FURIOUS residents on a Pershore housing estate named after a town war hero have slammed developers for leaving them without footpaths out of their road for almost four years.
Angry members of the Choules Close Footpath Action Group attacked Redrow Homes for their lack of action after the 45 homes in Choules Close were built in 2014 on land adjacent to Allesborough Farm.
The plans for the development were conditional on the provision of footpaths to link to the existing paths and a new bus stop. But nearly four years after the houses were first occupied the paths and bus stop have not been built.
“I can’t believe they didn’t build the footpaths. We moved into our new house in 2016 and soon realised that there were no footpaths leading anywhere,” said resident Chris Slezakowski.
“We can’t walk safely to the shops, a bus stop or even to post a letter.”
Choules Close is a new road built off Rebecca Road. It was named after Claude Stanley Choules, born in Pershore, who at the time of his death was the oldest English combat veteran of the First World War having served with the Royal Navy from 1915 until 1926.
Another resident Gordon Robinson said: “We have to take care when walking from our houses into Pershore because of the speed of passing vehicles on Rebecca Road and the uneven road surface and verges.
“In the spring and summer it is just about manageable but in the autumn and winter it is treacherous. There are no street lights along Rebecca Road and residents have become used to carrying torches if they have to venture out at night,” he added.
Fed-up residents have now formed the action group to ensure the paths are built to connect Choules Close with existing footpaths on Holloway and Worcester Road, as required by planning chiefs.
“We don’t understand why no-one has taken responsibility for ensuring planning conditions are met,” Chris said.
“While we have recently received some reassurance at least one of the footpaths will be built, indications of when work might actually start have repeatedly changed.
“We care about the safety of our neighbours and simply want the footpaths; the ones that were agreed before the houses were sold. Imagine if you didn’t have a footpath outside your house. How would you manage?”
Warren Jennens, engineering manager for Redrow Midlands, said: “We’d like to reassure local residents we are working closely with Worcestershire County Council to ensure work is carried out to build a footpath and new bus stop at our Pershore development as soon as we are legally able.
“Ongoing works on Station Road means work cannot be carried out at the same time on the footpath for health and safety reasons. We’ve kept residents, Wychavon District Council and the local councillor up to date, and instructed a contractor.
“As it stands, the County Council has provided a provisional start date in November for the footpath to be installed.”
