WATER watchdog Ofwat has published a proposal to make a final enforcement order on United Utilities for its sewerage network improvement works for 69 houses at risk of flooding in Penketh and Great Sankey.

Ofwat said it is satisfied that United Utilities is contravening its duty in regard to sewer flooding in Penketh and Great Sankey and there is a continuing hydraulic inadequacy in the sewer network causing risk of flooding.

But a United Utilities spokesman said: “We feel that Ofwat’s proposed enforcement order is unnecessary – a view we have made the regulator aware of.

“We have already signed a legal undertaking in September to complete the work and we are working closely with Warrington Borough Council and MP Helen Southworth to deliver a permanent solution to what has been a very unpleasant and distressing problem for those it has affected.

“The proposed enforcement order will not speed up the delivery of the solution or the planning application process, as the council must abide by the Town and County Planning Act – and as such we must dutifully follow that process to the letter of the law.

“We remain totally committed – as we always have been – to deliver this flood alleviation project for Penketh and Great Sankey residents and it is our aim to complete the work within a timeframe agreed with Ofwat.”

The first phase of the flood alleviation project began on Mill Avenue on Tuesday and is expected to be completed in the new year.

Engineers will be setting up a compound and upsizing the surface water sewer from outside house number 29, past numbers 32 to 34 and through to a new outfall structure on the bank of the Whittle Brook.

Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times but vehicle access may be restricted at certain points during the work.

Steve Knowles, United Utilities’ senior project manager, said: “We are working closely with the council to deliver these improvements and we are continuing to make further investigations into how best we can complete the whole scheme.”

l Any interested party has until December 1 to get in touch with Ofwat to make representations or objections and can visit ofwat.gov.uk/regulating/enforcement/enforcenotices/not_fne_nwt_proposed091102.pdf for more details about their proposal and how to submit your views.