Elderly Exmouth residents of a road providing single access to a large housing development have shared renewed grievances about disruption and ‘distress’ it is causing them.
Constant noise, heavy vehicles and dust have been making life a misery, according to one elderly resident, for people living in former cul-de-sac, Buckingham Close, which now leads to a 264-home development.
But house builder Taylor Wimpey insists every effort is being made to keep disruption to a minimum and follow planning guidelines to the letter.
Pensioners Terence Ford and his wife Sheila have lived in Buckingham Close for 18 years, but say the ‘environmental disaster and distress’ caused by the development means they are considering moving.
People living in the close have continually complained about noise, mess and traffic associated with the site, with Taylor Wimpey taking measures to reduce its impact, in response to this.
But the development entering a new phase has brought renewed suffering for residents, according to Terence.
“Previously we had a serious problem with muddy water from the site pouring down the road into driveways and gardens,” he said. “Now, with the current heat wave, we have a situation with clouds of red dust blowing everywhere. Dust was always a problem but is now twice as bad, covering windows, sills, doors. In spite of having to keep them shut, the dust penetrates into the home. Clearly a serious health hazard.”
Terence said he and his neighbours ‘previously strongly objected’ to the planning approval for Plumb Park, having foreseen ‘inevitable chaos and environmental disaster and distress to residents’.
But a Taylor Wimpey spokesman says they are doing everything possible to ‘ensure disruption to local residents is kept to a minimum’ and that all work is ‘being carried out in accordance with planning permission and the terms of the Construction Management Plan’.
The spokesman added: “We are in regular contact with East Devon District Council’s Environmental Health Officer (EHO), who is aware of dust suppression measures that we have already put in place, and we are looking at additional mitigation measures.”
The council says Taylor Wimpey is making ‘good progress’ building roads within the site to allow heavy vehicles to drive straight in.
Regarding dust, a council spokesman said: “The EHO predicted that noise and dust might affect the rear of properties in Buckingham Close and were able to secure a close boarded fence on the boundary soon after work began.”
The spokesman added that its officers continued to give advice to Taylor Wimpey to ensure ‘suitable dust mitigation measures’ were put in place and maintained.
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