DEVELOPERS building houses on the site of filled in reservoir have pledged to take action to prevent a river of flood water flowing through an Astley Bridge estate.

As reported in Tuesday's BEN, concerned residents living on the Oldhams Estate in Astley Bridge feared their homes would be flooded when water from the Sweetloves Reservoir site poured through the streets during heavy rain.

Neighbours in Nevis Grove called on Barratts and Jones Homes, who are preparing the site for 217 houses, to solve the drainage problem and prevent further flooding.

Bolton Council says the developers have now promised to take action.

A spokesman said: "We have spoken to the developers and they have assured us that they are working to solve the problem by installing a deeper drain at Nevis Grove and a concrete collar around the drain at Mackenzie Street."

A spokesman for the housebuilders said: "Preliminary site preparation is at an early stage and ground drainage work has yet to be completed."

Local residents were opposed to the plans to build the houses, but despite petitions, meetings, a public inquiry and protests, the development was given the go-ahead in September 1994 when Environment Secretary John Gummer over-ruled Bolton Council and allowed an appeal by North West Water to develop the land.

The residents claim they have had to put up with noise pollution and lime dust blowing from the site as well as flooding.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.