The Leigh street that has been devastated by floods and water damage

Heavy rainfall from the thunderstorm on Monday night left those on the Higher Folds Estate wading through water which breached recently installed flood defences.

Many in Sterling Close have lost everything once more, just like they did back in 2021 when Storm Christoph caused flash flooding.

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Sue Andrews (Image: LDRS)

Sue Andrews, who was evacuated from her home two-years-ago due to the floods, said she doesn’t want to spend another six months in the Greyhound Hotel – she wants a new council house.

“A tramp is living better than I am at the moment,” the 52-year-old said. “There are sanitary towels floating around outside the front door and I’ve seen human waste in the water as well.

“The Homeless Hub in Leigh asked us if we would go to stay in the Greyhound. We went there for five and a half months two-years-ago and I didn’t want to go through that again.

“This got me, Ben and June (who live next door on either side to Sue) the worst. Like me, they have all lost everything yet again.

“I think horse manure smells better than my living room at the moment. We just want out of this property now.”

Sue's items destroyed by water damage (Image: LDRS)

Sue and her daughter Sharon, who has ADHD, ADD and additional complex needs have been left with no electricity and effectively an unusable downstairs living area. In January 2021, they cashed in their £7,500 holiday in order to replace their flood damaged goods, but this time they don’t have such a luxury. 

With her property devastated and furniture severely water damaged, Sue is fearful that what remains of her keepsakes as cherished memories of her mother who died in 1994 were lost in the last flood. 

Wigan Council had inputted flood defences after the last flood, yet there was little it could do to prevent four-foot-high water from getting in.

Sue's rabbit hutch was destroyed in the floods (Image: LDRS)

The cause of the flood, according to United Utilities, was overgrown greenery at Pen Leach Brook which backs onto the street. The water supply company said that the brook was in poor condition, which allowed water to discharge onto the street.

A spokesperson for United Utilities said: “We have met with residents, as well as Wigan Council representatives, on site this week to discuss issues of flooding. Checks on our assets found they were in good condition. It was noted that the brook, which is the responsibility of the landowner, is in poor condition. 

“This appears to be the cause of the flooding as during heavy rain it affects the discharge to the brook and causes water to back up through the drains. We will continue to engage with residents as well as the landowner and council on this issue.”

Kelly and June Cunningham (Image: LDRS)

Although the water is now clear, the problem is not over for those on Sterling Close, who now have to clean up and rebuild yet again. Mother and daughter duo June Cunningham, 85, and Kerry Cunningham, 45, are also without power and now staying in a hotel at night so they can get some sleep in relative comfort.

After living in their home for more than 40 years, the 85-year-old pensioner claims that flooding has always been a risk in the area since she first moved into the council owned property.

Flooding along Sterling Close in Leigh (Image: LDRS)

“Monday night, it had started raining and I was checking on the community centre when someone said it was flooding so I had to run back down and get the flood barriers in place,“ Kerry said. “We do have metal flood doors installed after the last flood in 2021.

“Now two years later, it has happened again. They work up to a certain height but one of the air bricks installed failed. 

“In the last flood we lost everything. Now we have lost everything again.

“The furniture, the flooring, the electrical goods, a lot of it has got to go. We have been given dehumidifiers by the council but we don’t have any power to use them.

“My concern is that once we have power, how are we going to afford the price of running that? It’s the fact that there is sewage in the water, the human waste is being left in people’s lawns, and sanitary products floating down the street.

“All that water has been in our house and soaked up by the furniture, it’s not like we can just wash the covers and go again. Everything has been contaminated.

“I just felt paralysed when I saw what had happened. The level of stress and change to stay somewhere new is really hard. 

“I just feel like I have failed, what more can we do. I have fought so hard to get the flood defences, and look what has happened. 

“It has been for nothing. I don’t even know where to start, I feel lost, devastated and paralysed.”

The floods destroyed homes down Sterling Close (Image: LDRS)

Some residents in council owned homes on the street want to move, but this would require rejoining the waiting list for housing. 

The time to get a council house can vary depending on a number of factors and requirements, which means many are put off from applying again. 

For those who own their homes on Royal Drive – which connects to Sterling Close – moving away is not an option and many of these residents worry they will not be able to sell their property due to the flood issues.

Julie Middlehurst, Wigan Council’s assistant director for infrastructure, said: “Since the heavy rainfall on Monday, our teams have been working closely with residents affected by flooding and will continue to do so until the issue is sufficiently managed by all agencies responsible.

“All authorities and agencies involved are aware of the events of earlier this week. Wigan Council is working alongside the Environment Agency, United Utilities, and the Forestry Commission to look at carrying out appropriate works that would aim to reduce the potential risk of flooding.”