‘My clients are having to hop around lakes of water – it’s awful’
A salon owner in Oldham, Debbie Morris, has repeatedly complained about persistent water pooling and flooding outside her business, Nikki-Leigh Studio, which poses dangers to elderly clients and has damaged her flooring. Despite her complaints, she claims the council has ignored the issue. Local councillor Louie Hamblett accuses the council of poor communication and worsening the problem through pothole repairs. The council has acknowledged the issue and is considering additional kerbing works to address the water pooling.
Salon Owner Says Elderly Clients ‘Hopping Lakes’ to Reach Shop as Council Ignores Flooding
Debbie Morris says her customers at Nikki-Leigh Studio on Duchess Street Parade in Oldham have to navigate through “lakes of water” every time it rains, with elderly clients particularly frightened by the dangerous conditions.
“The problem is that the pavement here is lower than the road,” Morris explained. “In bad weather, this is very dangerous because the water freezes. Some of the clients who come to see us are elderly and are really scared when it’s flooded, and it can get really icy. My clients are having to hop around lake water - it’s awful.”
The 52-year-old salon owner, who has run her business for 10 years, says the pooling water sometimes washes into her shop and has ruined her flooring. Despite repeated complaints to the council, she says her concerns have been ignored.
Local councillor Louie Hamblett accused the council of “failing to carry out even the most basic level of communication” after Morris contacted him for help. “This case is all the more frustrating because it seems that pothole repairs carried out by the council have actually caused the road to now be level with the footpath,” he said. “Since then, it feels like the council is doing everything it can to avoid taking responsibility for this issue.”
Coun Chris Goodwin, Oldham council’s cabinet member for transport and highways, responded: “We sympathise with the issues being faced here, so we are looking into the possibility of additional kerbing works to mitigate the water pooling issues. We are hopeful that this will address the issue.”
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