Highway gullies help remove rainwater from roads and are an important part of Salford’s highway drainage system.
We maintain highway gullies across the city through a planned cleaning programme and respond to reports of blocked gullies and highway flooding. We have one dedicated gully cleaning vehicle which operates across the whole of Salford, with work prioritised according to the severity of the issue and the risk of flooding.
What happens when you report a blocked gully?
When a blocked gully is reported, we will arrange for our gully cleaning team to attend and clean it.
During periods of heavy or prolonged rainfall, we may receive a significant increase in reports across the city. At these times, our gully cleaning vehicle will be directed to the highest-priority locations first, particularly where there is a risk of flooding to property or a risk to highway users. As a result, it may take longer than usual to attend lower-priority reports.
If the gully cannot be cleared, or we identify a defect with the gully or connecting drainage system, the issue will be recorded for further investigation or repair. Repairs will be prioritised alongside other drainage defects across the city.
Before reporting a blocked gully
During heavy rainfall, water can temporarily collect on the highway while the drainage system deals with the volume of water. This does not necessarily mean that a gully is blocked.
Please report a problem if water remains 2 hours after rainfall has stopped, a gully appears to be blocked or damaged, or flooding is causing a risk to property or highway users.
Report blocked gully or flooded road
This page was last updated on 30 September 2026