Oldham Council have successfully secured £635,000 from the Environment Agency to deliver a major drainage project in Delph, significantly reducing the risk of flooding in the area.

Work will begin on September 16 to construct a surface water highway drain along Huddersfield Road, Gatehead Road and Lark Hill Lane.

Councillor Ateeque Ur-Rehman, Oldham Council’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Services, said: “There is a history of flooding in this area, so we have identified it as a priority area for a flood risk management scheme.

“We know that closing a main road is never ideal, but our highways engineers have undertaken detailed surveys, and this is the only way the work can be carried out.

“This drainage work is vital and once it is finished it will hopefully mean properties in this are no longer under the threat of flooding and people no longer face the threat of losing their belongings.”