Wirral Invests £500,000 in New Gully Cleansing Fleet to Boost Flood Prevention

Council takes delivery of two purpose-built drainage vehicles designed to improve reliability, reduce maintenance costs and strengthen the borough's resilience against flooding.

Wirral Council has strengthened its highway maintenance fleet with the arrival of two new specialist gully cleansing vehicles as part of a £500,000 investment aimed at improving road drainage and reducing the risk of flooding across the borough.

The purpose-built vehicles will replace an ageing fleet that had become increasingly expensive to maintain, providing highways teams with more reliable equipment to keep roadside gullies clear and ensure drainage systems continue to function effectively during periods of heavy rainfall.

The investment follows a comprehensive review of the council's highway maintenance operations, which identified the need to modernise essential frontline equipment.

Modern fleet to improve drainage maintenance

The new vehicles will shortly enter service across Wirral, supporting the routine cleaning of roadside gullies that play a critical role in preventing surface water flooding.

While debris naturally accumulates around gully grids over time, regular cleansing helps prevent blockages that can restrict drainage capacity and lead to standing water during prolonged or intense rainfall.

By improving the efficiency of this work, the council hopes to reduce the frequency and severity of localised flooding while extending the operational life of the highway drainage network.

Replacing an ageing workhorse

The need to replace the previous gully cleansing vehicle was first identified in 2018 after highway maintenance services returned in-house.

Although the existing unit had provided many years of reliable service, it was already approaching the end of its operational life and became increasingly difficult and costly to maintain.

Frequent mechanical failures required specialist repairs and lengthy periods off the road, forcing the council to hire replacement vehicles to maintain drainage operations and placing additional pressure on maintenance budgets.

Recognising the growing operational risks, officers began exploring replacement options that would deliver greater long-term value and reliability.

Bespoke vehicles built for Wirral

Following a competitive procurement process, the contract to supply the new fleet was awarded to Whale Tankers, whose proposal demonstrated strong technical capability, value for money and ongoing aftercare support.

The two vehicles were custom-built to meet Wirral Council's operational requirements over a 12-month manufacturing programme, with highways officers closely involved throughout the design and build process.

The result is a pair of modern, high-specification vehicles capable of delivering more efficient drainage maintenance while providing improved working conditions for frontline staff.

Long-term investment in frontline services

The purchase forms part of the council's wider strategy to ensure essential highway services remain equipped to meet future demands.

By investing in modern equipment, the authority expects to improve fleet reliability, reduce repair and hire costs, and minimise service interruptions caused by vehicle breakdowns.

The enhanced fleet will also enable highways teams to carry out preventative drainage maintenance more effectively, helping protect communities from the impacts of increasingly frequent periods of heavy rainfall.

Supporting safer roads and communities

Councillor Max Booth said investing in modern equipment was essential to maintaining Wirral's highway drainage network efficiently and ensuring frontline teams have the tools they need to deliver high-quality services.

He said replacing ageing vehicles with modern alternatives would improve operational reliability, reduce long-term costs and strengthen safety for both staff and road users.

The council is also encouraging residents to report blocked gullies and drainage grids through their local councillors or the authority's reporting channels so that issues can be investigated and addressed as quickly as possible.

With the new vehicles now delivered and ready to enter service, Wirral Council says it is better equipped to maintain its drainage infrastructure and improve the resilience of the borough's road network against future flooding.