It’s a wipeout as blocked-up sewer maroons residents

RESIDENTS were ‘effectively marooned’ in their homes after a build-up of wipes blocked a sewer.

Homes off Kendal

Road, in Macclesfield, were surrounded by flooded sewage following the problem on the evening of Tuesday, April 5.

The houses are accessed by a footpath from the road, which is also a well-used cut through.

So the flood left residents – some of whom are elderly and vulnerable – with difficulty getting in and out.

United Utilities attended the site on Thursday evening to fix the problem.

The company has now issued a warning and advised how a repeat of the issue can be avoided.

A spokesman said: “The issue was caused by a build-up of wipes that residents had been flushing down their loos. We have now successfully cleared the blockage from the sewer.

“Things like wipes don’t just disappear down the u-bend and dissolve - they clump together and cause havoc in the sewers.

“We’d like people to think before they flush and remind them that only the three Ps should be go down the loo – pee, poo and (toilet) paper.

“By following this advice we can reduce the risk of blockages like this occurring.”

Properties from 72-80 Kendal Road were affected although these included a house of multiple occupation to raise the number of people inconvenienced.

Councillor Nick Mannion, from Macclesfield West and Ivy ward, rang United Utilities on residents’ behalf.

He said: “It was the only way they could access their properties and raw sewage was coming through a manhole, there were condoms and all sorts.

“People had to walk through it to get to (or out of) their property so were effectively marooned.”