Selfish drivers making waves

Motorists who created tidal waves by driving four-wheel drive vehicles through flash floods, have been criticised by a leading councillor.

Brian Lord lashed out after residents living at Chimes Court at Grotton complained that inconsiderate 4x4 drivers hurtled through surface water which had formed mini-lakes after Sunday’s freak rainstorms.

Councillor Lord, who serves on Oldham Council and Saddleworth Parish Council, said: “The behaviour of these drivers is putting people’s homes at risk of flooding.”

Residents who made valiant attempts to slow down drivers claimed they were completely ignored and, in some cases, drivers turned round and raced through the water again creating more waves.

Denise Adams, who has lived at near-by Grotton Rise for 28 years, said: “It was a horrendous situation.

“Because these vehicles stand so high off the road, it’s easy for them to cause large waves that push water into side roads causing extra flooding. In one case, the complete underside of a path was washed away creating further problems and blocking a grid.

“It seems as if some of the drivers did it maliciously. They just ignored protests from residents and swept through. They didn’t slow down at all,” she added. “It caused lots of problems for people trying to protect their property.”

Another resident asked a family member to stand at the roadside to discourage 4X4 drivers from racing though the the water but warnings were not heeded.

Sgt Craig Johnson, of Greater Manchester Police Lees and Saddleworth townships, said: “Drivers who take this kind of action need to show consideration for residents and other road users.

“They should be more sensible when approaching surface water and realise and evaluate the consequence of their actions.”

Councillor Lord added: “I am not surprised we constantly have flooding problems.

“Planners continue to allow more and more houses to be built while pipe work to take water away remains largely as it was three decades ago.”