The junction of Wellington Road, Picton Road and Rathbone Road is infamous for its tight bends and lack of pedestrian crossings
09:00, 23 Nov 2025Updated 10:29, 23 Nov 2025
Parking issues on Wellington Road in Wavertree.(Image: Liverpool Echo)
A “nightmare” crossroad with a reputation as an accident blackspot has come under further fire from people struggling to cross. The junction of Wellington Road, Picton Road and Rathbone Road in Wavertree is infamous for its tight bends and lack of pedestrian crossings, making navigating it difficult for both drivers and pedestrians.
Wellington Road was closed on June 9 following a crash between a Hyundai and a motorbike, resulting in several people suffering minor injuries. On November 22 last year, a man was rushed to hospital with serious injuries after being hit by a car after being hit by a Toyota Prius at the busy junction.
Now residents are facing further issues, as building work on Wellington Road has obstructed the pavement on both sides – resulting in some people walking in the road instead.
Renovation work is ongoing at both The Wellington Pub and The Picton, which are sited opposite one another at the junction. Scaffolding is currently up at The Picton, while on the other side of the street, work vans and skips are parked.
Bethan Meredith, who lives within walking distance of the crossroads, said: “It’s been a nightmare for years. A couple of people have been knocked down there. It’s a very bad crossroads
“They’ve been doing a makeover at The Wellington Pub, so you can see there’s a lot of work going on and I haven’t got a problem with that. What I have a problem with is that we as pedestrians are struggling to go down the road. There’s at least three vehicles parked on that side of the road every day, and nobody seems to care.
Parking issues on Wellington Road in Wavertree.(Image: Liverpool Echo)
“It’s been about three or four weeks with the vans and cars being parked on that side of the road. The scaffolding (at The Wellington) was up for a bit longer, maybe eight weeks. That came down last week and it did make it easier, but they’re still were blocking our way from the traffic lights.
“It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see people are walking in the road. It’s a really bad crossroad anyway, and people have died in that area over the years because of the bad traffic at that junction. It’s just not good enough.
“The point is our safety. I have seen an elderly woman with a trolley trying to cross that road, a man with a baby’s pram, and its not good enough.”
She said she had contacted her local councillor about the issue, but had not heard back.
She said: “It’s a cramped area, and the junction is contentious. Lorries come up and down these roads. These are very tight bends and they should have really updated them many moons ago, and that’s what makes it worse.
“I did suggest that they (the work vans) parked on the other side of the road further down, where there’s more space. But when I looked down the road again, I saw they already had vans there.
“It’s not fair on the people that live in this area. The work has been going on at least eight weeks and its making peoples lives difficult
“I just think nobody cares and it’s really sad because it is obstructing the passageway, and its such a bad junction. I’ve had to walk in the road myself and I’m able-bodied. What about other people?”
A Liverpool City Council spokesperson said: “Pavement parking is a major problem for pedestrians, especially those with prams or wheelchairs. It can be dangerous for pedestrians and can also cause traffic congestion.
“Tackling anti-social parking is a key priority within our wider Parking Strategy, and we are increasing enforcement to address the issue.
“If a pedestrian or resident has a concern with pavement parking, they can report the issue on the Council website and an officer will investigate.”