Uppermill flood prevention work nearing completion
Wall and pipe installed to better channel water into an existing culvert
Reporter: Stuart Littleford
Residents in Uppermill will be pleased to know that flood prevention work is currently being carried out on Station Road in the village to help prevent regular flooding issues.
During periods of heavy and prolonged rainfall large volumes of water run down from the hills above Uppermill overloading and blocking old culverts and drains, this frequently leads to surface water build up on many roads and paths.
This surface water build up eventually turns roads into rivers resulting in the regular flooding of residential and commercial properties in the area.
Last year Saddleworth Medical Practice on Smithy Lane was badly flooded along with the car park at the side and many other nearby properties.
Speaking to Saddleworth News exclusively, Oldham Council said: “The works that are being carried out in Uppermill are aimed at reducing the incidences of flooding.
“An allocation of £750,000 was awarded to Oldham Council by the Department for Transport in order to help alleviate future flooding and repair damaged highway assets caused by the winter 2015/16 storms of Desmond and Eva around the Oldham Borough.
“Works to Shaws Lane have been identified as part of a trash screen and culvert desilting programme. A number of packages of improvements are to be delivered in the Uppermill area which will address flooding issues.
“Works were carried out to the Station Road car park early in January 2017. The car park was resurfaced, new kerb edging constructed, new drainage installed and the existing drainage cleaned.
“The stream adjacent to Station Road has been desilted and four new gullies have been constructed on Station Road. The road profile of Station Road has been altered to better channel surface water towards the new gullies. A containment wall has been constructed upstream of Shaws Lane culvert to contain the water within the existing open channel.”
It is hoped this wall will help to reduce the blocking of the trash screen from debris such as leaves and allow an increased height for flood water to enter the culvert at this location.
New outlets joining existing culvert
Oldham Council told us the work is not quite finished yet and there are some “additional works to do” before the work is completed. This includes new trash screens that are to be installed on the Shaws Lane and Station Road culverts.
Saddleworth News understands further desilting works are to be undertaken to the Station Road culvert and a CCTV survey is to be carried out. The existing dilapidated safety fence is also going to be replaced.
When asked by SN what will prevent the leaves and silt blocking the inlet cover again in the future, the council said: “The new trash screens are larger and have angled screens that are designed to block less frequently and will allow water to flow through even if debris has collected at the bottom. As with all trash screens, they will still require regular maintenance to remove accumulated debris to ensure they function correctly.”
Cllr Barbara Brownridge, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Cooperatives, told Saddleworth News: “In recent years Oldham has fallen victim to extreme weather and given its location and geographical layout this particular area of Uppermill was in need of works to help prevent flooding in the future.
“With the help of a grant from the Department for Transport we have been able to put these works into action in Uppermill and other areas across the borough to help reduce incidents of flooding.”
Author: Jude Gidney - Editor
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