Building firm apologises after failing to complete village improvements

10:30am Tuesday 29th April 2008

Comments (5)   Have your say »

THERE were calls today for a developer to complete two pavements that link a village residential development near York to the rest of the local community.

Persimmon Homes Yorkshire built the 25-home Garden Village, in Strensall Road, Earswick, about three years ago.

As part of the planning process, a condition was put in place whereby the company had to build a pavement on the west side of Strensall Road, between the development and Earswick Chase.

Another condition was that the firm had to re-build the pavement on the other side of Strensall Road, between Garden Village and Earswick Chase, when it installed lighting there.

Earswick parish councillor Martin Leach said the pavements should have been finished prior to the completion of the development.

But Coun Leach said today that, while the foundations of the pavements had been laid, the footways were rough because they did not yet have a top surface.

He said: "People want to walk down it. But clearly they could fall if the rough surface isn't made up properly. It's dangerous. It looks a mess because it's not finished.

"They've put a central reservation in Strensall Road to allow people to get across to the bus stop and it's not safe to stand on because it's rough - everything just needs finishing off.

"Up until nine months ago, work had been progressing very slowly - but at least it was progressing.

"But it's just not progressing now. We just want them to finish it."

City of York councillor Sian Wiseman, who represents Strensall ward, said she telephoned City of York Council in January to ask the authority what the timescale was for the completion of the work.

"The council said they were waiting for Persimmon's contractors to get back to them to give them the time scale," she said. "I'm calling on Persimmon to finish the footpaths."

Andrew Bowes, managing director for Persimmon Homes Yorkshire, said: "Firstly, I would like to apologise to residents in Earswick who have been affected by the incomplete works.

"We are aware that work to finish the pavements, traffic island and central reservation are yet to be complete. However, these delays are the result of circumstances outside our control.

"We attended a meeting last week with the local authority and contractors and we are now awaiting a date for when final surfacing work can commence and we look forward to resolving this matter quickly and to the satisfaction of all concerned."

Have your say

Do you think the footpaths should be completed immediately?