Sewer work put on hold

A UTILITY giant has prevented a miserable winter for more than 2,000 anxious Uppermill residents. Engineers planning a major project to alleviate flooding in parts of the village have shelved moves to close a key road over winter after hearing concerns from locals.

But United Utilities still needs to improve the local sewer network in sections of Church Road, New Street and Bolton’s Yard in a £1 million scheme.

The project got underway today with utility diversion work, but a road closure to allow pipe-laying won’t now happen until next spring.

The Chronicle reported how worried locals voiced concerns over diversion routes which would take vehicles on a three-mile detour through narrow lanes with no passing points.

Project co-ordinator, Chris Wheeler, said engineers and highways officers agreed the three-mile diversion may have been too difficult in extreme weather.

“We remain totally committed to carrying out this work. I hope the changes we have made will allay some people’s concerns.”

A United Utilities customer information event is planned for Uppermill Civic Hall in Lee Street on September 25 (4pm-7pm).