Councillor Daniel Meredith calls for urgent review of approval to build new homes at Dean Farm in Balderstone

Councillor Daniel Meredith

Councillor Daniel Meredith has asked Rochdale Council's planning department to look again at the development following flooding in the area after last week's heavy rainfall.

Councillor Meredith said: "Local people need reassurance that measures proposed by the developer to prevent flooding are robust and will not add to the problems already experienced by residents

"A blocked culvert caused several houses to flood on Gilbrook Way and Culvert Street. Householders were devastated.

"The new housing development is on fields just above these flooded homes. If surface water from the site is planned just to flow into Sudden Brook then we are asking for trouble.

"It's clear, a combination of heavy leaf fall and flash floods next year could cause the area to flood again with disastrous consequences. Building over the fields at Dean Farm will only make matters worse.

"It only takes a little bit of rain to turn the brook into a fast-flowing river. It obviously couldn't cope with last week's deluge.

"Residents need to know how surface water is going to drain from the new development. If it's just going to run into the brook then that is clearly not acceptable and the planning permission should be reviewed.

"I appreciate all the work that has gone on to clear the brook and clear up the mess. The emergency £500 payment to households is a help, but I want reassurances everything possible is being done to prevent it happening again.

"Following a request from local councillors, the council is looking at speeding up the removal of fallen leaves in the future, which was the main cause of flooding in the borough this year, and particularly in the flood risk areas. The council needs to increase gully clearing too.

"All this is little comfort to those who had their homes flooded this time, but every measure needs to be taken to minimise the risk in future, including whether to allow the Dean Farm development to go ahead."

Rochdale Borough Council approved the development at Dean Farm, believed to be the oldest farm in Rochdale, in January last year. Building work has yet to start on the site.