Calls to end further flood nightmares in Wigan town

Both Park Road, in Hindley and Hindley Green, and Platt Lane, Hindley, have suffered floods last month and in recent years.

Now Labour councillors Paul Blay, Jim Talbot and John Vickers, have met council officers to discuss “permanent solutions” to the issue.

And authority chiefs have pledged to look at them and try to tackle the “constant threat of flooding” every time there is a storm.

The councillors said: “The council have agreed to investigate both areas of flooding on Park Road, the drainage of the bottom field issues near Whitbeam Grove and the road flooding between Close Lane and the Park Gates. The council have agreed to send engineers out who will use specialist cameras to investigate if there is any damage to the culverts with a view to a repair if any damage is found.”

"Platt Lane(Hindley) is a little more complex.

"After the meeting we have agreed to meet up with the council again along with the Environment Agency to see if we can get a permanent solution to the constant threat of flooding whenever a storm hits."

They added: "Other locations that were affected last month in both Hindley and Hindley Green were also discussed and measures agreed to alleviate issues in the future."

Storm Cristoph caused major disruption in Wigan including Hindley in January, with heavy rain pouring across the region and river levels rising and roads becoming flooded.

There were concerns about high water levels at the brook at Platt Lane, although hundreds of sandbags, placed at the edge of the Old Ford at the top of the road after an agreement between councillors and the council, thwarted the flow.

In 2015 the brook was also flooded and caused devastation on Platt Lane across Atherton Road and on to Lord Street.

There was also a very close escape last year, but thanks to volunteers who worked alongside councillors, the area just about managed to cope and stopped the flooding. It is hoped that the early action taken this year will do the same.

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