Members of the Home Farm Forum met the Managing Director of Barratt Homes, Andrew Swindell, on Thursday 2nd February, demanding a clear plan of action to complete the roads and paths on Duddle Drive & Stevensons Road. This came 48 hours after headline coverage on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, and the timely delivery of the infamous protest photos involving 100+ residents, taken back in January, and sent to Barratt Homes & Taylor Wimpey. “People Power” appeared to convince Mr Swindell that the issue needed to be resolved quickly and he agreed to confirm in writing, within 21 days, the start date of the works contract and other relevant details.
On Friday 17th February, residents received a letter stating that these ground works will commence on Monday 20th February. Maypine Construction Limited has been appointed to undertake this work and current estimates are that it will take 10-12 weeks to complete. The reaction to the media coverage appears to have caused a step change in attitude from the developers, and the forum is delighted that our collective effort appears to have achieved the objective for the first part of our campaign. Residents have already reported a flurry of activity in the area with many posts on Facebook suggesting that work could be starting very soon. We are aware from other sources that the Development Control Inspector for Cambridgeshire County Council has been working closely with Barratt Homes & Taylor Wimpey in the last few days to prepare the outline works required to bring the roads and paths up to adoption standard.
From first hand experience we can report that on Monday morning 13th February, a group of 6 men in fluorescent builders’ jackets were gathered around the bonnet of a car looking at some road plans. When asked if they were anything to do with proposals to finish the roads on Home Farm estate, they confirmed that was precisely why they were there. One of the group said he was “The Development Control Inspector” for Cambridge County Council and explained that the other men were from the contractors hired by Barratt to complete the roads and paths in Stevensons Road and Duddle Drive, ready for subsequent adoption by the County Council. He said that their task was to help the contractors price the works required.
On Wednesday 15th February, a member of the Forum spoke to the workmen cleaning the drains on Duddle Drive and Stevensons Road and was told that they had been hired to clean the drains, as a preliminary to resurfacing the roads. They confirmed that all the broken kerb stones marked in blue will be replaced by new ones when the resurfacing is being carried out.
It is now an exciting time for Home Farm residents, and we’re hoping to continue to build on the strength of community spirit that has developed around this issue and leverage our network to help improve facilities, eventually, across the whole of Home Farm. Long may this spirit continue and in the meantime we keep our fingers crossed that the roads will be completed in time for a Jubilee full on “trip free and hazard free” street party!
Home Farm Forum
