Family despair at constant flooding on Calder Avenue, Littleborough

Flooding at Calder Avenue on 9 November 2015

Sharon and Haydn Bamford, who live on Calder Avenue, Littleborough, are fed up with constant flooding and don’t think Rochdale Council want to help.

The family, who have lived in the area for over 50 years, are faced with a house and garden full of water every time heavy rain falls.

Sharon said: “2000 is when it started to get really bad. We have been flooded four times in eight years. The garden just fills with water and then the house gets it.”

It is understood that the flooding began after work was done to the old Ashe Laboratories Mill.

“We were told that the chance of flooding was only once in one hundred years but we have been flooded four times in eight years. The council come out regularly but that is about it. They haven’t done anything to try and stop the problem,” said Sharon.

Sharon and Haydn have tried numerous ways to get the problem addressed and have spoken to at least five MPs, Prime Ministers and Ombudsmen.

Haydn said: “One of the Prime Ministers, I think it was Gordon Brown, said he was going to pass it on to his deputy. We thought we were finally getting somewhere with it but then we didn’t hear anything after that and it was back to square one.”

Rochdale Council has provided the family with flood proof doors but they say that the doors don’t work.

“The council fitted flood proof doors but they don’t work. They won’t even give us sandbags because we aren’t a council property. We ask for them and they know we flood but yet they still won’t give them to us,” said Haydn.

Over the years the family has received up to £85,000 from the insurance following damage from flooding.

Haydn added: “They property is only worth about £100,000 and the insurance have already paid out at least £85,000. We have thought about moving but why should we have to? Sharon has lived in the area for 55 years and the house wouldn’t sell anyway.”

Sharon said: “When the rain comes we just have to prepare ourselves now.”

Rochdale Council did not respond to a request for comment.