Councillors in Salford are demanding changes on a road which is regularly flooding, leaving people worried about damage to their cars and homes.
An open letter has been sent to United Utilities (UU) about the problems with ‘repeated sewer flooding’ on Peel Green Road in Eccles, which is close to the M60.
It comes after several incidents in the last few years, including as recently as September, where flooding was reported on the road.
On September 20, part of the road was left underwater when flood alerts were issued in Greater Manchester.
Councillors in Salford are urging UU to get a grip of the situation, saying residents are ‘frustrated and anxious after multiple incidents’ in the area.
They said in the letter to the firm: “Residents are frustrated and anxious after multiple incidents, most recently this past weekend, following flooding events in 2023 and New Year’s Day 2025.
“There have been formal complaints from residents, extensive discussion on social media, and coverage in local news, reflecting the significant distress this ongoing issue is causing.
“Local councillors, from Higher Irlam and Peel Green and Barton and Winton, have raised concerns on behalf of residents. Where flooding was caused as a result of blocked gullies, such as on Liverpool Road, this has helpfully been cleared by Salford Council.
“But we are aware that the flooding on Peel Green Road was caused by issues that United Utilities needs to resolve urgently.”
Peel Green Road is a risk area for surface water flooding, and United Utilities said sewers in the area are designed to cope with a certain level of water and rain.
On a normal day, sewers are on average around 10 per cent full. But, in 2023, on New Year’s Day in 2025 and over the past weekend, the storm conditions and rainfall went beyond the capacity of the sewers, the firm said.
A United Utilities spokesperson added: “Over the next five years, we will be delivering three projects in the Eccles area that will improve the water quality in the local watercourse and reduce the risk of flooding.
“We understand residents’ concerns and will deliver our projects at pace, working alongside partners at Salford council and the Environment Agency to tackle localised flooding concerns.
“We welcome the opportunity for dialogue with elected members to support residents now, and in the future.”
The water company said it is increasing the capacity of the local wastewater network in the vicinity of Peel Green Road with two projects, and that there’s also further investment at the Eccles wastewater treatment works.
This includes:
- Completing work on an underground storage tank within land at the rear of Liverpool Road to provide extra storage capacity for storm water, expected to be completed by summer 2026.
- Increasing the capacity of the sewer in Peel Green Road, starting next year.
- A £200m investment at Eccles wastewater treatment works to be completed by 2030
Coun Mishal Saeed said: “There is an urgent need for United Utilities to expedite the necessary works to rectify the infrastructural problems that are causing flooding every time there is heavy rain.
“While we welcome United Utilities’ initial response for a meeting, local councillors and residents should have been kept informed.
“We will continue to push for a speedy resolution, clear timelines and regular communication moving forward.
“Our residents deserve a good quality of life, and it is simply not acceptable that these problems were not addressed sooner.”
