RESIDENTS in Yate are still being left 'furious' after construction of 2,500 new houses continues to disrupt their home life.

Ladden Garden Village, in North Yate, is the name of a new housing development that will see over 2,500 new houses built over a period of 15 years.

However homeowners in nearby streets, to the area in Brimsham, have been left frustrated after the work continues to disrupt.

Russell Glimstead of Barratt's Homes did reveal that they were looking to "develop the village at North Yate in a considerate manner."

"We are working hard to minimise dust and, following conversations with our neighbours, we have installed several extra measures to address the issue," he continued.

"We would welcome any one with further concerns to contact us directly, either by dropping by the site office or giving us a call."

One resident of Dryleaze, one of the roads most affected by the development, is actually finding that her house and garden is 'constantly vibrating' due to machinery working behind her fence.

"A construction company director came to look at our garden because we were having problems with our patio, fence and pergola as a result from the vibrations," she said.

 

This picture from the residents home, in Dryleaze, shows how close the work is to her house.

"He found heavy machinery being used was to close to our boundary.

"We verbally agreed that there was ground movement and he instructed for all work to stop behind us until a structural engineer had been out and written a report. "However, a week later and still no engineer had been and they restarted work using heavy machinery next to our fence."

"It got to the point where I had to leave the house during the day, it is unbearable to stay in when they are trying to lay foundations that close to you."

Another of the main reasons for the objections to the development was the dust that it was creating.

One resident claimed that the it was having a detrimental effect on their child who suffered with asthma.

"There is so much dust we need to wipe our washing lines down before we put anything out. Our cats are coming back with orange paws and feet," they said.

"My child has asthma and she is really struggling to breathe in the conditions that are being created.

"We all have said to each other that we should have moved. We all should have put our houses on the market and gone elsewhere because the conditions are un-liveable."

MP, for Thornbury and Yate Luke Hall did make a visit to the street. With the homeowner stating that this was only after work was 'resumed' without a structural engineer coming out to the site.

"We had a visit from our Mr Hall on Thursday morning. I called Barrett's and left a message explaining this and they called that afternoon to say they have arranged for a representative of Barrett's, Brandwell's and a structural engineer," she said.

South Gloucestershire Council has said that steps are being taken to make sure the development causes the least disturbance possible.

In a statement the council said: "The recent spell of dry weather has contributed to an increased number of complaints about dust from building sites recently, to which we have responded.

"We visited the Barratt site on Friday, July 13 and saw the measures in place to reduce dust from the work, including the use of road sweepers, heaps of materials being dampened with water and vehicles carrying dusty materials being sheeted to prevent dust escaping.

"Those measures cannot prevent 100 per cent of dust escaping, but we continue to monitor compliance at building sites.

"However, and will take action where contractors are not complying with conditions imposed on developments."

On his visit to the street went 'door-knocking' to speak to homeowners about their concerns.

"In meeting with residents on the doors last week, and seeing the works first hand, it is clear that the developers need to re-double their efforts to ensure that the development works have the most minimal impact as possible on the lives of residents," he said.

 

Access to Dryleaze was restricted meaning bins were not collected that week

"It is just not acceptable to just pay lip service to concerns on considerate work traffic, parking and full dust reduction measures but take no action. I will be writing to management to raise residents’ concerns as our MP, as well as stressing the need for South Glos Council’s enforcement team to be far more pro-active in holding the development to the conditions agreed.”

South Gloucestershire Councillor Mike Drew and Yate Town Councillor Chris Willmore have been working closely with residents of the area to formulate a petition and complaint against the development. 

Cllr Willmore admitted however that she has never before encountered such 'disregard' by a developer. 

"In mine and Cllr Drew's time on the council, in my case 35 years, I have never before seen a situation this bad," she said.

"Planners and developers are ignoring the residents and it is absolutely disgusting.

"They are also ignoring the basic rules of the site, and they are being allowed to get away with it.

"A whole summer holiday has been ruined for these homeowners as they haven't been able to sit outside at all. 

"This process has reduced me to tears with frustration. The only people who can actually doing anything about, just aren't listening."