IT has been interesting reading the reports regarding the burst water main and subsequent road closures at Moses Gate but I have to say that as a local resident it has come as no surprise to me.

I first reported a water leak from the underside of the railway bridge some 16-18 months ago to United Utilities.

This was as work first commenced on the electrification of the railway line and some walling had been removed in the area at the end of Hall Lane.

Shortly after that I reported to a railway engineer in the area that a gap had appeared in the wall on the bridge and said gap was then filled with a mastic-like substance.

I then reported to the council that the pavement was collapsing and cracking in the area where the water leak was still evident some 18 months later.

All of the above indicated that there was a large water leak under the pavement/bridge area that should have been investigated and rectified.

With so much activity and work on the railway line and embankment in recent months it must have been very obvious to these workmen that there was a persistent leak from under the bridge, again nothing was done.

It took a major collapse of the pavement and adjacent road to finally get the problem investigated.

I feel that the present road closure and severe disruption could have been avoided if any one of the parties identified above had acted in a timely manner and investigated and repaired the leak when it was first reported. I would be interested to know what the parties say when you present them with this information and see if they can justify their lack of action.

As a footnote to the above I foresee further problems at this busy junction with the demolition of the Moses Gate public house on Bolton Road. One would hope there could be some joined up thinking and this building could be demolished immediately and avoid future disruption.

Carole Brennan

Glenbrook Gardens

Farnworth