Storms Cancel River of Light and Weekend Markets

/ Environment

Storm Austen and Storm Boelo are disrupting events and services in Liverpool. A yellow weather warning is in place across Merseyside, with strong winds and heavy rain affecting a number of activities.

The city council has cancelled the River of Light event for safety reasons on two evenings. On Friday 23 October, Storm Austen made conditions worse and the event did not go ahead. On Saturday 24 October, Storm Boelo's weather led to a second cancellation. The planned closure of Water Street was dropped both times. The council asks people to watch the Visit Liverpool social channels for further updates.

Markets and pitches

Three markets are affected:

  • Lark Lane Farmers and Craft Market is cancelled on Saturday 24 October;
  • Tuebrook Market and Car Boot Sale is cancelled on the same day;
  • the Cunard Building Market did not run on Friday evening and will not run on Saturday evening.

All fixtures on council-owned grass pitches this weekend are off. The council says the decision was taken in the interests of safety and pitch management.

Support for rough sleepers

Liverpool has activated its Severe Weather Emergency Protocol. Anyone who sees a person sleeping rough is asked to call 0300 123 2041. The 24/7 outreach team will try to provide emergency accommodation.

Safety advice

Windy weather can make driving dangerous, so the council says people should only drive if they need to and should plan ahead. High winds also raise the risk of injury outdoors: stay indoors as much as possible and avoid walking or sheltering close to buildings and trees. Residents are asked to check on neighbours, especially those who are elderly or live alone.

The council points people to the Met Office weather warnings and the Liverpool forecast pages for the latest updates.

Source: Liverpool Express