IMAGINE waking up and finding you’ve got 21 dumper trucks parked outside your home and stretching down the road.
Not only that but for 10 months you’ve put up with dust, mud and dirt so bad you can’t open a window, hang your washing out or clean your windows.
Your white caravan is now brick red and the developer is dithering on whether or not to pay for it to be cleaned in case it sets a precedent.
Welcome to the world of Church Road resident Nancy Perks and her neighbours who live next door to a 200-home development by Barratt Homes and Taylor Wimpey at Webheath.
“From day one ten months ago we’ve complained about the dust and mess; we’ve sent texts, e-mails and letters without ever getting a reply,” said Nancy.
“I’ve even hand delivered letters and when my husband and I blocked the road to stop the lorries in an effort to get them to answer us, they actually called the police to tell us we were blocking the highway.
“Yet this morning (Wednesday) when they had 21 lorries blocking the road a neighbour called the police and they didn’t show up. I’ve documented it all, 150 photographs, videos, the lot.”
Near neighbour Mike Rogers, who has an earth mover parked outside his kitchen window, added: “It’s staggering. The dust is appalling and my wife has health concerns. It’s got so bad I’ve had to call in Worcestershire environmental services.”
County councillor Robin Lunn (Lab, Redditch North) said: “For professional developers the mess they’ve made is quite extraordinary – they are making residents’ lives a misery.”
A borough council spokesperson said: “The council is keen to work with the developers to ensure that disturbance from the development of the site is kept to a minimum and is considering an appropriate course of action regarding the concerns raised. Unsafe use of the local highway network is a matter for West Mercia Constabulary.”
A Taylor Wimpey spokesperson said: “We have reminded our contractors and delivery drivers of their obligations to adhere to site operating hours….we will do all we can to minimise noise disruption for residents, and we apologise for any inconvenience caused.”
