Gregory Alm says he has to park his car on the road because he can’t access his driveway on weekends due to the ongoing work taking place outside of his home in Cardiff
A man has slammed a housing developer for blocking his driveway for eight weeks – despite the company promising construction work would only take one day.
Gregory Alm, who lives at Clos Nant Glaswg in Pontprennau in Cardiff with his mother, has called out Edenstone Homes as he continues to face “ridiculous” delays. On top of being unable to access his driveway on weekends, Mr Alm claims his property has been plagued with unbearable noise linked to the drainage system work.
As part of the building plans, work is being conducted to connect the drainage system between Clos Nant Glaswg and nearby Ty Draw Road where 45 affordable homes are being developed. Before the latest drainage work began Mr Alm received a letter from Edenstone informing him he wouldn’t be able to access his drive in daytime hours and that the work directly outside his property would be over quickly.
A letter from Edenstone operations manager Nick Barret reads: “Please be assured that at the end of the day you will have full vehicular access restored. We are aiming to be outside your driveway for one day.” But weeks later Mr Alm’s drive is still blocked off and he says he hasn’t been given a date for when the work could end, reports Wales Online.
A spokesperson for Edenstone said the company was working as quickly as possible, with residents able to access their drives outside working hours, but added work would be ongoing outside the homes in Clos Nant Glaswg for “a few weeks”. Chris Edge, operations director for the company, added: “We appreciate the community’s patience and cooperation during this period.”
Mr Alm said: “It’s been going on for weeks now and it’s ridiculous. They said it would be over very quickly. There are numerous construction sites on the road but mine is right outside my drive and it’s a huge inconvenience. I’ve spoken to them and had email talks with the operations manager but I now feel like I’m wasting my time. I’ve contacted the council but had nothing back.”
The resident said on weekends he can’t get on or off his drive at all, while there is a window in the evenings on weekdays when he has been able to. When we visited Mr Alm’s home this week three contractors were working at the site digging up the road. “It’s not only the access issue but the noise too,” Mr Alm added.
“I don’t bother parking on the drive because I know I’ll be stuck all day the following day. On the weekends you can’t get on or off. In the evenings on the weekdays they move it but then they’re back straight away in the morning. They come and go but they don’t tell you what their plans are.”
Mr Edge responded: “We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused to residents during essential works to lay the drainage pipe from our construction site on Ty Draw Road to the drainage outlet in Clos Nant Glaswg. We appreciate the community’s patience and cooperation during this period.
“The works were approved by the local authority and all of the residents were informed by letter. We have ensured that all residents have been given access to and from their properties during the works and have been able to access their driveways outside of working hours. Work on the drainage pipe is expected to continue for up to three months, but works outside the homes should be finished within a few weeks. If anyone has any further issues they can speak with the team on site so we can ensure we minimise any inconvenience to residents.”