due to be delivered over the next couple of months, and locals were invited to sign up to the scheme and obtain their own slow-release water butt for their garden, which can hold 200 litres of water and be used for things like washing muddy boots, dirty paws or watering the plants.

The water company has been working closely with the flood action group to find solutions following localised flooding in the New Year, and earlier in May 4 SuDSPod rainwater planters were delivered to the local community centre and installed for the locals to enjoy and nurture. The SuDSPod planters are not only an aesthetic addition to any outdoor space, but their practicality benefits both the environment and the purse strings by reducing the need to use tap water. Water butts collect rainwater in gutters to feed plants and slow the water's journey to the drains and sewer network, which ultimately reduces the potential for drain backfilling and mitigates flood risk.

Steve Kenyon, County Business Lead for Wastewater in Merseyside at United Utilities said:- "we, and our dedicated partners have been working closely with the community of Deysbrook to find mutually beneficial solutions to managing rainwater, and to reduce the flood risk to the local area. But this is just the beginning; we will continue our work with the flood action group and keep an open channel of communication between us and the community to look at future sustainable solutions that will benefit everyone. Thank you to the people of Deysbrook for working with us on this project."

Water butts are an efficient way to reuse water, especially in dry or warmer weather to conserve water usage. If each water butt is emptied and refilled 4 times per year, this equates to an incredible 576,000 litres of water available for recycling.

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From rust to riches - Donation from Kingsway Tunnel Project:- 'will make a direct difference to students' at Wirral School

A Wirral School which supports young people with complex needs has received a donation that will continue to transform services for students.

Proceeds from the scrap metal of the former Kingsway Tunnel gantry, recently decommissioned by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority as part of routine maintenance and infrastructure upgrades, have been donated by the contractor to:- Foxfield School, in Woodchurch, which supports young people with complex learning needs.

The gantry; once located above the entrance to the Kingsway Tunnel, on the Wirral, had reached the end of its service life and was carefully dismantled earlier this year.

As part of the project's social value commitment, funds raised from the recycled material were earmarked for a local cause, with Foxfield School selected due to its vital work supporting students aged:- 11 to 19 with a wide range of special educational needs.

Cllr Steve Foulkes, Chair of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Transport Committee, said:- "This is a fantastic example of how even the smallest parts of our transport infrastructure can be put to good use. By turning old steel into real support for local young people, we're showing that reinvestment in our communities isn't just about new roads or bridges; it's about people. Foxfield School does incredible work, and I'm proud that we've been able to support them in such a meaningful way."

The donation will go towards new learning resources and facilities, supporting the School's mission to provide a safe, inclusive, and empowering environment for all students.

The decision to recycle the gantry material and reinvest the proceeds locally was driven by the Combined Authority's commitment to sustainability and community benefit, ensuring that public infrastructure projects also deliver social value.

A E Yates Ltd, the contractor behind the tunnel gantry works, were on hand to present the cheque to Foxfield School and show the pupils a few tricks of the trade when they invited the students to take part in a sensory learning class, and introduced them to the health and safety of using a digger.

Last December, a Wellbeing Hub was officially opened at Foxfield School in Wirral, thanks to the generous fundraising efforts of Combined Authority staff who raised �2,000 through raffles and donations. This impressive amount has contributed to transforming a former IT room into a bright, calming space for students, parents, and carers.

The School, which supports young people with complex learning disabilities, has a long-standing relationship with the Combined Authority, with staff having raised tens of thousands of pounds over the past 40 years. The new Hub is already proving a valuable space for therapy, workshops, and community support.

Becky McBride, Headteacher at Foxfield School, said:- "We are so grateful for this incredible gesture from AE Yates. Not just the very kind donation, but the amazing opportunity given to the pupils when they visited the School with some of their diggers. Pupils got to wear the PPE and ask lots of questions, which Sven and Saffron answered alongside some engineering sessions. As a School, we have decided to use the donation to develop our engineering and construction resources further and we look forward to working with AE Yates again in the near future."

Sven Till, CEO at A E Yates Ltd, said:- "During our recent visit to Foxfield School, we were deeply touched by the welcoming environment created by the leadership team and pupils. At A E Yates Ltd., we are committed to creating long-term partnerships within our community. With that in mind, we're excited to be planning another visit to Foxfield, bringing along additional machinery and engaging, sensory-focused construction activities for the pupils to explore and enjoy. As part of our ongoing collaboration with the Combined Authority and the School, we're also proud to be co-developing a sensory wall which will be thoughtfully designed to stimulate the senses of touch, sight, and sound. In addition, we are hoping to help make improvements to the School's forestry outdoor classroom, creating more opportunities for hands-on learning in nature."

News reports located on this page = 2.

United Utilities teams up with Deysbrook residents and flood action group to manage rainwater in the community

From rust to riches - Donation from Kingsway Tunnel Project:- 'will make a direct difference to students' at Wirral School