Council crews will start a targeted programme to clear roadside drains across Macclesfield, Cheshire, on Monday 2 February 2026 to help prevent local flooding. This work follows a very wet January that left many roads with standing water and prompted flood alerts in parts of the region, including the River Bollin catchment.
Maintenance teams from Cheshire East Council will use high‑pressure ‘gully‑jetting’ units and vacuum tankers to dislodge and remove silt, leaves and other debris that have blocked the drainage system. The work will focus on known trouble spots such as Buxton New Road, Hurdsfield Road, and streets near South Park and the River Bollin.
Drivers should expect some delays, as workers may use temporary traffic lights, short‑term lane closures or ‘stop/go’ boards while jetting and vacuuming takes place. Residents are being asked to move vehicles if ‘No Parking’ cones or advance notices are placed on their street so the tanker crews can access gully covers.
The council is acting in response to the exceptionally wet conditions in late January, including Storm Chandra, which saturated the ground and increased river and surface‑water levels. According to Environment Agency data and contemporaneous BBC reporting, that situation contributed to surface‑water flooding and prompted local flood alerts in affected catchments.
People can report blocked drains via the Cheshire East Highways ‘Report It’ portal or the FixMyStreet site. For emergency flooding that poses an immediate risk to life or property, residents should contact the council’s 24‑hour emergency highways line or follow the emergency-contact guidance on the Cheshire East website.
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