Homes and gardens under theat in landslip fear

RISING waters . . . the flooded watercourse at the back of Carlton Way

FEARS have been raised that houses and gardens could slide down an embankment because of a flooded culvert.

Oldham Athletic submitted a planning application last year to tackle the problem of the blocked culvert on its land at Plumpton Clough.

But the Environment Agency has objected — resulting in the problem reaching a planning stalemate.

The culvert, at the back of Latics’ car park, becomes blocked when heavy rain washes soil into it and then floods — putting properties on neighbouring Carlton Way at risk.

It has flooded several times and reached a high level last week following downpours.

Concerned Carlton Way resident Margaret Broadbent has contacted Latics, Oldham Council, United Utilities and the Environment Agency to try to solve the problem, only to have them all blame each other.

She said: “It’s a health hazard and something should be done about it. If the water level is not contained, apart from stagnant water and the health risks, if it gets to the foundations the gardens and garages are at risk of slowly going down into the hollow.

“It used to be a trickle but then becomes a roaring river when the culvert blocks up and someone should be responsible for unblocking it. It only needs a few downpours and it will rise again.”

The football club wanted to solve the problem by culverting the watercourse further and creating a green corridor.

Latics chief executive Alan Hardy said: “It’s a continuing problem with the steep banks. When we get heavy rain it makes the banking unstable and washes it down and blocks it.

“We submitted a planning application over a year ago to solve the problem by culverting and levelling it out and providing some landscaping area and a cycling track. But no progress has been made by the planning department. It keeps coming up with objections and thinks there’s another way to make the banking stable. It says there’s an issue with the Environment Agency which says it doesn’t like small water courses being culverted but I have pointed out it’s already culverted and goes under our car park.

“We want a solution to it but it’s out of our hands because of planning issues. We are concerned it could erode the banking and the gardens will come down the slope and then the houses.”

Council records show the planning application was received on June 26, 2009 and registered on September 14, 2009.

A statement in support of the application states: “The most pragmatic course of action to reduce risk to properties on Carlton Way is to place the whole watercourse in culvert and infill the clough void. This would ultimately create more meaningful and useable green space and a more useable green corridor, whilst eliminating the risk to the properties. It is a pragmatic solution to a genuinely high risk problem.”

The work would take 30 weeks to complete.

A statement from a consultant engineer in support reads: “Proposed culverting works will have no undue effect and will ensure that debris cannot enter and therefore reduce the risk of blockages and maintenance costs and prevent erosion.

“This will ensure that the risk of flooding in the area is significantly reduced from its present unacceptable level.”

A council spokesman said the application had not progressed because of the Environment Agency objection.

An agency spokesman said it felt the culvert plans would have a damaging effect on nature conservation, would restrict the flow of water and increase blockages and flood risk and would be very deep making maintenance access difficult.

He said a meeting was held with Latics in May when the agency highlighted two previous floods caused by a culvert entrance becoming completely blocked. They also stated that the proposals failed to compensate for the loss of aquatic habitat and significantly reduced the size and quality of the green corridor.

He added: “We suggested various alternatives and the meeting concluded with Oldham Athletic agreeing to submit further information, investigating other options. To date we have received no further details and the application is still to be decided.”