MORE than £10,000 is to be handed out to community groups in Rossendale as ‘compensation’ for major sewer works that have caus- ed disruption to residents, commuters, and traders.

Several groups have alr-eady had confirmation that they will receive hundreds of pounds in grants each, from United Utilities.

The £10,500 pot has been made available by the wat-er company following lane closures on Queen’s Square roundabout, in Rawten-stall, and temporary traffic lights in Bank Street.

Bacup Pride, the Friends of Stubbylee Park, Stacks-teads Summer Fair, and St Joseph’s RC Primary School, in Stacksteads, have each rec- eived between £500 and £750.

Coun Jackie Oakes said the cash is well-deserved after gridlocked queues stretched back from Rawt-enstall to Bacup last week when a burst water main in Crawshawbooth caused traffic chaos.

She said: “The works have a ripple effect through the Valley, so we felt quite ent-itled to the cash as some compensation. The £500 rec- eived for Stacksteads Sum- mer Fair will go towards a new pop-up gazebo, as the one we’ve got is ten years old and really cumbersome.

“There will also be activ-ities for the children, incl-uding a science tent, and waders for the duck race, which will then be used for the river clean-ups.”

Gill Knowles, chairman of the fair’s organisers St-acksteads Countryside Park Group, said: “We’re delight- ed to be able to pay for items that we wouldn’t have been able to before.”

Up to £750 has been award- ed to the Friends of Stubby- lee Park for new signage to welcome people, and let people know what facilities are located there.

Pat Smith, a member of the Friends, said: “People around aren’t aware of the facilities there and it’s not that welcoming, and we need the cold, hard cash to get this kick-started.

“We’re delighted we’ve rec- eived it. The town’s been bad- ly affected. It’s been potty.”

Bacup Pride has also received up to £650 for new evergreen plants in the banking opposite the old health centre, at the bottom of Todmorden Road.

The £7m sewer scheme will see new underground storm water chambers, and new sections of sewer will be built on land off the A682, in Bank Street and St Mary’s Way, in Bacup Road near the junction with Bury Road, in Ilex Mill car park, off Fall Barn Road, and under the car park opp- osite Highfield Road.

Brian Jenkins, United Utilities project co-ordin-ator, said: “We’re always looking to support, and get involved in, the commun-ities where we’re working, and leave a lasting legacy once our workmen and diggers have gone.”