New estate’s roads so bad our car was written off – resident

A RESIDENT who bought a house on a new estate claims the roads are in such bad condition his car was written off.

Zeshan Ali has lived in a property in the new Jubilee Park development in the Rogerstone area of Newport since October 2018.

The 28-year-old said the surfacing of the main Jubilee Way ring road around the estate has never been fully completed.

Just a month after moving in, his partner drove her 2011 Mini Cooper over a speed bump on the estate and hit raised ironworks, damaging the car beyond repair.

Zeshan complained to housing developer Taylor Wimpey, who told him the road around the estate is still the responsibility of Walters Engineering.

Zeshan said he has tried to pursue compensation from Walters Engineering but has been unable to do so.

He said several other cars belonging to people on the estate have been badly damaged on the poor-quality road surface.

Zeshan said the damage occurred on November 3, 2018, as his partner left their street where they had bought a house the month before.

“As she went over the speed bump at a reasonable speed, around 15 miles per hour, the front of her car came down towards raised ironworks,” he said.

“She didn’t realise immediately, but the bottom front of her car engine, where the oil sump tank sits, had caught the lip of the raised ironworks.

“After driving down the dual carriageway to Morrisons, her car cut out. The resulting damage was from the oil having leaked out of the car and the engine had seized up.”

The couple’s insurers said the car was a write-off as the engine would need to be rebuilt.

Zeshan said he first approached Taylor Wimpey to complain but they informed him a company called Walters Engineering was responsible for Jubilee Way, the main road through the development where the damage occurred.

He contacted the company, who claimed the damage was the fault of Zeshan’s partner, who they said was driving over the 10mph speed limit.

“The speed limit is 20mph as you enter the development, and is still 20mph to this day,” Zeshan said.

“On November 3, 2018, when the incident took place, there were no raised ironworks signs, or signs of raised tables on the site.”

Zeshan said a “raised table” sign was placed on the road later that month, but there is still no sign warning of raised ironworks.

Jubilee Way has not received its final surfacing a year and a half later.

“We had asked Walters for our excess back, and the increased cost of the insurance, but Walters have been clear in saying they accept no liability for this,” he said.

“They have advised if we take them to small claims court, they will fight it, and if the judge decides in their favour, they as a company will pursue us for their legal costs.

“I have been made aware of one other vehicle requiring an engine rebuild, and four other vehicles who have had their sumps damaged.”

Taylor Wimpey declined to comment.

WalesOnline has contacted Walters Engineering for comment.