A FLOODING problem that has plagued residents for almost 30 years is finally set to be fixed.

Blocked drains are thought to cause the floods in Southfield Drive, Westhoughton, during periods of heavy rainfall.

The latest incident happened on Sunday when water flooded through one resident’s garage and back garden.

Carl Robinson, aged 29, said: “We had about a foot-and-a-half of water last week, it was really bad.

“It gathers in the road and blocks the drains, and it was just filling up into the back garden, it was a mess. It’s the drains that need sorting.

“We only moved here in September and we were never told about this problem.”

Bolton Council engineers were sent to pump the water out and partly clear the drains on Tuesday, but major work will need to be carried out to fix the blockage in the long-term.

The council said cameras will be used to look into the drainage system, which gets clogged up with debris and leaves from the trees hanging over the road.

Alan Fairhurst, aged 74, lives in Alban Court elderly people’s flats, which were built in the late 1980s and are regularly affected. He said: “It’s a worry to us all that we could be flooded during the night or when we are away.

“The other day I had to get in the road with my brush to try to sweep away the water. It squashed all the plants, it was about six inches from coming into the flat. “A few years ago we were completely flooded and I had to replace all the carpets. It’s only a matter of time before we are seriously flooded again.”

A council spokesman said: “We’re going to arrange for the drains in the surrounding area to be cleaned and we’ll also arrange for a camera survey to check the drainage system.

“This will show if there are any problems with tree roots or blockage to the drainage system and if any problems are identified we will carry out the necessary repairs.

“We will also look to see whether the existing drainage can be improved.”

St Vincent’s Housing Association, which owns the flats, is also considering action to ease the problem.

Cllr David Wilkinson said: “People have been complaining about it for almost 30 years and it’s long enough.”