Major road to close for whole year as water company launches £5m bid to stop polluting Oldham rivers with sewage

Sheepfoot Lane is set to close for a year for sewer improvements. Image courtesy of Google Earth

A road in Oldham will close for over 12 months while works are completed to expand the sewage system.

The majority of Sheepfoot Lane – which connects Latics' ground at Boundary Park with Oldham Road – will be shut and subject to diversions from spring 2025. 

United Utilities are undertaking the £5m project to reduce the use of storm overflows – which release untreated sewage directly into Oldham’s rivers at times when the sewer system is overwhelmed.

The water company hopes to ‘clean up’ nearby Plumpton Clough and the River Irk by reducing sewage spills to under ten a year – down from 49 recorded in 2023. 

The firm says it is working with Oldham Council, TFGM, and the football club to minimise disruption for residents and businesses on the road. 

Chris Borradaile, County Business Leader for wastewater in Greater Manchester at United Utilities, said: “This is an important scheme that will help to improve the water quality in Plumpton Clough and the River Irk.

"We are playing our part to improve the health of the region’s rivers and delivering the step change that customers and stakeholders want to see.” 

Borradaile added that the scheme was part of a five-year investment to improve services and reduce pollution. 
United Utilities has previously come under fire for sewage pollution.

Last year, reports found the firm pumped more than 140 million litres of waste into national treasure Lake Windermere between 2021 and 2023. 

And the Manchester Ship Canal Company successfully sued United Utilities for historic and future damage to the canals through sewage pollution. 

Water companies are allowed to release some waste water into bodies of water to prevent the sewage systems from being overwhelmed by rain water.

But a chronic lack of investment into infrastructure by private water companies has meant that millions of tonnes of sewage are being dumped into seas and rivers each year. 

The pollution can pose a health risk to swimmers and have a devastating impact on local wildlife. 

A drop-in information event for residents will take place between 2 and 7pm on January 20 at Oldham Event Centre, Oldham Athletic Football Club.

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