Lathro roads may not be fixed for five years
Trust says agreement is“bad news”for residents
Perth and Kinross Councill has struck an agreement with a developer that could see roads at a controversial development in Kinross not brought up to an acceptable standard for at least another five years.
Kinross-shire Civic Trust (KCT) asked Perth and Kinross Council if it had adopted any of the roads built by Persimmon Homes at its Lathro Meadows development at the end of last month amid concern some are still in a very poor condition.
But just a few days later, a technician told the trust the council has not adopted a single one of the development’s roads yet as staff consider the company still has “a considerable amount of remedial works” to do to bring them up to a reasonable standard.
The technician went on to confirm in correspondence seen by the PA that the council normally expects developers to agree to maintain newly completed roads for at least a year before it decides whether or not to adopt them and assume responsibility for their upkeep.
However, the technician added that in the case of the Lathro Farm development, the council had decided to extend this period to a minimum of five years meaning Persimmon Homes could choose not to fix the roads until at least 2026.
The technician said: “New housing development roads, once completed, normally get placed on a maintenance period which lasts for a minimum of one year. Only once this period has expired and all defects have been addressed do they get adopted.
“However, in the case of Lathro, we have agreed with Persimmon that this maintenance period will last for a minimum of five years. This maintenance period hasn’t started yet, as there is a considerable amount of remedial works still needing done to the roads.
“When this work takes place, and hence when the five year maintenance period will start, is entirely down to Persimmon Homes.”
A spokesperson for KCT told the PA: “It is interesting that PKC has agreed a five-year roads maintenance period with Persimmon for Lathro Meadows rather than the usual one year. This may indicate a lack of confidence in Persimmon’s build standards.
“What’s really concerning is that Persimmon can apparently take as long as it likes to get the roads up to standard before the maintenance period even begins. This is bad news for Lathro residents.
“It must be at least a year since the last house was erected on phase one yet the roads are still in a very rough state with drain covers sitting well above the tarmac surface. This is a serious health and safety issue.
“It is remarkable that there is no time limit for developers finishing roads on new estates like this.”
A PKC spokesperson remarked: “A maintenance period only commences once roads within a new housing development have been fully completed to council satisfaction and this will be the case at Lathro.
“It is a ‘guarantee’ period during which, if any defects do occur, it remains the responsibility of the housing developer to address them.
“A maintenance period normally lasts for a minimum of one year.
“However, in the case of Lathro, the council has asked for a minimum five-year maintenance period.
“This is to ensure that some issues encountered during road construction have been fully addressed to the satisfaction of the council.
“As already stated, the developer remains responsible for any defects during the maintenance period so a term of five years is actually a significant penalty rather than preferential treatment.
“Please note that, although the developer remains responsible for defects during the maintenance period, the council does assume responsibility for winter maintenance.
“Upon completion of the maintenance period, and providing any defects have been addressed, the development would then be adopted by the council.”
A spokesperson for Persimmon Homes confirmed: “We have agreed to an extended maintenance period to ensure that all road maintenance works are to PKC’s satisfaction.”