8:20pm Tuesday 20th July 2010
By Emma Cruces
DRIVERS heeded warnings today to take extra care as torrential rain lashed Lancashire.
The deluge led the Highways Agency to post advisory speed limits of 50mph across the motorway network and warnings to drivers to slow down, put their lights on and increase their breaking distances.
And teams from United Utilities were sent out to investigate flooded roads after complaints were made as water was not draining away.
Ten teams were sent out after problems were flagged up about the surface water causing dangerous conditions.
But Lancashire Constabulary’s Road Policing department said there had been no accidents despite the fact that A and B roads were suffering from significant flooding problems.
PC Derek Brownless said: “There have been no major problems even though roads like the A59 are like a river.”
A spokesman for the Highways Agency said: “We have warning signs across the network warning people of issues with spray and excess flood water.
"Signs advising drivers to travel at 50mph are also in place across the network.”
In Chorley, there were reports of flooding on the A6 near Shaw Hill Golf and Country Club, in Blackburn deep surface water was reported in Barbara Castle Way, Limbrick and Northgate; and in Haslingden, there were reports of water not draining away in Manchester Road.
A United Utilities spokesman said: “Members of the public are concerned at the level of surface water. It may be the drainage system is not coping with the sudden volume of water but we will not know until we look into it.”
A hosepipe ban is still on in Lancashire despite the heavy rainfall in the last week.
Lakes and reservoirs are recovering following the deluge of rain, but United Utilities warned further sustained rainfall was still needed.
The North West has only seen two-thirds of the normal average rainfall since April, much simply starting to re-wet the ground that had completely dried out due to the driest seven months on record.
A spokesperson for United Utilities said: “We’re monitoring reservoir levels on a daily basis and we will lift the hosepipe ban as soon as all reservoirs recover to normal.”
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