HEAVY rain and flooding is continuing to affect residents, businesses and motorists across the Chester area today (Tuesday). Main road closures at present include the A540 Parkgate Road between the A5117 near Saughall and the A5480 Countess Way, is closed inbound. Other routes closed are Wicker Lane, Guilden Sutton, Gorstage Lane, Weaverham, while there are temporary traffic lights on the A559 in Great Budworth. Willaston Church of England Primary School in Willaston shut its doors for the day due to a lack of power, but is expected to reopen tomorrow. Rail commuters have also been badly affected, with Merseyrail and Arriva Trains Wales putting on rail replacement services or operating on a hugely reduced rail service altogether. Passengers travelling between Chester and Crewe, Wrexham or North Wales have been advised to check the Arriva Trains Wales website before travelling. Cheshire West and Chester Council has received hundreds of calls from residents about the extreme weather, which has seen more than two inches of rainfall hit the area in the past two days. Highways engineers and Streetscene staff have been dealing with Environment Agency alerts across West Cheshire and have been giving sandbags to households and businesses in danger of imminent flooding. Cllr Lynn Riley, executive Member for community and environment, said: “Our focus remains the protection of homes and the travelling public. “We are continuing to help residents and alleviate drainage problems where and when we are able. “The weather conditions continue to add to yesterday’s rain, falling on to already saturated ground. “In many of the problem areas, water is flowing from adjacent land onto the roads or into ditches that are also used by the highway for drainage. “We will continue to monitor the weather and particularly the forecast high winds for later on tonight. “Once again we will have people on standby and ready to help in needs of emergency.” The council is urging residents to use the highway fault reporting website at maps.cheshire.gov.uk/cheshirecc.interactivemapping.web.internet to check the latest incidents. More rainfall is expected overnight but showers are forecast to ease on Wednesday, with the rest of the week becoming drier and sunnier. | 
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