Property developer accused of endangering lives

A property developer building houses at Skegby has been accused of poor safety management practices and procedures which are putting lives in danger.
Residents protest about a housing development on land off Mansfield Road Skegby.Residents protest about a housing development on land off Mansfield Road Skegby.
Residents protest about a housing development on land off Mansfield Road Skegby.

Rippon Homes has begun work on 36 houses on land between the north of Mansfield Road and Pleasley Road.

Now residents claim the firmis “not good neighbours” and have called on Ashfield District Council to take enforcement action.

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The firm says “health and safety is its our top priority” and it adheres to all safety procedu

Parents of pupils at St Andrew’s CE Primary School spoke of their fear their children may be in danger.

Mum Jo Alvey said, “We’ve had lorries blocking the pavement, building works and other works blocking the pavement, young mums with pushchairs having to walk on the road, noise, mud and promises not kept by the developer. “

Anne Winstanley, of Skegby, said: “We have a public footpath which we can’t use now.

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“Rippon Homes has broken a promise that there would be no lorries at the times our school opens and closes.

Another resident, Geoff Coupe, accused the developers of unsafe practice, reversing lorries in and out of the site, risking other road users and pedestrians.

He said lorries pull into the middle of Mansfield Road forcing other traffic to have to stop.

He said lorries have been parked on pavements and pedestrians have been made to cross over the road at peak times.

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It is also reported that lorries have been parked on double yellows outside the school and dumper trucks had been driven across the public right of way with no banksmen.

Councillor Jason Zadrozny has called on Ashfield District Council to act.

The leader of Ashfield Independents said: “It’s about time that the district council used its powers of enforcement.”

Ian Dyke, Rippon Homes managing director, said: “Scheduled building work has been taking place at our Manor Croft development in line with our planning permission between 7.30am and 4.30pm Mondays to Fridays and 7.30am-1pm on Saturdays. “Delivery times are between 9am- 2.45pm and we have written to our suppliers stipulating they are not to deliver outside these hours.

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“We are aware residents also park on the footpaths when picking up and dropping of at the local school and retail facilities.

“Health and safety is our top priority and we can confirm all necessary procedures have been followed throughout the works with a banksman employed to ensure our vehicles are moving safely. As on all of our sites, we endeavour to take extra care to keep disruption to a minimum.

“It is very common phases of a development are reassessed. “The council will assess the impact of additional homes before construction.”

A spokesman for Ashfield District Council said: “Ashfield District Council are aware of the strong local feeling surrounding the Ripon Homes development in Skegby. The Council is working to secure the much needed homes in the area following the approval of this site by the Planning Inspectorate. The Council is taking proportionate action with the developer to remedy concerns raised by residents and is liaising with all the appropriate agencies involved.

The Council takes this matter seriously, and will continue to work with the developers to ensure that the safety of the public and workers at the site is paramount.”