Over 400 residents of Tadpole Garden Village have signed a petition asking Swindon Borough Council to publish timelines and plans for current and future development in Tadpole Garden Village following unhappiness about unfinished roadworks.
449 residents have so far signed the petition sharing concerns about unfinished roads being cracked and potentially unsafe and say that they are cluttered with builders’ rubble, signage, and fencing. There are also reports of open metalwork protruding from the ground, leading to concerns about the safety of walking in the dark.
Tadpole resident Allan Cox suffered a blown tyre after driving over a raised drain in the village that he believes doesn’t have adequate ramping to allow cars to pass over safely. Developer Crest Nicholson declined Mr Cox’s claim for compensation for the tyre.
As well as information on when existing work is due to be finished, the petition also calls for Crest Nicholson’s new Tadpole development plan to be published to the public for further consultation.
The petition was initiated by Cllr Bradley Williams, a Green parish councillor for St Andrews.
Cllr Williams said: “The residents of Tadpole Garden Village have been living on a construction site for far too long. Many who moved here understood that the village was an ongoing project but did not expect to live in such poor conditions for more than six years.
“In addition to reports of cars and property being damaged by the unfinished works, I’ve been told that people have been injured on pathways due to their poor condition. There are a lot of roads with drains that protrude from the ground, some reaching nearly four inches, and when residents contact the developers about making a claim, they are told it is their fault.
“My experiences as a resident of Tadpole for over three years have been similar to those of many other residents: developers have ignored us, made empty promises about work completion dates, and passed responsibility onto each other.
“Enough is enough. We’re urging Swindon Borough Council to obtain the complete plan and deadline for the completion of the village. I’d encourage Tadpole residents to sign the petition and keep sending emails to developers, and I’ll keep pushing the issue until we get answers.”
in response to the petition Councillor Gary Sumner, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Strategic Infrastructure, Transport and Planning, said: “I completely understand why residents are frustrated with the length of time it is taking to finish the roads and footpaths in Tadpole Garden Village.
“In planning terms, there is little the Council can do to speed up their completion as we cannot control how long developers take to finish a scheme. The roads also can’t be adopted until they have been finished to a set standard and put forward for adoption by the developer.
“However, I have been working with Cllr Steve Heyes and his fellow ward councillors on this issue. The developer, Crest Nicholson, has agreed to my request for a meeting where I will impress upon them the need to finish the roads and footpaths as quickly as possible for the benefit of local residents.”
A Crest Nicholson spokesperson said: “Crest Nicholson have been working closely with the local council on completion plans for Tadpole Garden Village.
“We are pleased to report that much progress has been made and we are on track to complete all works. The development will then be handed over to the management company for ongoing upkeep.”
