Housing estate still not finished more than ten years after residents moved in (original) (raw)
An estate in Wales is still not finished more than 10 years after residents moved in. The first homes were built at Coed Dyffryn and Tir Founder Fields in Aberdare in 2010 and the final homes were completed a few years later, but more than a decade on the estate still hasn't been finished.
Residents say it’s causing many issues, including Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council not adopting the unfinished estate meaning the roads have been left in a mess. Residents, who pay council tax in full despite the issues, claimed Welsh Water has also been unable to adopt the estate meaning drainage problems haven’t been properly addressed.
Persimmon Homes, which owns the estate, has apologised to residents and said the company is “fully committed to meeting obligations”. It said the latest contractor brought in to carry out work to complete the roads on the estate has now ceased operations in Wales and a new contractor has recently been appointed.
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There remains markings on the ground (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne)
The road appears to be damaged and in parts unfinished (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne)
Teacher Hannah Long, who moved to the estate in 2015, said: “Last year the roads had to be dug up for drainage works. The roads are terrible - so much so tyres have burst. The council say they can’t do anything because the estate hasn’t been finished.”
When we visited the estate on Wednesday the roads were in a mess in parts of the estate, while in other parts roads had clearly been left unfinished. Hannah explained: “Persimmon keeps telling us the estate will be completed soon but it’s never been finished.
“It isn’t just the roads. The drains often block and on a couple of occasions residents have had their toilets back up with sewage. But Welsh Water wouldn’t come out either because they said they hadn’t yet adopted the drains due to the system being unfinished.”
People living on the estate say they feel they've been patient enough (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne)
Resident Marian Long said she has grown frustrated by delays on the estate. “The problem is it’s always tomorrow or the next day, and nothing is done about it,” she said.
“We pay full council tax and yet we have to put up with these roads because the estate hasn’t been finished and the council can’t help us. Some of these houses have been here for more than 12 years. It’s ridiculous it’s still going on.
"The whole drainage system relies on a pumping chamber which sometimes doesn’t work and leads to blockages. And currently Welsh Water isn’t able to help us if it happens. The roads are so uneven people have had their vehicles damaged.”
Residents say some problems are going unfixed because the council and others haven't been able to adopt the estate (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne)
Highways work is still outstanding but Persimmon says it is because the last contractor pulled out of the job (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne)
Marian’s husband Stephen said: “We’ve tried to highlight the issue of the delays numerous times through the proper channels but we’re still in the same spot and not a lot has been done. This has now been going on for years. They’re promising dates and they’re letting us down.”
A spokesperson for Persimmon Homes East Wales said: “We sincerely apologise to residents for any inconvenience and want to reassure them that we are fully committed to meeting our obligations at the development. Unfortunately, our original contractor for the required highways works recently ceased operations in south Wales.
"However, we have appointed a new contractor who has already visited the site this week, and work is scheduled to begin shortly to follow a structured programme of works. We can confirm that the necessary minor works to the site’s pumping station and drainage network have now been completed, and we’ve submitted a formal request to Welsh Water for the final inspection and adoption process to proceed.
"We aim to complete the development as quickly as possible and will continue to liaise with residents and the local authority to progress the outstanding matters.”
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