Residents have hit out at regional councils and developers for leaving them ‘stuck’ on an inaccessible Warwick housing estate.
Warwick and Leamington MP Matt Western met several of the families from The Priors development on Europa Way near the Shires retail park.
At the meeting, they shared their anger about the complete lack of safe pedestrian routes into Leamington and say they have even been forced to pay for taxis to take kids to nursery or go to the shops.
Mr Western says he has contacted the developer of the estate, Linden Homes, and has spoken with regional councils to express the demands of the group.
The Priors is part of a larger development called Myton Green and Linden Homes is one of several developers building at the site.
Mr Western has also questioned the builder of the neighbouring estate Redrow and Catesby Estates which is responsible for the infrastructure, including footpaths and cycleways, as well as any recreational areas.
Residents complain that it is impossible to leave the estate other than by car and there are also no bus routes.
As a result, they’re seeking immediate access to safe pedestrian routes into Leamington, permanent street lighting to be immediately installed and gravel to be laid on a muddy path that leads into town, as pictured – which they also want widened to accommodate pushchairs.
Mr Western has slammed Warwickshire County Council and the developers for seemingly passing the buck in responding to residents’ demands.
Residents say they would not have moved to the estate had they known it would be half built and plagued with inadequacies.
Mother of one Lily Hawtin – who has lived on the estate for 7 months – said: “It’s been awful. A neighbour of mine said she feels like we’re stuck in Alcatraz prison!
“I can’t get into Leamington without travelling down a dangerous, muddy path – which is without any lighting and is pitch black in the dark.
“The mud when the weather is bad makes it really unsafe and I’ve nearly slipped travelling on it.
“I don’t drive and often I’m forced to pay for an Uber to get my daughter to nursery in town – which is completely unaffordable.
“When we first moved in, we were assured that there was a safe pedestrian entry and exit to the estate.
“This was a lie.
“My neighbour currently cannot send her son to school due to the lack of pedestrian access.
“This is a disgrace that the lack of planning from the developer is affecting her son’s education.
“My daughter starts school in September, and I am under constant stress thinking I could be in the same situation.
“I have been made to feel completely alone in this.
“I have contacted the developer, Warwick District Council, Warwickshire County Council and I have received no help whatsoever – and, in some cases, I have been completely ignored.
“A safe route of entry and exit to the estate should have been the top priority.
“But for the developer, unfortunately, it’s building more houses.”
Mr Western said: “This just shows the complete disregard for the families that move into these poorly built and inaccessible housing estates.
“The infrastructure is just not in place to be convenient or even to be conducive for a good quality of life.
“As far as I’m concerned, the commitments Linden Homes and Redrow made to future residents to ensure they received planning approval have been broken – and families let down.
“And the council needs to act.
“All parties must work together to immediately put in place what the families are asking for – as it really is the bare minimum.
“I’d go as far as suggesting that young families who have had to pay for taxis to get to the shops or to school should be reimbursed by these highly profitable companies who have failed them.”
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