Flooding fears return over blocked culvert

FEARS have again been raised that houses could be flooded because of a blocked culvert.

A ”lake” has appeared on Plumpton Clough in Royton, caused by torrential rain through November and early December.

In 2010 a culvert at the back of Oldham Athletic’s car park flooded after heavy rain washed soil into it — putting properties on neighbouring Carlton Way at risk.

The culvert is on private land and not the council’s responsibility. Unity Partnership, a private company that works with the council to deliver some services, has contacted owner Brass Bank Ltd to urge it t correct the problem. Brass Bank is owned by former Athletic bosses Simon Blitz and Daniel Gazal.

Concerned Carlton Way resident Frank Magnall believes the landscaping work for the new North Stand, which opened in October, has made the situation worse, though this has been denied by the club.

Mr Magnall said: “The heavy rain has created a lake. It’s even got ducks on it! It’s 20 feet deep and 200 yards wide. It’s not going away. It wasn’t as bad five or six years ago. At least then you could walk across it in wellingtons. Now a double decker bus would be covered.

“If we have more torrential rain the houses at the bottom will be flooded.”

A spokesman for the landowners said they are arranging an investigation.