Park to stay closed as water work is delayed
APOPULAR community park is to remain closed for a second school summer holiday after sewer works were delayed.
Boothby Street Park in Great Moor has been closed-off to the public since last year, to allow United Utilities to install an underground storage tank to prevent sewers from flooding during storms.
It was set to reopen at the end of May, but now residents have been told it will remain closed until the end of August, after the work fell behind schedule.
The firm says the delay has been caused because it is waiting for a delivery of specialist equipment, and has pledged to create a new play area in the park.
But residents who live close to the park say they are fed up of the delay.
Mum of one Gill Clark, who lives nearby, said: “Local children have had the park off limits for two summer holidays and patience is wearing very thin with local residents.
“The nice thing about the park is that it’s where a number of roads cross, so it’s a great place for kids to come together.
“The children are going to miss out on two summers in the park now. My daughter’s friendships have suffered because she’s lost that local safe space where she can go independently.
“United Utilities didn’t even let us know the new date, I had to find out from a councillor.”
A spokesman from United Utilities said: “We are carrying out a sewer improvement project on Dialstone Lane in Stockport to tackle flooding.
“The scheme involves creating a new underground storage tank which will capture excess water during heavy storms and prevent the sewers from overflowing.
“The project is slightly behind schedule as we have been waiting for some specialist equipment. This is now in place and we are motoring ahead with the project.
“To thank the community for their patience we are creating a new play area for the park. This investment means we can hand back an even better community resource once we have finished work.
“We have written to residents to keep them up to date about the timetable for the project.’
Residents have set up a friends group so they can organise events in the park and apply for funding for further improvements.
For more details, search for Friends of Boothby Street Park on Facebook.