Overview

We maintain about 74,000 roadside drains (gullies) across Stockport’s roads.

We clean them on adopted roads as part of a routine cycle. Generally, they're attended to every 3 years; however, it may be longer if there are access restrictions or when we have responded to extreme weather events and follow up work.

Some drains are cleaned annually or every 2 years. We prioritise key routes and give particular attention to places we know to be prone to problems such as:

  • areas at higher risk of flooding
  • where drainage issues have been identified
  • low-lying areas that are prone to flooding

This reduces the impact of flooding which can affect people travelling along the roads and makes efficient use of drain cleaning budget.

2026

Visit the next page to find the routine cleaning programme for 2026.

If a gully is reported as blocked and causing a safety issue or significant inconvenience, we may arrange an extra clean outside the routine schedule.

Between October and January, there’s a leaf clearance programme to prevent blockages during autumn and winter.

Report a blocked grid or drain

With the number of gullies across the borough, we can’t clean them all regularly. Often, when we respond to reports of blocked drains, the grate is simply covered by wet leaves or debris that restricts the flow of surface water into the system.

If you notice a gully covered by leaves and can safely clear them without risk to yourself or others, please brush them aside. This helps water flow away from the highway surface during heavy rain. If you cannot clear the leaves or debris safely, report it to us and we'll attend as soon as we can.

You can use our online form to report a blocked drain. We're only prioritising urgent blocked drain reports that are:

  • causing water to enter your home or business
  • blocking the whole road or causing traffic to drive on the other side of the road
  • blocking the whole pavement or causing pedestrians to walk into the road
  • causing water to build up at a bus stop or pedestrian crossing

Report a blocked drain

Drains in autumn

During autumn, leaf fall combined with wet weather can slow drainage. This doesn’t always mean a gully is blocked or needs attention.

Before you report the drain, consider:

  • drains empty at different speeds due to the capacity of the wider drainage system
  • water on road surfaces during heavy rain is normal, even without a blockage
  • road surface water usually clears shortly after rain stops

Emergency contacts

In the event of an emergency, you may also need to contact:

  • Greater Manchester Police: 999
  • Environment Agency Floodline: 0345 988 1188
  • United Utilities: 0345 6723 723