A woman whose house was flooded during the New Year downpour has called for council tax to be waived where blocked street drains were a factor in the deluge.
Beverley Johnson said she had to wade through “cold, muddy water” when she arrived home in Gatley, Stockport after a party and has since had to move out due to “inhabitable” conditions.
She said residents “feel it’s the council’s fault that the water could not drain away” and that repairs to houses on her street could take months to complete.
Stockport Council, who are responsible for clearing road grates that drain surface water, said they were “opening a full report and investigation to see how we can make Stockport more resilient”.
They were also working with United Utilities on the issue.
Liberal Democrat councillor Grace Baynham, who is cabinet member for highways, said: “Council budgets have been savagely reduced by the government over the last few years, so we have to prioritise investment where it’s needed most.”
She called on the current government to provide “proper investment into national water infrastructure and localised support to councils that have areas at higher risk”.
Ms Johnson said electricity and heating was not working at her home after the flood and she could not get into her kitchen. Her car was also flooded and needed replacing.
Her daughter had to use bin bags as waders when she came to help “move as much we could upstairs”, Ms Johnson said.
“It was not liveable and I was trapped upstairs. Overnight my life had been turned over, upside down.
“It was traumatic but there are neighbours worse off than me as I’ve got insurance.”
She described the force of the water as “like a current – really strong”.
“I feel very angry, our houses should not have flooded.
“We feel it’s the council’s fault that the water could not drain away and therefore rose up and flooded our homes and cars.”