Work finally starts to fix foul smelling leak in Oakworth
Yorkshire Water has acknowledged that it has taken “longer than acceptable” to tackle the issue that has plagued Oakworth since March.
WORK to repair a water leak that has led to smelly liquid flowing through a village’s streets will finally take place today.
Yorkshire Water has acknowledged that it has taken “longer than acceptable” to tackle the issue that has plagued Oakworth since March.
Residents in the village – famous for being the location where hit movie The Railway Children was filmed, have complained about smelly water running down Station Road for months.
They have regularly been reporting the issue to Yorkshire Water, pleading for some kind of resolution.
One local Councillor contacted the Local Democracy Reporting Service to say they had been told the lining of a sewer needed to be repaired to stop the leak. She said it was unclear what exactly was being discharged down the village’s streets – and could be a health hazard.
But as of this week, this work has not been completed, and the pungent water continues to blight the picturesque village.
Worth Valley Ward Councillor Rebecca Poulsen (Cons) said: “I’ve had numerous complaints about this smelly discharge running from the corner of Dockroyd Lane down Station Road.
“It is very unpleasant and as it is coming from the sewer there are concerns it could be a health hazard.
“Residents are very concerned and I have been chasing Yorkshire Water since the start of May.
“We’ve been given different dates for the repair work to be done yet on each date no-one has turned up, and no repair has been done.
“In May Yorkshire Water said it had been on their radar for some time which makes the length of time this is taking even more unacceptable.
“This is a route up to the centre of Oakworth to get to the primary school and shops and no-one knows what is being discharged.
“Yorkshire Water need to address this urgently and I will continue pressing them to get this resolved.”
When asked about the delay, a Yorkshire Water spokesperson told the LDRS: “We’d like to apologise to local residents for the delay in completing the sewer repair on Station Road – it has taken longer than is acceptable.
“Whilst we have been aiming to complete the work as quickly as possible, we have had to reschedule twice due to traffic management requirements, and the team needing to attend emergency work elsewhere.
“We are aiming to have the repair, which will see us lining part of the sewer, completed tomorrow (Wednesday).”