Knights Meadow residents backed by MP over poor roads by Vistry Group

Knights Meadow residents have spoken out about "serious" drainage and road issues they have endured for seven years after buying homes from Vistry Group.

On Thursday, December 1, Caroline Nokes MP tweeted that she will be raising issues in the Chamber about unadopted roads, specifically Knights Meadow in North Baddesley, where residents have been "let down".

Roads must be a certain standard before they can be adopted by the local authority.

Ms Nokes said: "The roads in Knights Meadow are currently not at that standard and the residents feel very let down by the developers, who are not taking responsibility for the necessary changes to make it of a good enough standard.

"I can well understand how frustrated the residents are, and will take up the Minister’s offer of a meeting to understand how government might be able to assist.  

"Obviously the real onus is on Vistry Group to rectify the current problems, and there is a very serious one with the drainage.  However, every bit of pressure on them to recognise their duty to residents is important.

"Going forward we cannot continue to see developers leave residents in this sort of situation. The major housebuilders know what their responsibilities are and need to make sure in all future projects they get the roads, drainage, lighting etc right from the start."

Knights Meadow resident Dominic Sayers said he and other residents feel they have been left in limbo, with no one to turn to for help. 

Mr Sayers said: "Unfortunately, the management company is currently failing to fulfil its obligation to residents, by way of irregular visits and substandard work when they do appear on site. 

"We feel we are being held to ransom, as Vistry have not left the road in an adoptable position and don't seem to be in any hurry to sort the issue out.

"The general consensus is that, through lack of communication from Vistry and the management company, we are being left high and dry and being pushed from pillar to post, whilst paying an annual charge to a management company which is not fit for purpose."

Cllr Nick Adams-King, the County Council’s executive member for Highways Operations, said: “Firstly, I want to reassure residents that the County Council is working closely with the developer to get the roads in the estate adopted.

"However, the process cannot be concluded until the highway drainage system is formally adopted by the statutory Water Authority, in this case Southern Water, and I understand there are some outstanding issues that need to be resolved in this regard.

"Given the ongoing discussions with the various parties who are involved, I am unable to give a timescale for when the estate roads can be adopted as public highway.”

A spokesperson from Southern Water said: "‘We are able to adopt SUDs schemes which are designed and delivered to the standards set in the CIRIA guidance.

"If that is not achieved they remain the responsibility of the developer and any management company they put in place for ongoing maintenance."

The Vistry Group has been contacted for comment.