Public drains , what are her rights here?

Not all sewers are owned by the utility companies, even those under public highways are not guaranteed to be public ally owned. When estates of houses are built utility companies agree to "adopt" the sewers and they then are owned and operated by them at their expense. However, sometimes developers make such a mess of building the sewers that the companies refuse to adopt them until they are put right. And by then the developer often decides he has spent enough money and do not undertake the work needed. By default the owners of the houses using the sewers may have to maintain them. The deeds of the house should show where the public sewers run and where the connections from the houses are.

However, if there is a problem, in the first instance, talk to your utility company (United Utilities), not the council.

Yes, pal of mine had this problem

He was told the same thing, all the users of the drain have to share responsibility.

You'll find most probably the houses were not connected to the public sewer when built, then sometime after the neighbours would have got together and laid the drain, hence it's not the council's responsibility.

He was told by his insurance company he'd have to visit all the neighbours, find out their household insurance companies and split the bill.

In the end after pleading, he got his insurance to do the work then chase all the other people up for the insurance money.

Not the answer you wanted I know, sorry about that.

the pipes are called pitch fiber they where used a lot in the 60's if its the pipe from the house to the manhole outside her property its her problem but if its the pipe work between the houses and not on her property its not.P.S pitch fiber pipe are a lot of trouble

you will need to look on the Official Copies (Property Register) to find out who is responsible for the drains through covenants