PARENTS are forced to carry their kids to school through ankle deep floodwater which they say comes from a monstrous development looming over their homes.
Video recorded on the school run by mothers and fathers shows them trudging through the muddy water near Astley business park in Tyldesley, Wigan.
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Locals say the massive development is to blame for the floodingCredit: SWNS
Gardens have started filling with water after heavy rainfall and parents have been forced to carry their kids to schoolCredit: Instagram
Parents are forced to carry their kids to school to avoid trudging through the floodwaterCredit: SWNS
Residents of the rural village have previously railed against the “enormous” development.
The controversial site was built in the village with locals offered minimal consultation.
Now, parents are blaming the four mammoth, 60ft tall warehouses for flooding the pathway they use to get their youngsters to school.
Wigan Council has told the concerned residents that developers have promised to add a ditch along the path edge to stop the flooding.
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The council said the work to drain the area would take place “without delay”, but only when “the weather permits”, according to an email sent to locals and shared on Instagram.
Footage of local parents trying to make it to school in the morning shows them piggy-backing their young children across the lake of muddy water.
In other clips a mother can be seen struggling through the puddle – pushing a pram one handed and carrying her child in the other arm.
Parents are forced to navigate the water, which allegedly pours into the area from the development, to get their children to Garrett Hall Primary School.
They claim the monster development is now threatening to flood their homes as well.
The 60ft high facility that is blamed for the flooding has previously sparked controversy in the little village, being likened to a “cruise ship” by residents.
Shortly after the project was constructed, residents railed against the “sheer enormity of it.”
The 350,000 sq ft industrial site was built despite locals saying they weren’t consulted over the construction.
An action group, set up in protest against the huge development, said it had been contacting the council about the flooding for weeks.
Wigan Council told the concerned group of locals that officers had met with the warehouse developers who had agreed to build a drainage channel.
Locals are concerned the development will affect their house valuesCredit: SWNS
Water has begun to pool around homes after heavy rainfallCredit: SWNS
Parents are forced to wade through ankle deep waterCredit: Instagram
The local authority stated: “Our officers have agreed with the developer that we will monitor the situation following this intervention, to establish whether the solution achieves the desired result in periods of heavy rain.
“We are hopeful that the solution will address the issue, but if it does not then the council has made clear that a fuller investigation will be needed.”
Families living near the massive structures have become concerned that heavy downpours could see their homes flooded.
They say the development was built without the proper “surface water plans.”
Pictures from the area show floodwater already creeping its way towards residents’ homes.
Gardens have been submerged by heavy rainfall as residents’ cries for help go apparently ignored by Wigan Council.
Locals said they were told that the areas affected did not “form part of council’s adopted highway”, so the authority was not responsible.
A 10,000-strong signature petition against the development of the site seemingly fell on deaf ears with the council later ruling out halting building works.
Dave Gerrard, 46, has lived on the estate since 2019 and said flooding has made the bottom part of his garden unusable.
He said: “There’s a gate that I used to take the dog out onto the field – and it’s completely underwater now.
“The water comes right over onto my patio area. In a couple of years, my whole fence will have rotted away.
“I’m already thinking it’s going to cost me a lot of money.”
As well as flooding concerns, locals worried about the effect of the development on property values, arguing there was limited consultation before building started.
John Peters, 71, a retired teacher, has lived on the estate since 1978. He said: “It’s a total shock when you walk out of the door.
“The enormity of the thing just strikes you. It shouldn’t be there.”
Mr Peters claimed the way residents were informed about the project left many feeling blindsided.
The mammoth warehouses are owned by landowner Peel Land and Property (PLP).
A Wigan Council spokesperson said: “Following a meeting with the developer and site manager, work is starting today on a drainage channel which will be dug along the length of the path, and the garden boundaries.
” We are confident this measure will address the issue, however the situation will be kept under regular monitoring by council officers and the developer.”
The Sun has contacted Peel Land and Property for comment.
The muddy water has completely flooded a local footpathCredit: Instagram
Locals say the development is an eyesoreCredit: SWNS
