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Watchdog victory for residents

Stephen Foster
30/ 6/2006

ROCHDALE council has pledged to help residents who claim their lives have been made hell by work to build the Kingsway Business Park by providing a listening ear and taking up their cause with the developers.

The council has taken on a pro-active response after hearing numerous complaints about noise and dirt and after 71-year-old pensioner Jean Brewin of Ladyhouse Lane, Milnrow, protested by standing in front of a mechanical digger and refused to move until work stopped.

She and residents living in the area claim the noise and vibration from heavy plant has caused cracks to appear in their houses.

Councillor Irene Davidson has described Mrs Brewin as a heroine.

She said: "Standing in front of a mechanical digger takes some courage and I hope that the developers have learned the lesson and started listening.

"I know that residents feel that they don't matter and are just in the way.

"They need to be assured that someone will get back to them if they have any complaints.

"I believe that the contractors have been very shabby towards residents who have to live there. The contractors can go home at 7pm and at weekends and leave their mess behind while the residents' lives have been made a misery."

The council has responded to the complaints of residents by making an officer available to act on their grievances. Alan Whale, development control manager, can be contacted on 647474.

Councillor Davidson said: "The noise coming from the Kingsway site can even be heard over the sound of the motorway traffic. Local residents deserve peace and quiet.

"I believe the contractors have wanted to extend the hours they work, but I would oppose that unless it was absolutely necessary."

Several weeks ago a number of homes in Ladyhouse Lane were flooded and residents again blamed the work on Kingsway.

Ashfield Lane residents are up in arms over the erection of an acoustic fence because they say they have not been consulted over its siting.

A spokesman for the Kingsway Partnership has said that the contractors were monitoring the situation and had taken measures to mitigate the effect of the work.