Churchgoers in part of Bury have voiced their frustrations about a hole in the middle of a road that’s been there for more than four months.
The roadworks appeared around Parson’s Lane in May, causing a hole in the carriageway at the junction of School Brown and Tithebarn Street.
United Utilities is responsible for the roadworks and says recent assessments found a damaged sewer pipe underneath the road.
This is despite previous assessments in July which found all work was completed and no further action was required.
It’s led to concerns from members of the Bury United Reformed Church about the work and the impact it’s having on people accessing the facilities.
Susan Neininger, a member of the church, told the Bury Times: “In May, workmen dug a large hole in the road at the end of Parson’s Lane.
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“It’s a busy junction and the hole and attendant barriers obstruct the entrances to the Parish Church Rectory, the United Reformed Church and School Brow leading to the church car park.
“The council bin lorry manages to squeeze past to empty the bins belonging to the shops in Tithebarn Street. Bury Council apparently has no knowledge of any complaints despite numerous letters, e-mails and personal visits.
“Meanwhile, a forest is growing in the hole amongst the litter, and, after a long hot summer, it is now filling with water. Does no one accept responsibility, and will it ever be filled?”
Daniel Harris, the church’s minister, added: “This silence is not an isolated instance but seems indicative of the broader lack of engagement that Bury Council has shown.”
An online search for the roadworks suggested Bury Council was in charge of the repairs.
However, the authority said that was because it was the first on scene to dig up the road and “see what caused the hole”.
Responsibility has now been handed over to United Utilities, which was apologised for the disruption caused by the hole.
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A spokesperson said: “We carried out a CCTV survey of the drain back in July, at that point everything was operating normally, our assets were intact, and no further action was required.
“Unfortunately, since then, the sewer pipe has suffered some damage. We apologise for any inconvenience caused, and we will get this repaired as soon as possible. ”
A Bury Council spokesperson added: “We investigated this issue when the hole first appeared, and carried out excavations and CCTV surveys to identify the extent of the problem.
“We appreciate that this has caused inconvenience, and are assured by United Utilities that plans are now underway to restore the road to its normal condition.”
