Flood-hit residents in call for action

FLOOD-HIT . . . Angela Brereton with her furniture which was stacked on a table to avoid water damage

FED-UP Dobcross neighbours are demanding action after their homes flooded when almost a month’s worth of rain fell in 24 hours.

The River Tame burst its banks and the deluge swamped drains on Delph New Road — leaving the residents’ basements under two to three inches of water.

A row of four terrace houses was affected and Angela Brereton, whose basement has been converted into a large kitchen and living area, said: “The stuff that was coming up from the drains and coming into the kitchen smelled like sewage.

“The council does not clean the drains so the drains can’t take all the water. All the water running down the road just gushed down the side of the house and came in the back.”

She claims the fire service told her it could not help because nobody’s life was at risk, adding: “The emergency services, the council, the flood line, United Utilities — nobody wanted to know.

“When the council did eventually come out with sandbags, they thought it was funny.”

It is the second time in four years the houses have been hit by floods — in 2008 basements were left under several feet of water.

Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Debbie Abrahams and Councillor Adrian Alexander visited the neighbours on Sunday.


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