Feeling drained

SEWAGE problem . . . Margaret Whyatt outside her home on Buckstones Road, Shaw

A PENSIONER has had sewage running around her house and garden for four months ­- despite complaints made to Oldham Council.

Margaret Whyatt (78) was stuck indoors while waste "six inches deep" flowed around her home in Buckstones Road, Shaw. Part of the stone wall at the side of her property has fallen down in the latest bout of damage caused by the untreated sewage, which has also blocked nearby road drains.

Mrs Whyatt contacted Oldham Council's Highways Authority when she first noticed the dirty water in early April and said it was two months before they visited. However, the council has confirmed that officers carried out a site visit when they first received the complaint and are working with the Environment Agency to find a solution to the drainage problem.

Mrs Whyatt said: "Sewage has been flowing into the road drains and running around my house.

"They emptied the septic tank but the water is still running under my garden wall and it has brought down the wall.

"The road drains are blocked and it is now running into my garden.

"At one stage it was so bad that I could not step outside the back door.

"We could smell it when we were in the house but it was mainly in the back porch.

"There was paper and everything."

Mrs Whyatt approached the council to ask for the drains to be unblocked and a team attended the property to take photos and used dye to assess the issue.

But the resident said: "They emptied the tank two months later and now they are letting all the dirty water run into the road drains.

"We have made complaints to the environmental section at the council.

"Over a fortnight ago United Utilities, Highways England and the council had a meeting and told us the Highways Authority were going to come and unblock the drains but they still have not been.

"This has been going on for four months now."

The affected resident who lives on her own had an operation to remove one of her lungs around 40 years ago and has since had to use a nebulizer.

Mrs Whyatt's son-in-law said: "It is not healthy for someone in her condition.

"There were six inches of untreated sewage around the house at one stage.

"She got a chest infection around the same time that it all started.

"She was not able to leave the house.

"It took the council two months before they stepped in."

Councillor Cath Ball, deputy Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and co-operatives, said: "As soon as we received this complaint in April officers responded and carried out a site visit.

"Following our initial investigation a legal notice was served to remedy a drainage issue in the area and works are currently being agreed with the Environment Agency.

"Investigations also continue regarding other surface water drainage problems found in the area.

"We are working with the Environment Agency and have agreed a workable solution as we are committed to resolving this issue."