A petition has been launched amid concerns United Utilities has discharged raw sewage into the River Tame around Delph and Greenfield.

Labour councillors in Saddleworth have started a petition to put pressure on the water supply company to take urgent action to stop sewage discharges in Saddleworth and across Oldham.

Data from the Rivers Trust shows that in 2022 raw sewage was discharged from 17 locations in 537 separate spills for a total of 4,703 hours across Oldham East and Saddleworth.

In Saddleworth, discharges were reported along the River Tame at Clifton Holme, Delph New Road/Station Approach, Dobcross New Road, Greenfield and Woodbrook Road.

The petition also calls for United Utilities to clean up streams using their money, “instead of paying out to shareholders and charging customers more” and urges the government to hold those running water companies to account.

Saddleworth Parish councillor, Dominic Wall said: “Saddleworth is such a beautiful place to live, and I was shocked to find out that United Utilities has such a poor record in keeping our waterways clean.

“I have signed the petition and I ask other Greenfield and Saddleworth residents to join me. Together with Labour’s other Parish Councillors, I support getting the Parish Council to take a stand and demand that United Utilities acts now.”

In response to the petition, a United Utilities spokesperson said the company is starting work to improve Saddleworth wastewater treatment works.

The North West’s water company is set to invest £12.8m at its works in Greenfield to help improve the ecological status on a stretch of the River Tame to ‘good.’ The spokesperson added: “The company will be investing in new technology and processes to help improve the final effluent that is returned to the environment by reducing the levels of ammonia, phosphorus and BOD.”

Tree and vegetation clearance is due to start next month with the works expected to finish in Summer 2025 subject to the necessary planning permissions.

As well as helping to improve the River Tame, United Utilities has said it is also going to work with contractors to improve the odour control on the site by covering two tanks as part of the proposed scheme.

The planned works come after the company recently revealed that it has been able to bring forward £900m of investment in the next two years to help improve river health across the North West.

To view the petition go to https://www.oldhamlabour.org.uk/save_our_streams/