Housing estate's roads 'still unfinished' years on

People living on a new build estate say they are fed up after years of chasing the developer to finish the roads.

The residents in the Old Cattle Market site in Bridgwater, Somerset, claim it has been at least three years since the last person moved in but aspects including drainage, landscaping and roads remain unfinished.

Resident Charlie Gilbert said it is "disgusting" they have had to wait so long for the developer Keepmoat to finish the estate.

Ben Leather, Keepmoat's regional managing director in the south west, said the firm is working with multiple parties to complete the development and get the roads and sewers adopted as soon as possible.

Somerset Council said a planning enforcement investigation into the issues is currently ongoing and staff are "considering what action may be appropriate".

Speaking to BBC Radio Somerset, Gilbert added: "It's disgusting really, isn't it? Leaving this place in such a state that it is. It's not nice living here.

"We've all got nice new houses but the roads are still shocking. The damage it's doing to cars, there's so many people around here who've had to get work done to their cars because of the damage from the roads.

"They [the council] need to pull their finger out and get on with it. It's not fair on everyone living here like this."

Another resident, Tom Oakley, said he has lived on the estate for four and a half years and was one of the last to move in.

"We just want working roads at the end of the day. We want to live in a housing estate that's finished, that would be nice," he said.

"It's unacceptable. You pay premium price for a property and I still haven't got working roads or a bin store."

Val Pursey, who lives on the established estate next to the cattle market development, said residents there have been trying to get the developer to fix drainage issues that lead to flooding in her back garden where she parks her car.

"The houses have been built and the ground has raised, there's no drain-aways for the water to go. We had ditches in a field, that's where the ground has been built up."

Councillor Leigh Redman, who represents the area on Somerset Council, said he has been putting pressure on Somerset Council to get the developer to act.

He said: "For me I want Somerset Council to enforce completion of the development at the earliest opportunity, I don't think they're doing well enough."

A Somerset Council spokesperson said: "As this is currently the subject of an ongoing planning enforcement investigation, it would not be appropriate to comment in detail at this stage.

"We can, however, confirm that an enforcement case has been opened and council officers have recently visited the site as part of the investigation.

"We are currently considering what action may be appropriate and will provide further information when we are able to do so."

In a statement, Leather said: "We're aware of the concerns raised by the residents at Old Cattle Market and we understand their disappointment that the works have not yet been adopted, we want to assure them we are committed to completing the development as quickly as possible.

"The adoption of roads and sewers is an intertwined process that is subject to alignment from multiple parties.

"We have been working hard and will continue to work closely with all those parties to achieve the adoption of the roads and sewers as quickly as possible."

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