Storm floods council: clear
ABURSCOUGH family were trapped in their own home as thunderstorms caused flooding around and inside their home.
Oliver James and mum Karen Taylor were left counting the costs of water damage as Mill Lane was again unable to cope with heavy rainfall.
The road has flooded multiple times in recent years and residents say part of the problem is caused by Lancashire County Council’s failure to clear gullies along the road despite repeated requests.
Oliver, 25, said the latest incident was the first occurrance since they have moved from Warrington three years ago but neighbours have experienced similar problems on multiple occasions.
It was among the many areas to be badly affected by the Boxing Day floods in 2016 but concerns have also been registered by residents in 2014, 2017 and 2019.
This time, firefighters had to pump water from the street for four hours and Oliver knows of at least two neighbours who also suffered flood damage inside their homes.
He said: “My mum woke up at about half two and the carpet was wet.
“She came and woke me up and we actually couldn’t get out of the house. It was flooded outside so we couldn’t open the door.”
The pair were forced to temporarily find alternative accommodation while the damage was repaired and will now need to replace several items of furniture.
“Everything needs to be ripped out. The carpets are soaked, when you walk they squelch.
“Basically, everything on the floor – the couch, chairs, table, the furniture – it’s all got to go.
“We’ve only lived in Burscough for three years. We moved here in 2017 and the property flooded in 2015 on Boxing Day. When we moved in, we researched the history but we were assured by United Utilities that measure had been taken.
“There are flood doors which are the only thing that stopped it getting worse.”
Oliver plans to move out soon and hopes that action can finally be taken so that his mum and neighbours do not have to go through the same ordeal again. Part of the problem, they believe, is getting the various organisations such as United Utilities, the county council and their property management company to work together.
“I’m determined to get some action and some resolution because I don’t want her to go through something like this on her own.
“Ever since I’ve been here I’ve never seen anyone doing anything on the gullies.
“I’m not asking for thousands of pounds of flood defences, I’m just asking for simple things like the gullies being cleared.”
West Lancashire MP Rosie Cooper backed calls for action to be taken to the issue of flooding across the town.
She said: “Yet again following an increase in rainfall residents of Burscough have had their homes flooded.
“All agencies responsible have had numerous warnings of the flood risk in this area and despite much correspondence back and forth, residents’ homes have just been left to flood yet again.
“I have again written to West Lancashire Borough Council, Lancashire County Council, United Utilities and the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs asking what action they are now taking to support residents in draining and cleaning their homes, carrying out necessary repairs and ensuring their homes are protected against future flooding.’’
The Labour MP continued: “I have also asked how they are urgently addressing the wider flooding problems we see in Burscough every time there is any increased level of rainfall while massive developments which add huge pressure on the already unsatisfactory drainage systems continue a pace. The Minister needs to step in and help sort this problem out as action and help is urgently needed now!
“The further threat of turning off local flood pumps is adding to residents’ stress, and I have written asking for a detailed up-to-date position.”