MP Bill Esterson has called on United Utilities to sort an “immensely distressing” flood issue that is affecting two properties in Aintree.
Residents at two properties on Altway in Aintree told the MP that theirs were the only two properties on the road with gardens that were still being affected by flooding from sewers.
The MP wrote to United Utilities to ask them to investigate why the properties’ gardens flood regularly now after decades of the residents reporting no flooding.
Alf and Jean Shephard told the MP that water comes up from the sewers through a manhole in the garden and human waste contaminates the garden.
The Shephards report that other properties on Altway appear to suffer no flooding since intervention work was carried out, yet theirs and a close neighbour continue to be affected during and after storms.
The residents say United Utilities are responsible for maintaining the drains in the area and that United Utilities say there is no blockage of the drains.
Mr Esterson said Labour’s Molyneux councillor Tony Carr had assisted the residents in liaising with Sefton Council and United Utilities.
The MP for Sefton Central said: “Cllr Carr has been helping residents with this immensely distressing issue and I have written to United Utilities asking that they sort this issue once and for all. The residents report that this flooding of their gardens has occurred five times in 12 years so obviously something needs to be done to investigate and fix the problem.”
Mr Shephard said: “We are now in our eighties and have lived here since 1974. We did not buy a house on a flood plain. For the first 30 years we never had a flood. Now they happen regularly. This seems to only happen to ourselves and our close neighbours in our area. We have written seven letters this year to United Utilities including the Chief Executive but we are yet to receive a reply.”
PIC: Bill Esterson MP with Alf and Jean Shephard and Cllr Tony Carr in their garden on Altway, Aintree.
OTS News on Social Media