RESIDENTS of a Warwick estate are “weary” of endless problems following new issues over water drainage.
Chase Meadow estate has had a long history of difficulties, with section 106 money - cash paid by property developers to improve the local infrastructure - going elsewhere, parking problems, and long delays on the completion of the estate and link road to Stratford Road and Aylesford School.
Work was finally due to start on the completion of the estate, furthered by a recent application submitted for 91 new homes on the neighbouring Tournament Fields, but Severn Trent and Warwick District Council have raised concerns about water drainage.
The lake on the estate is actually an attention tank which stores surface water on the estate before piping it through to the River Avon, but there are worries that it isn’t big enough for the current number of houses, let alone any further development.
Cllr Elizabeth Higgins (Con, Warwick West) admitted there was a lot of “frustration” and said: “The lake is neither deep enough nor large enough an area for Severn Trent to accept it as a storm water collection point, from all the storm water drains all over Chase Meadow.
“Someone has to get a JCB and dig it deep enough and make it large enough for Severn Trent to accept it.
“Then the sewers can be accepted. Then Taylor Wimpey can put a top surface on the roads and then the Road Traffic Act can operate and give public liability insurance for SITA operatives following the recycling lorry – as per the contract. It is a complicated one.”
Head of the district council neighbourhood services Ian Coker is acting as a coordinator between Taylor Wimpey, the district council and county council to try to find a way forward.
He said: “The basic factor is that with the development there we need to ensure the hole is big enough. Until that is done Severn Trent aren’t happy to commission further work.”
However, a spokeswoman for Taylor Wimpey said they have commissioned an independent engineering consultant who’s technical report says the lake needs no alteration.
She added: “Once this issue is resolved then the lake, sewers up-stream and road can all be adopted. This does not affect the progress on the current Warwick Chase site and development work is ongoing.”
Chairman of the Chase Meadow Residents Association said: “It becomes quite wearying for residents of Chase Meadow to see the key parties who can move things forward pass the buck between each other. We urge everyone concerned to take the initiative and resolve these matters as a priority for the sake of those of us who, once again, are stuck in the middle and continue to suffer the consequences.”
At the time of going to press Severn Trent had not responded.
Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 7:47 pm