Residents sink into despair as hole in road saga goes on
RESIDENTS living near a large sinkhole are petitioning the council to demand answers on what is being done to fix it.
As previously reported in the Express a hole opened up on Hobson Street in early February and is now a large crater that has shut the road and damaged sewage pipes.
There is another sinkhole on nearby Ryles Street, which has been fenced off for around 18 months. Little progress has been made on this as it is near a property so home insurance issues need resolving.
On Hobson Street there are also potential complications from the sewers and also its proximity to gas pipes. So an online petition has been started asking for Cheshire East Council to share the ‘current plan of action agreed to resolve the sinkhole’ and to make clear what is causing delays.
Resident Haydn Vickerman, who created the petition, said: “The sink hole on both streets is a huge concern to all residents.
“I have created this petition to allow the residents to centrally make a formal request to the council for further information to be publicly shared.
“I believe the sinkhole to be of concern with respect to public health and safety and secondly a disruption to access to our homes.”
The petition, which runs until Tuesday, March 31, is also asking for expected dates for both sinkholes to be repaired. It calls for the council to agree an action plan with any other third parties connected to the situation - such as United Utilities who would mend the sewage pipes.
Mr Vickerman has also contacted Macclesfield MP David Rutley over the issue.
As well as closing Hobson Street, the sinkhole has been causing sewage to well up through manholes and threaten to flood the garden on resident Ronald Biggar, 77.
It has required two visits a day from United Utilities to prevent this happening.
United Utilities cannot carry out repairs until the council has investigated the collapsed culvert connected to the sinkhole.
A meeting between the two organisations was planned but the council was unable to attend.
A Cheshire East Council spokesperson said: “We have taken note of the petition and understand the concerns of the residents. We continue to work with utility companies, including Cadent and United Utilities, to try to resolve the issue in Hobson Street and Ryle Street as quickly as possible.
“In Ryle Street, there are additional factors which have to be taken into account and, again, we hope to resolve these matters with all parties involved, as quickly as we can. Meetings have been taking place to plan a course of action on a partnership basis and we will continue to update residents on our progress.”
The petition can be seen by searching ‘Hobson Street / Ryle Street Sinkhole Petition’ on Cheshire East Council’s website.