Local resident left angered over housing developer’s lack of action over dangerous entrance

AFTER over a year of correspondence with the builders of a housing development, a resident of Slipps Close remains angry at what he describes as a dangerous junction.

The entrance to the Taylor Wimpey development on Slipps Close in Frome, built over 5 years ago, has caused resident Alex Hooper to continually seek answers from the housebuilding company about the entrance to the estate.

He says the junction in question lies unfinished, as there are no kerbs for pedestrian routes. It is also placed adjacent to a zebra crossing, endangering pedestrians wishing to cross causing problems for the residents of Slipps Close.

The entrance to the housing estate also does not feature any form of parking restriction scheme, allowing cars to be parked on the sides of the road, limiting access to just one-car width. This problem is increased during school terms as parents often use it as a parking area when dropping their children off at the nearby Steiner Academy.

Alex told the Frome Times, “The junction is dangerous! There has been collisions, people being knocked over – it’s a risky area. The parking has also been so bad that it causes chicanes that cars have to manoeuvre. There is no way a fire engine would get through it. I have been trying to get answers from Taylor Wimpey, Mendip Highways and I am getting nowhere with responses. You can see from the photo what a mess this is. I understand that there can be a delay in these type of issues but to delay the whole process by five years?”

Alex has been in contact with  Phillip Court, chartered construction manager for Taylor Wimpey Bristol dating back to the first correspondence on 26th January 2017, about having this issue resolved.

A year ago, last February, Phillip Court responded to Alex Hooper saying, “We share your frustrations in the length of time it is taking to deliver the completion of the off-site highway works, junction improvements and adoption of on-site roads.

“The extended delay has been caused by a number of factors predominantly needing to agree a satisfactory solution for the arrangements for the off-site highway works. We now have an agreed scheme with the highways authority, albeit as with all highway schemes it is still subject to a series of safety audits and reviews even post implementation of the works. Nevertheless, we are currently in the process of seeking quotations from contractors so that the works can be implemented.”

Further correspondence was made between Alex Hooper and Phillip Court, but there has been no successful outcome for the residents.

The last piece of information Alex received from the company was on September 8th 2017 stating, “ I know we have been recently progressing the necessary quotations from contractors for the various elements of work to be undertaken. As a result of your enquiry I have asked for an update from colleagues to the progress made towards getting into a position where we are finally able to proceed with the works. Once I have received the necessary feedback I’ll provide you with a further update to include more detail.”

Frome Times contacted Phillip Court and Taylor Wimpey Homes but at the time of going to press had received no response.