Redcar residents hit back at Havelock Park estate faults

People living on the Havelock Park estate have complained of no road markings to separate traffic and a lack of give way lines at junctions,  street lights that are frequently faulty, no bins for use outdoors on the estate, meaning they organise their own litter picks, and an absence of much-needed speed calming measures, such as speed bumps.

Developer Keepmoat has apologised, stating it is aware of some outstanding works and has a “plan of action” in place to tackle the problems.

Councillor Carrie Richardson, who represents the Newcomen ward and also lives on the estate, said: “Because Keepmoat won’t fix the defects, Redcar and Cleveland Council won’t adopt the estate.

From left to right, Councillor Carrie Richardson, Nicola Graham and Christine Long, all residents of the Havelock Park estate in Redcar. Picture/credit: Stuart Arnold/Teesside Live. Free for use for all LDRS partners.

“So because the council haven’t yet taken ownership, they won’t install or empty public bins, look at any road markings, or speed calming measures.

“We are stuck in limbo – I have lived here seven and a half years and some people moved in before me.

“Apparently this is quite common on new build estates and it can be years before councils adopt estates.”

Cllr Richardson added: “There are pressure points where we definitely need road markings because there are regularly near misses and we can’t get anything like that until the estate is adopted.

“We have a community green where the kids play and are out here with bottles of juice and snacks and there is nowhere for them to put their rubbish.

“We are constantly litter picking, but we can’t get a bin put on there.

The entrance from the main road - Roseberry Road - onto the Havelock Park estate, minus any road markings. Picture/credit: Stuart Arnold/Teesside Live. Free for use for all LDRS partners.

“We can’t have one anywhere on the estate as the council won’t empty them until the land is adopted.

“It is just little things that could make a big difference.”

Residents who spoke to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) said they enjoyed living on the estate, while there was a good community spirit with events being organised by neighbours.

But they were disheartened by Keepmoat’s slovenly efforts and, at times, felt unsafe.

Christine Long, of Goldrill Gardens, said the area around her home could be pitch black because of faulty lights.

She said: “They keep coming out putting bulbs in, they’ll work for two days and go off again.”

A standalone car park intended for residents to use off Hopgill Walk is barely used outside of the daytime because of a lack of lighting.

Ms Long said: “It is dangerous, I’ve had someone in my car rummaging through it, you don’t feel safe.”

Another resident, who said she had a four-year-old daughter, said speeding cars were a concern, while there had also been issues with youths riding motorbikes and quads.

It was suggested that barriers or fencing could be put in place to protect communal areas used by children on the estate with speed bumps to slow cars, although this latter element would only come under consideration once the council completes the adoption process.

The woman said: “As parents we have to stand here and watch the children play just to make sure they are safe and nothing happens to them.

“It would only take a second for there to be an accident.

“We’d like to have a safe area not just for children and adults as well, along with lights that work.”

Mother-of-three Nicola Graham, of Westmorland Road, added: “I was one of the first here and have been living here about nine years.

“There are lots of problems, speeding vehicles, rubbish, it’s everything really.”

A Keepmoat Homes spokeswoman said: “We are aware of some outstanding works at our Havelock Park development and can assure residents that we have a plan of action in place to remediate this.  “We have placed an order with the local authority highway to complete the outstanding street lighting defects as a priority, which will be commencing shortly.  “The other remaining works are scheduled to commence in October this year and will include the approved white lining at the site entrances onto Mersey Road, Roseberry Road and Westmorland Road.”

She added: “We are working closely with Redcar and Cleveland Council who will be looking to adopt the site following completion of the works and would like to apologise for any inconvenience this has caused to our residents, and assure them this will be completed as soon as possible.

“Public bins are usually maintained and emptied by the council, however as a gesture of goodwill, Keepmoat Homes has offered to provide and erect a number of public bins at the development, providing the council ensure the bins are maintained and emptied in line with their collection policy.  “We are willing to provide the council with permission to access the site prior to the adoption of the roads, to help alleviate the situation.

“The parking court off Hopsgill Walk was handed over to Kingston Property Services several years ago and Keepmoat Homes no longer manages the maintenance of lights within this area.  “We have however contacted the team at Kingston Property Services and asked them to review the defects within the car park.”

Redcar and Cleveland Council did not comment when approached by the LDRS, although Cllr Richardson said cabinet member for economic development, Councillor Chris Gallacher, previously assured her that any defects would be repaired and the estate adopted thereafter.