News Council and developer under fire over estate
Pictured left are residents Richard Parnley and Graham Duxbury, who are not happy with the Council’s efforts to look after the newly-adopted play area.
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East Riding of Yorkshire Council (ERYC) and major property developer Peter Ward Homes have come under fire this week from residents in Gilberdyke who are less than impressed with the Sandholme Park estate.
Resident Graham Duxbury has hit out over the state of the play area at Sandholme Park, which belonged to Peter Ward Homes but was adopted by ERYC in January along with an adjacent grassed area, claiming that the grassed area is not maintained and the play area is a safety hazard as the tarmac is uneven, so that the entrance gate does not open fully.
"Last year, a child ran at the gate and hit their face because the gate got stuck on the tarmac as it opened," said Mr Duxbury.
"I am concerned about the play area because it has been adopted by the Council but it is still a safety hazard."
Mr Duxbury added that he has been forced to tend to a grassed area near to the playground because ERYC has not been maintaining it since it was adopted earlier this year.
"I am paying my rates so I should not have to come out and cut the Council's grass," he said.
"Everything is an uphill struggle with the Council and it makes me more and more despondent."
Neighbour Richard Parnley added: "It's a shame that the Council can't keep the estate's common areas in order when residents spend a lot of time and money on keeping their gardens nice. It just spoils the area."
But a spokesperson for ERYC this week cited the recent flooding misery as a reason why Council staff had been unable to visit and maintain the adopted areas.
"The council has accepted that this area was not maintained as quickly after adoption as usual, though the flooding did add to this delay," said the spokesperson.
"The area has been tidied up, a new gate has been ordered and regular maintenance will now take place. Mr Duxbury has been informed of this position."
Meanwhile, another battle is taking place on the Sandholme Park estate between residents and developer Peter Ward Homes over the state of the road, which is yet to be adopted by ERYC.
Resident Christopher Cone told the Goole Times this week that he believed the surface of the road had not been completed to the standard that it should have been and says he can prove that between 60 and 70 residents feel the same, as he had handed out a comments sheet to other homes on the estate. He said: "We are not happy that Peter Ward Homes has just laid tarmac in patches throughout the road, rather than laying a complete new surface. Some people feel that it takes some of the value away from their property.
"The council say it is a maintainable road, but our concern is that it hasn't been finished as it should have been and a lot of people are annoyed." Paul Robinson, Howdenshire councillor for ERYC, has visited the estate and said he shares the sentiments of disgruntled residents.
"When you enter the estate, you see a hotch-potch of tarmac and I don't think ERYC should adopt the road until it is up to a good standard. Collectively, a lot of money have been spent on these houses, so it is not a good advert for Peter Ward Homes," he said.
But Peter Ward, managing director of Peter Ward Homes, said this week: "We must emphasise that while we take such complaints seriously, there are other issues outside the control of this company. For example, the local roads inspector asked us to replace certain sections of tarmac - not the whole road surface - prior to the road being taken over by ERYC in the near future.
"It should also be noted that is is not common practice for an entire street to be re-surfaced on such occasions, only those areas that are in need of repair.
"Since Mr Cone has suggested that he is prepared to take legal action against this company, it would be inappropriate for the company to make any further statement that might jeopardise or influence any legal process. We are unaware of any other complaints, either from local residents or councillors, and would simply reiterate that all work has been carried out in accordance with the wishes of ERYC."
Published on 2nd August 2007 in News.
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