THE Health and Safety Executive is to inspect the Church Road building site in Webheath following complaints from local residents and county councillor Robin Lunn.
The residents have hit out at over mud and mess caused by huge dumper trucks from the Church Road development site using local streets.
They are particularly concerned at the volume and size of traffic from the site, which is being developed by Taylor Wimpey, travelling along Heathfield Road and Church Road during school opening and closing times.
With some of the land being particularly boggy, builders have also been using massive machinery to sink giant piles into the ground 20 to 30ft deep.
“I spoke to a nurse who is doing night shifts and she said she couldn’t sleep a wink with the noise,” said David Rose, chairman of the Webheath Action Group (WAG).
An awful stench has also enveloped the area, leading residents to suspect workers have blundered into old sewage works close to the site.
“It’s pretty terrible and given the weather we’ve had, there’s mud everywhere and lorries parked on narrow roads making overtaking dangerous – it’s a mess,” said Mr Rose.
Coun Robin Lunn (Lab, Redditch North) said: “I have been in touch with the Health and Safety Executive over this. I have never supported building here and so much of what we are seeing here was entirely predictable.
“At the very least I would hope that it is commonsense not to put large lorries on the road at school opening and closing times.”
Members of WAG are also currently fighting plans that would see 2,800 homes built at Foxlydiate and stretching up to Bentley village in Bromsgrove district and along the Bromsgrove Highway.
Campaigners are now pinning their hopes on Redditch MP Karen Lumley’s decision to have the plan ‘called in’ and re-examined by a government minister.
A Taylor Wimpey spokesperson said: “We have reminded our contractors and delivery drivers of their obligation to adhere to the construction route and operating hours as outlined in the approved traffic management plan. The entrance to the site is also due to be tarmaced soon, which will provide delivery drivers with easier access to and from the development.
“All works being carried out at the site – including piling operations – are in accordance with the planning consent granted by Redditch Borough Council. We are also fully compliant with the Environment Agency guidelines.”
