Concerns raised over mud covering roads at Birch Hill Gardens

Thick mud has been covering the roads at Birch Hill Gardens for months, causing concern of skidding and blocked sewers.

Wardle resident Derek Meller has raised ongoing concerns over thick mud covering Charnley Fold and Joseph Lister Drive on the Persimmon Homes development, Birch Hill Gardens.

Mr Mellor, who has lived on the estate for five years, commented: “Residents are getting fed up at the terrible state of the roads with an inch or so of thick mud. I know of Charnley Fold and Joseph Lister Drive, but I believe other roads on the development are just as bad or even worse.

“The problems with the mud probably began around two years ago. Over the past 12-months, it has been just awful.

“It is making such a mess and with the amount of rain we have had this year, it would be good to make sure the sewers can cope as it is likely they will silt up. Cars could end up skidding, hitting someone or something, not to mention diseases such as leptospirosis and Weil’s disease from all the mud on footpaths and drives.”

Leptospirosis is caused by a strain of bacteria which can spread to humans from animals such as rats and mice, farm animals like pigs, cattle, horses or sheep, and dogs. Weil’s disease is a form of leptospirosis that can sometimes be fatal. Both diseases start with a flu-like illness and are caught through contact with contaminated water or soil or infected urine.

In addition to Persimmon Homes, Mr Mellor says he has also tried contacting Rochdale Borough Council, the local MP, United Utilities, and local councillors, who have been doing their best to help with the problem.

A Persimmon Homes Lancashire spokesman said: “Persimmon accepts that the unusually wet weather in recent months has led to a disproportionate generation of material and, as a result, Persimmon has stepped up off-site road cleaning to limit the inconvenience to nearby residents.

“As Persimmon nears the end of this development, the generation of material will diminish.

“Persimmon is endeavouring to complete the development as quickly as possible. However, this is very much subject to climatic conditions, which have severely hampered production in recent months.”