Council urges public to avoid flooded road

Police cordoned off the part of Rochdale Road in front of Oldham Royal Hospital

Oldham council has urged people to avoid a road in Royton which flooded due to a burst water pipe.

Police cordoned off the part of Rochdale Road in front of Oldham Royal Hospital earlier today after footage surfaced on social media showing water gushing onto the street.

The road was reportedly closed from Sheepfoot Lane to Featherstall Road North. 

A council spokesperson confirmed the flooding was due to a burst water main. Water company United Utilities is currently ‘on site’ to carry out repairs. 

A Council Spokesperson said, “The council is aware of the incident – it has been caused by a burst water main. United Utilities staff are on site working to fix it.

“We know this is a busy road and close to the hospital, but we’d urge you to avoid the area if possible for now and use other routes.

“If you are using public transport please check travel updates from the Bee Network as a number of buses have been diverted.”

Services at the hospital have not been affected, but visitors have been urged to “allow extra time” for journeys.

In a post on X – formerly Twitter – Oldham Care Organisation wrote: “If you are travelling to The Royal Oldham Hospital today for an appointment or to visit friends/relatives, please allow extra time for your journey.

"We are currently experiencing delays on Rochdale Road directly outside the hospital due to a burst water main.”

They added that patients should attend appointments as planned and they would ‘endeavour to see all patients affected’ by delays.

Motorists can access the hospital via Chadderton Way. 

A United Utilities spokesperson said the company was doing ‘everything they could’ to ‘minimise disruption’. 

The spokesperson added: “We are also making changes to the local water supply network to minimise the number of customers who may be affected by low water pressure or no water.”

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