CITY leaders are to spend up £1m to try to stop a repeat of this year’s flash flood chaos.

Some of the money will go towards fixing the culverts that run under Tuebrook, in order to stop it collapsing.

It is feared, if it was breached, it could lead to subsidence to housing downstream of its route near to Tynwald Hill and Green Lane. There is also concern that any collapse could threaten underground electricity and gas mains.

City regeneration boss Cllr Malcolm Kennedy said it was important the council “moved as quickly as possible” and that although the works could cause “major disruption” it was essential if the problems were to be solved.

The work would constitute the first phase of works to all city watercourses which could require up to £8m over the next four years. At Friday’s cabinet, the council agreed a masterplan for dealing with flooding problems. During heavy rains, the man-made Victorian drains struggle to cope, as seen in Aigburth in July.

The council has now secured £565,000 from the Environment Agency for work on the culvert and drainage investigations. An extra £250,000 will come from the Department for Food and Rural Affairs to help develop a strategy to combat rising water table levels. The works are expected to begin in the New Year.