A USED car dealer selling big-name brands has lashed out at his local council due to disruption with his business.
David Maher, the boss of Lancashire Auto based in Ormskirk, says his workshops have been flooded and cars swamped due to “major drainage issues” on the road outside his showroom.
Google mapsThe boss of Lancashire Auto says the dealership has been affected by the drains flooding[/caption]
Maher believes Lancashire County Council have failed to tackle the issue and instead given priority to the installation of speed and red light cameras outside his dealership.
The used car dealer has been operating for 75 years and has some 50 vehicles for sale.
It used to be a Ford main dealer and is still an authorised Ford repairer.
He says the business as suffered due to the “heavy flooding” which affected Hayfield Road, which is said to have been caused by a faulty drain.
Maher says despite having raised his concerns with the council it has failed to respond.
Maher told Car Dealer magazine: “My principal concern is about heavy flooding on our premises after which I was promised a written response [by the county council] in 22 days.
“We have suffered flooding for many years, and we have also raised the matter, however, it has never been as bad as it was last month when the complete closure of our workshop was threatened, and we were unable to open on several mornings.
“The council is now undertaking work installing signs and cameras above the very drains that are causing me, along with all my employees and customers, such cost, inconvenience and distress.
“These works will undoubtedly cause disruption to the A59 as well; meanwhile, dangerous flooding will continue to occur.”
He added that he had seen a contractor pressure jetting the drains recently but said it remained to be seen if that would solve the issue.
Maher has threatened the council with legal action if his issues are not resolved.
A spokesperson for Lancashire County Council said: “We have responded to reports of our highways drains becoming blocked in the Hayfield Road area.
“Our investigations identified that the cause of surface water flooding appeared to be a problem with a sewer owned by United Utilities, and understand that they are currently carrying out repairs which should resolve the issue.”