UNPRECEDENTED flooding at Culcheth forced essential shops in the village to close for a time, while homes and other businesses in the village have also been impacted.
Local Cllrs Wendy Maisey and Carol Benson, have been campaigning for blocked drains and gullies to be cleared and although work is ongoing it has not come quick enough to prevent ongoing issues across the village.
Cllr Wendy Maisey said: “The past 10 days have brought unprecedented flooding in areas of Culcheth. As well as residents’ homes being affected, we’ve seen essential shops like Sainsbury’s and Co-Op having to close due to flooding. Local pubs and clubs were badly affected too on Wednesday night and some had to close during evening meal service. Whilst we’ve had good news about the renewal of the Culcheth culvert on Churchill Avenue with £306,000 of Government funding, we need a joined-up multi-agency approach to stop this from happening again.
“With the forecast of more heavy rain I’d encourage everyone to keep the numbers and links (below) to hand.
“However please bear in mind they are not emergency services numbers. If you feel your property is in imminent danger of flooding, or you are in danger dial 999.’
Flooding outside the Co-op
“The drains are having their gulley cleared but if the outlet pipe is blocked they jet it. If that fails that drain is reported to be dealt with separately. This is obviously happening to a number of gullies due to the
lack of maintenance for years and our villages have suffered.
“I have had a discussion with the Highways Manager at WBC raising concerns about the general management of these drainage systems and also had conversations with United Utilities.
“Once this current schedule has been completed the focus must move to improve the frequency of the cleaning schedules going forward.
“This has been and will continue to be very high on my agenda as a resident, Borough and Parish Councillor.
WBC emergency assistance out of hours 01925 443322 for ordering sandbags, or if you’re a council tenant and need assistance due to flooding.
Torus housing 0800 678 1894
Report blocked gullies and flooding online.
https://www.warrington.gov.uk/blockeddrain
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1 Comment
It was not that long ago, albeit before Covid came upon us, that the main sewer along Common Lane was pressure jetted in both directions from the junction with Lodge Drive. I spoke to members of the jetting company. They reported finding sections of the CL sewer blocked with concrete, apparently washed out during building work along Common Lane. After the pressure jetting company left site, no further follow up work was done to ensure the sewer functioned properly. The regular ponding over gullies continued to form and inhibit road and pavement users. In particular in the area near the old NATWEST Bank site. Just across the road from the pictured area of flooding. Why are these areas of regular flooding (in periods of normal rainfall) not dealt with? Anyone who drives around the borough regularly knows where these areas of persistent concern are, why isn’t WBC? Ponding over a gulley is excusable once, twice and even three times, but thereafter there is no excuse for it to occur.