CHIEFS at a county housing developer have come under fire from Malvern’s MP after much-needed work on the drains around a town estate is yet to be completed.
A frustrated Harriett Baldwin has called on Persimmon Homes and experts at Severn Trent to identify the problems holding up the approval of the drainage system at Malvern Vale.
Without Severn Trent’s approval Persimmon cannot hand over ownership of the roads to Worcestershire County Council who can maintain and grit them during the cold weather.
Mrs Baldwin first met the housing developer in 2016 to raise concerns about delays in handing over the roads but assurances were given that the work would be completed.
However two years on the outstanding work has not been finished and the newly-appointed Minister of State at the Foreign Office returned to Malvern Vale to discuss the issue with Severn Trent experts and to try and find a speedy solution.
“A lot has been done on this fast-growing estate but I am frustrated there are still issues which need to be resolved,” said Mrs Baldwin.
“I did meet with the local Persimmon management which again assured me its tasks had been completed but Severn Trent shared with a me a long list of outstanding work.
“I have written once again to the chief executive at Persimmon Homes in the hope he will intervene and help get these issues fixed.”
She added with a new primary school being constructed on the estate, time was of the essence.
“The work must be completed swiftly to get the roads finally finished and managed by the local authority.”
Joe Turner, head of technical for Persimmon Homes South Midlands, told the Observer the developers had met with Severn Trent on Thursday and agreed a sewer/manhole remedial list so they could be adopted.
“This is standard practice on any development before sewers are adopted,” he said.
“Persimmon awaits the quote from its contractor but once received we will place an order so the remedial list can be completed and sewers adopted.”
A spokesperson for Severn Trent added it relied on developers to build sewers which were fit for purpose in any new development and would only adopt them once they were satisfied they were capable of doing the job they were designed to do.
“Our customers expect their sewers to work faultlessly from day one and we have a duty to make sure that’s the case.”
