RESIDENTS have criticised Bury Council after flooding over the weekend following a night of heavy rain.

Four people had to be rescued from their cars and emergency services were called during the night over fears homes were going to be flooded.

Fire engines from Bury and Whitefield were sent to Ferngrove, Bury, at 8.20am on Saturday along with a water incident unit from Heywood.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service firefighters used an inflatable raft to rescue the four people – a woman from one vehicle and three men from another vehicle.

Ferngrove was not the only road affected by flooding as residents in Harwood Road in Tottington had to call fire crews at 5.30am.

A fire service spokesman said: “When we arrived we found that the drains were blocked and there was some flooding, we assisted with the unblocking of the drains.”

Drivers rescued from cars as heavy rain causes flooding

Residents who live on the road said that flooding has been a regular occurrence for more than two years.

Carol Plow said: “I have been outside since the early hours lifting grids and putting cones out, it is ridiculous we shouldn’t have to do that. I’m 71-years-old.

“The problem is the culvert at the top of the road and then that gets worse whenever there is any rain at all.

“Two mornings recently I have been out at 5am clearing the grids, it is just a good job I am able to lift them up. I’m worried to go away because I don’t know what will have happened to my house.”

The latest incident comes 11 months after the Boxing Day floods which devastated hundreds of homes across the borough.

Neighbour Pat Gilbert said: “We are just worried that it could happen all over again because nothing has been done to alleviate the situation.”

The women said they have been in regular contact with Bury Council about the flooding but they did not believe that enough has been done.

Mrs Plow added: “This isn’t just from the rain, this is a problem with the culvert, and it is a problem that can be sorted.

“I have been in communication with the council for years now and still nothing has been done.”

“It is not on, I should not be having to lift up drains myself.

A spokesman for Bury Council said: “The culvert is riparian owned, which means that its maintenance is the responsibility of the landowners along its route. There is no indication that this culvert passes under council owned land.

“While water is escaping through the surface of a parking area and flowing down Harwood Road, this does not mean that this is the location of the problem. We have carried out several surveys using probes and CCTV cameras, from every access point available, but have been unable to pinpoint the source of any breakage or collapse.

“Unfortunately, this leaves everyone in a difficult situation. The problem is under someone’s property, but residents would have strong objections to us digging up their land to find it, especially if it turns out to be on someone else’s land. And of course residents will be reluctant to dig up their own land looking for the problem unless there is clear evidence that it is on their land and therefore their responsibility to fix.”