Homeowner fed up of ‘third world’ look of new estate
RESIDENT HITS OUT AT THE DEVELOPERS
JONATHAN Shackleton’s dream of owning a brand-new home on one of Hull’s most desirable estates is in tatters.
The 51-year-old moved in four years ago, but is now one of few original occupants still here after several others sold up.
He has hit out at developers of the estate off Wawne Road in Kingswood, saying it resembles a “third world country” and warning of impending “disaster” if issues are not sorted out.
The Pioneer Way resident shared concerns with the Mail about the large “lake” formed in the centre of the estate, drains clogged with mud and dumped rubbish.
A Hull City Council spokesperson said they would ask developers to deal with the blocked drains urgently after Mr Shackleton said he feared flooding could take place.
A spokesperson for Keepmoat Homes, one of three developers working on the site, said it would inform other companies also building there that areas should be kept free from waste.
Mr Shackleton, who works in housing estate management, said said: “I first moved here four years ago and I’m still living on a building site.
“Originally there were going to be 900 homes but that was cut to 690, they’re going to be building this for another ten years.
“The houses themselves are nice, I was happy with mine when I first got here.
“But it’s opposite where a lot of water’s now gathered, it’s an environmental disaster waiting to happen.
“There’s so much water there now that ducks are swimming in it.
“They’re moving so much mud around everywhere that we’ve now got man-made hills which the water runs off as well.
“Loads of rubbish has been dumped there from the building works.
“I took one of my friends up here who was interested in buying a house, he saw what was opposite it and said it looked like a third world country.
“And all the drains are totally blocked, there’s no water going down them. If we get heavy rain there will be rivers running through the roads.
“We need proper drainage, this needs sorting out. As for the waste, anyone else would get a skip in and take it away.
“A lot of people living here are very frustrated by it all, I know a couple of people who’ve sold and left already and I don’t blame them.
“People don’t want to live on a building site like this for another ten years.
“It’s a shame because Kingswood’s a great area, it’s really up and coming.
A Keepmoat Homes spokesperson said: “The site at Wawne Road is being developed by a consortium of developers.
“Given the scale of the construction area and with three different developers on site at the same time (Keepmoat, Strata and Engie), there are always occupied areas in close proximity to elements of live construction for short periods of time as the development progresses.
“We are unable to pinpoint the exact location of the residents’ complaints, but we will ensure that all parties on site are informed of the issues and aware that all areas of the development should be kept free from debris and waste.”
A Hull City Council spokesperson said: “Blocked drains on the site could potentially create problems and may be the reason for the standing water.
“Therefore, we will ask the developer to deal with this as a matter of urgency.