Water, water everywhere

DISGRUNTLED Royton residents have waded into a conflict with housebuilders after construction work left their street under a pool of water.

Families living in Mellor Street, which runs alongside a new David Wilson Homes complex, say they have been deluged with water since work began to build 74 homes at the site of the Sandy Mill 18 months ago.

Resident Elizabeth Garside said: “It’s been a nightmare since the build started.

“We have a lot of natural springs around here and the water source is on the former mill site, but now it’s started seeping through the wall surrounding the housing complex and running down our street.

“A little bit of rain turns the street into a mud bath. It’s virtually impassible in really bad weather.”

And Yvonne Taylor, whose 87-year-old mother, Myfanwy Taylor, lives with family members in Mellor Street, is also concerned about treacherous conditions on the unadopted road.

She said: “It’s disgusting that an elderly lady has to struggle in conditions like this. The road has an uneven surface and no lighting.

“It’s got to the stage where family members have to guide her to and from her front door, so she doesn’t end up in a huge puddle.”

Group manager for highways and maintenance at Oldham Council, Cliff Jackson, said: “Pipes which run water through the mill site appear to have been disrupted by work to construct the new homes and caused problems for residents in Mellor Street.

“Either these damaged pipes have not been replaced by the people working on the site or the water is coming from a different source. Engineers will be sent down later this week to re-assess the problem.”

Andrew Taylor, planning director for David Wilson Homes North-West, said: “As part of the planning process, before work commenced, a topographic survey and a full drainage assessment was conducted and provision has therefore been made for the required drainage capacity.

“Occasionally there may be a short-term impact on the drainage capabilities of the land adjacent to a development because the ground can become compacted and due to construction related activity which, from experience will resolve itself over time. Within recent years excessive rainfall has also meant that the ground will remain close to saturation, any additional rainfall may result in flash flooding.

“In this instance the drainage issues that have been experienced may also be caused by the condition of the road and its lack of maintenance.”