A hole lot of trouble over road repair delay
UNITED Utilities have been branded ‘time wasters’ after taking two months to fix a badly collapsed road then sending staff from the wrong department to explain why it took so long.
A sunken carriageway that left residents on Reservoir Road, Edgeley, struggling to get their cars out was reported to the utility giant and Stockport Council on July 4.
It was caused by a water leak and was therefore passed to United Utilities, who eventually fixed it on September 2
This left residents angry at having to drive over pavements and binmen unable to empty black bins for several weeks.
United Utilities were summoned to a central area committee meeting to explain the problems - but sent staff who ‘knew nothing’ about the issue.
Representatives Sam Ashall and Craig Daniels said: “We can’t tell you anything more than is in the report.
“We have had absolutely nothing to do with Reservoir Road. Our colleagues (from the correct department) couldn’t make it.”
The nature of the road collapse meant it was dealt with by United Utilities clean water department. Ms Ashall and Mr Daniels were from the waste water section.
Another collapse that was due to be discussed on Greek Street, Shaw Heath, from August 19 to September - also fell under the clean water remit.
At Reservoir Road United Utilities twice denied responsibility for fixing the collapse and then claimed it had been fixed when it had not.
Workmen also took longer to get on site than promised before eventually fixing the problem.
Councillor Sheila Bailey said: “This is a bit of a waste of time. The responsibility for this lies with United Utilities.
“We will make another request for people who can provide an explanation to come to the next meeting.
Coun Philip Harding told the meeting: “You can see a considerable number of occasions when things that should’ve happened didn’t happen.
“They (United Utilities) didn’t seem to accept it was their problem.”
After the meeting Colette Hounslow, one of the residents affected, said: “It was joke. It is a very tight road, we had to drive on the pavement. It’s dangerous and damaged the kerbs.
“For the first couple of weeks the bins were not emptied, which is bad especially in summer.”