Marine Drive in Southport is temporarily closed today (Saturday 19th February) after gale force winds during Storm Eunice ripped cladding from buildings at the Ocean Plaza retail park, leaving three cars damaged.
The winds were so fierce yesterday that cladding from the seaward side of the facility was blown over the top of the roof and into the car park over the other side.
Owners of Ocean Plaza were on the scene at the time and have pictures of the damage and the registration numbers of the cars damaged, and will liaise with them over insurance purposes.
Officers from Merseyside Police, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service and Sefton Council’s Highways team were quickly on the scene at Ocean Plaza when the damage happened, at around 3.45pm on Friday afternoon.
Contractors are currently on site assessing and repairing the damaged building.
Marine Drive had already been closed yesterday by Sefton Council, between 10am and 3pm, due to fears over strong winds and a high tide combining to create a threat of flooding, which never materialised.
But a new road closure was swiftly put into place after the damage at Ocean Plaza at around 3.45pm, which remains today on a section of Marine Drive from the Southport Pleasureland roundabout and past Ocean Plaza.
Businesses at Ocean Plaza remain open today, although a large section of the car park is coned off for people’s safety.
People who do go down to Ocean Plaza today are being asked to do so with caution.
Windy weather remains which “will continue to bring a period of very strong and disruptive winds today”.
⚠️WEATHER WARNING⚠️
💨#StormEunice will continue to bring a period of very strong & disruptive winds today.
To find out more click here: https://t.co/Tge0Zd5xWm pic.twitter.com/Nrv9PSyisH— Sefton Council (@seftoncouncil) February 19, 2022
A new storm, Storm Franklin, is due to arrive tomorrow (Sunday), causing more disruption.
Hesketh Park and Botanic Gardens in Southport remain closed.
Cambrigde Arcade in has partially reopened although the Chapel Street entrance is still closed.
Contractors worked on site at Ocean Plaza late into last night and are back on site again today, as they seek to rivet down damaged cladding on the seaward side of the building before more permanent repairs can take place.
Ocean Plaza Centre Manager Tracey Johnson said: “We are doing everything we can to make sure that the buildings at Ocean Plaza are secure and safe.
“The businesses at Ocean Plaza are open today – we are aware it is half term and that town may be busy – but we are asking anyone who does come down to please proceed with caution.
“The weather is still windy and Storm Franklin is due to come in tomorrow.
“Parts of the car park are coned off, so please be aware of reduced capacity for parking.
“Contractors are back on site today to rivet down the damaged cladding ahead of full repairs being made, which is not an easy task during this spell of very bad weather.
“Marine Drive is closed and will remain closed until the buildings have been made fully safe.
“We are working closely with Merseyside Police and Sefton Council’s Highways team to do all we can to get everything secure as fast as we can.
“For anyone coming to Ocean Plaza, please proceed with caution.
“We were on site when the damage happened. We have photos of all the damage and registration details of the cars that were damaged and will get that situation sorted out.”
Storm Eunice caused substantial damage across Southport yesterday, despite a number of precautions being put into place.
Sefton Council closed a number of parks, including Hesketh Park and Botanic Gardens in Southport, and urged people to stay away from the coastline.
Merseyseyail urged people not to travel during Friday afternoon.
Northern suspended tail services between Southport and Manchester.
A number of trees were brought down yesterday, including a large one outside Southport Police Station.
A number of homes were left without power.
At Ocean Plaza, they reacted quickly to the wind damage.
Tracy Johnson said: “We closed Ocean Plaza as early as we could last night.
“We cleared around 50 cars out of the way as fast as possible, coned off an area of the car park and closed Marine Drive.
“I want people to be aware that we are still in a situation today, and are working as fast as we can to resolve it.
“There are parking restrictions on site, and parts of Marine Drive will remain closed for the time being.
“We are on site today and are doing all we can.”
Sefton Council has issued a warning that Storm Eunice will continue to bring a period of very strong and disruptive winds today.
To find out more Visit: http://ow.ly/2cLh50HYCRO
Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Please message Andrew Brown via Facebook here or email me at: mediaandrewbrown@gmail.com
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