United Utilities ignore road damage for three months

Substantial repairs required at the junction of Station Lane and Thornley Park Road have been ignored for over three months by United Utilities. Residents have had to cope with a badly boarded over junction for nearly 13 weeks so far, with no sign in sight of a resolution.

David Sawford at the roadworks

The original damage was reported to the Council in June by local Lib Dem Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani, who reported a sunken section in the road to the highways team at the Council, after it was raised with him by resident David Sawford. Three and a half months later, the work is still incomplete, and the excavations have remained untouched since the initial investigation.

David said: “The hole is extremely dangerous as it is deep and unsafe. There have been a number of near crashes with cars travelling simultaneously in the opposite direction on Thornley Park Road. It is only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured.

“Someone has seriously failed in their responsibilities and duties for the last five months or so, and it seems to be United Utilities.”

The works have become a magnet for children playing, and despite them being moved on, there is a concern that they could easily be injured, with a substantial drop from the road surface.

Councillor Al-Hamdani added: “With such a major problem, I cannot understand how United Utilities can think it is acceptable to leave the road in this condition. They have a responsibility to people to get repairs done, and they are just not doing it.

“They seem to have managed to maintain their dividends during the pandemic. It would be good it they managed to maintain the roads too.”

Published and promoted by Oldham Liberal Democrats, Booth House, Featherstall Road South, Oldham OL9 7TU. If you enter your details on this website, the Liberal Democrats, locally and nationally, may use information in it, including your political views, to further our objectives, share it with our elected representatives and/or contact you in future using any of the means provided. Some contacts may be automated. You may opt out of some or all contacts or exercise your other legal rights by contacting us. Further details are in our Privacy Policy at www.libdems.org.uk/privacy