Oldham: 'Nightmare' 2am United Utilities roadworks keep residents up

Residents of Shaw Road said they were woken to the sound of drilling between 10pm on Monday and 2am on Tuesday morning.

According to One Network, United Utilities were called out and left at around 2.46am on Shaw Road for utility repairs and maintenance works.

The company has apologised for the disruption but said the work was 'essential' and avoided a daytime closure of a busy road.

Temporary traffic lights were also erected on the adjacent Blackshaw Lane at around 12.43pm during the day on Monday ahead of the works.

Neighbours have since lashed out at the disruption with many confused as to why the roadworks took place during unsociable hours when the temporary lights and bollards were put up during the day.

Photographs further reveal the road has since been left 'flooded' by the work and remains in a dire state.

A resident, Sue Melia, said: "They have now left Shaw Road flooded.

"If it was emergency repairs, then surely they should have started the work yesterday afternoon when they decided to put temporary four-way traffic lights up."

The works took place in the early hours (Image: Sue Melia)

Ms Melia said she was "absolutely wiped out" on Tuesday having had very little sleep from the noise.

She explained: "I got into bed at 9.30pm hoping for an early night but they turned up at 10pm.

"We went out and asked how long they would be drilling the road up for and was told that it would be going on until the early hours of the morning and if we weren't happy, we should complain.

"The drilling and digging then continued until just after 2.30am."

The road has since been left 'flooded' after the incident (Image: Rachel Clayton)

Her partner, Rachel Clayton, added: "Whether it was planned or emergency, they could have let residents know this was going to happen for hours overnight.

"It's not acceptable.

"Temporary lights were put up yesterday morning and not a worker in sight all day and they cannot guarantee it won't continue tonight."

Another man agreed: "If it was an emergency, why was the road bollarded off all day?"

"There's a time and a place and I'm sure it's not allowed in the middle of the night, disturbing people who probably have to get up for work after little or no kip", another commented.

Meanwhile, neighbours on nearby roads said they could also hear the noise with some describing it as "dreadful" and like a "nightmare".

On social media, Councillor Louie Hamblett said he could "understand the frustration" at the works being carried out at that hour but said the "culprit is a water mains issue so United Utilities had to go in and fix it".

"As we know what that junction is like, they couldn't have practically done it during the day as traffic is bad as it is along Shaw Road", the councillor added.

A United Utilities spokesperson said: "We are really sorry for the disturbance caused while these essential works were carried out.

"The onsite team made every effort to work swiftly and be as quiet as possible.

"The location of the work at a busy crossroads junction would have required a full road closure during daytime hours, carrying out it at night avoided this.

"The work is now complete and we apologise to residents living nearby.”