When Noby Philip awoke at 4am on Friday he was expecting it to be another working day. Until he looked out of the window.
“It was like a lake. I’ve been here for two-and-a-half years, I’ve never seen anything like it,” said the 50-year-old father-of-three.
According to residents, a blocked pipe had led to flooding on Hollins Road, at the junction of Howgill Crescent, in Oldham. At least six properties in the area have been affected.
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Photos from the scene at the time showed multiple fire engines on site, with officers working to pump water away from a small lake of flood water in the middle of the road.
According to Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS), five fire engines from Hollins, Chadderton, Rochdale Central, Manchester Central, and Blackley fire station had been called in. They were on the scene for over nine hours.
Officers helped Mr Philip’s children – the youngest of whom is 13 – to get out of their bedroom windows and down a ladder. Mr Philip had to move his car which was in front of the house. The inside, he said, was full of water.
By Saturday, most of the water had been drained. The road remains closed to cars and pedestrians had to navigate the muddy pavements and roads. But for homeowners, their troubles are far from over.
Mr Philip, who works in shipping and logistics, invited the MEN inside to show how much damage has been done inside his rented property.
The water had travelled all the way from the vestibule, inside the living room and through to the kitchen. The carpets were damp.
“It’s all contaminated water,” said Mr Philip. “It’s not in a liveable condition. The council has arranged for us to stay in a hotel in Rochdale for a few nights but we’ll have to find a new home.”
‘The water was up to my hip’
Haseeb Sajjad, 27, lives in the flat above the barber shop on the corner – Billy’s Cuts – with his father.
“I got up around dawn, and there was water everywhere, it was up to my hip. My car was submerged in the water,” he said. Like Mr Philip he had to get into his damp car and park it elsewhere.
Mr Sajjad, who works in a pharmacy, was instructed not to go back inside his flat, so stayed with family nearby.
“I was out out all day and around 11pm I wanted to go back and get a change of clothes, but the Council said no because of how deep the water was,” he said. “They said the water could also affect the electrical wiring.” He showed a video, in which water can be seen flowing through the ground floor.
Bilal Amin, the owner of the barber shop, said he was alerted to the flooding by a neighbour and customer. He arrived on Saturday morning to assess the damage, and is concerned about the impact it could have on his business.
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“We’re open every day except Tuesday. We’re a busy shop,” he said. “I’m not sure how long it will be closed for, it depends what the council says.”
Sandra and Bernard Marks, an elderly couple, weren’t affected personally, but had witnessed the scenes on Friday. “It was horrific,” said Sandra. “There were two big fire engines here. I saw the firefighters carrying two young lads out of the window and down the ladders. I was worried the water would down this far. It was going on all day.”
Laura Hince, who lives in Ashton, was visiting her mother who lives nearby.
“My mum messaged me, telling me to get a different bus because they’ve been diverted,” she said. “I saw the photos online, I’m glad I didn’t come here yesterday. I grew up here and I’ve seen the road flood before, especially in winter.”
What council and UU have said
The MEN approached Oldham Council, United Utilities, and GMFRS for a comment.
A United Utilities spokesperson said they remained on site working with partners to support residents, and an investigation is ongoing.
A spokesperson from Oldham Council said Hollins Road will remain closed until the area is considered safe to reopen, adding: “Six properties have been affected by the incident and Oldham Council is providing support to all affected residents.
“We will continue to work closely with United Utilities and provide further updates when more information becomes available.”
