Neighbours are calling for urgent action
The sinkhole has appeared on Rutland Street(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
Residents fear an Oldham road could collapse after a sinkhole opened up in the sweltering heatwave. Neighbours say a sinkhole opened up on Rutland Street on Wednesday (June 24) – but the issue is yet to be fixed.
Mohammed Suleman, 42, says he has reported the issue to both Oldham council and water provider United Utilities – but ‘nobody is doing anything about it’. While traffic cones have been placed around the hole, Mohammed says traffic is still using Rutland Street, while he says the footpath next to it ‘has started sinking as well’.
He fears it is only a matter of time before it becomes a much bigger problem. Mohammed said: “There’s a big hole in the middle of the road. The road’s cracking, and due to hot weather, the tarmac is getting warm so when the cars are driving over it, the floor is just getting weak.”
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Mohammed is urging the authorities to take action before someone is hurt. He also fears that the hole could affect nearby properties, including the block of flats where he lives.
The issue has been reported to the council (Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
“I’m getting panicked because all the ground is breaking,” he said. “It’s just going to be a matter of time before the road is going to open up completely and a car is going to go straight into the hole.
“I live upstairs in a flat and I’m paranoid in case it’s unsafe. It’s a matter of time with this issue, we don’t know how long it’s been going on for.
“Where is the support going to be for the building? I don’t want to be in this building and it collapses. It’s been three days now and nothing has been done. It’s a danger to the public. It’s a busy location, kids are crossing the road with their families.”
Zulfi Ahmed, says he had previously raised concerns about the state of the road on May 27, less than a month before the sinkhole opened up.
The sinkhole has been blocked off(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
The 47-year-old says he could feel ‘bumps’ as he drove along the route and decided to take a picture to send to the council for what was then a ‘minor issue’. Weeks later, he says that he’s been surprised it has taken this long for repairs.
“It’s about safety,” He told the Manchester Evening News. “There’s a barber shop and takeaway there where kids hang about.
“That’s two businesses that attract a lot of children, so for that reason they should have fixed it even sooner because of the amount of kids that hang about in that area.”
Oldham council and United Utilities have been approached for comment.