Council dismiss Lib-Dems' flooding concerns

The Liberal Democrats on Saddleworth Parish Council have asked for straight answers on flooding, and Oldham Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods has responded by praising its Highways teams.

After the area was hit by Storm Christoph, the Lib-Dems insist that flooding issues are a pressing concern for Saddleworth residents.

The group requested answers on a range of issues and their impact on planning decisions.

They asked the Borough Council to provide proof that their approach to cleaning drains and gullies works, given the conditions faced in Saddleworth. 

They also requested the information that OMBC is using to check the impact of housebuilding in Saddleworth on flooding; and how they’re keeping an eye on locations which flood frequently, and what measures they use to address them.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani said: “This is such a concern to people in Saddleworth, and we want to see that the decisions taken are sensible and fair.

"We all know that budgets have been cut, and that there are difficult decisions to be made, but we need to have confidence in the way that decisions are being taken.

“Despite the Liberal Democrats putting forward proposals to the Borough Council to double the investment in drain and gulley clearing – which have never once been supported by the Conservative councillors in Saddleworth – no increases have been forthcoming.”

Responding to Mr Al-Hamdani's concerns, Councillor Barbara Brownridge, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Culture, said: “The staff in Oldham Council’s Highways Team are out in all weathers maintaining the borough’s roads.

“They do a good job and this year has been particularly testing due to the impact of Covid on the staff.

“Our teams undertake scheduled cleaning of gulllies to recommended industry-wide standards.

"We’ve had a lot of rain recently, but our monitoring has found nothing to suggest the gullies have struggled to cope.

“Before any severe rain warning we mechanically sweep channels and clean gullies in known hotspots, to reduce the impact of flash rainfall events, as during Storm Christoph.

The council say that analysis shows that since 2016 less than 5 per cent of flooding can be attributed to gully issues.

Councillor Bainbridge continued: "River flooding and sewers being over capacity are the two main causes, neither of which are the council’s responsibility.

"Last week the Tame and Medlock Rivers flooded.

“With regard to planning, council officers are working with Saddleworth Parish Council to prepare the Saddleworth Neighbourhood Plan, providing advice and guidance on planning policy matters, including flooding issues. 

“All planning applications are assessed using national planning policies to ensure development is directed away from areas identified as having the highest flood risk.

“As part of any development drainage measures are put in place, following input and advice from the Lead Local Flood Authority, the Environment Agency, and United Utilities.”

The forthcoming Neighbourhood Plan for Saddleworth is due to include a specific section on flooding.

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