Issue - meetings

Tim Collins (Highways & Transportation, Stockport Council) and representatives of Jacobs Consultancy will attend the meeting to provide an update on works to address localised drainage issues in the area around Greave Primary School, Woodley.

Sue Stevenson (Head of Highways and Transportation, Stockport Council) and Tim Collins (Highways & Transportation, Stockport Council) attended the meeting and provided an update with regard to ongoing drainage issues on the ‘University Estate’ adjacent to Greave Primary School.

Representatives of Jacobs Consultancy who had been engaged by the Council to undertake a drainage report in relation to the area were also in attendance at the meeting.

The following issues were raised:-

·         Concern was expressed that 12 months had passed since the Area Committee has last considered a report with regard to the outcome of a drainage investigation at Greave Primary School and there seemed to have been no improvement to the issues being experienced by local residents.

·         In response it was stated that the defects in the highway drains and those under the responsibility of United Utilities had been attended to, however there had not yet been any works to address drainage issues on the school grounds pending the outcome of the investigation being undertaken by Jacobs.

·         Greave Primary School had undertaken to work with the local authority to address the issues raised following the investigation undertaken by Jacobs.

·         As part of the investigation, each property on the estate would receive a letter inviting them to submit their comments and experiences.

·         The Chair stated that although it was disappointing that progress on this issue had not been expedient as had been hoped, it was important that residents engaged with the process and provided their comments.

The following comments were then made as a contribution to the information gathering exercise as part of the wider drainage investigation:-

·         There was a concrete chamber on the boundary between properties on Oxford Drive and Greave Primary School with associated pipework running between the school and the estate that formed part of the wider drainage network for the area.

·         A number of residents had water pumps on their properties to mitigate the effects of flood water entering their premises.

·         It was commented that the issue had worsened over the last few years.

·         Residents’ gardens were waterlogged for much of the time.

·         There was a drain to the rear of a property on Oxford Drive adjacent to Healdwood Road that is broken and is regularly dug out by local residents to avoid further flooding problems.

·         One resident commented that their cellar extension was now subject of persistent flooding which needs to emptied at least hourly.

·         Surface water flowed along Oxford Drive and adjacent streets even during periods of dry weather.

RESOLVED – That local residents be thanked for their attendance and comments and for their patience with regard to the time it was taking to bring a satisfactory resolution to this matter.