News

Mixed experiences for local Persimmon buyers

Published

5 years ago

November 6, 2018

Tom Sinclair

Troubled play area: Persimmon and Pembrokeshire County Council are 'in discussion' about ownership

LAST WEEK, we reported on an unhappy new build owner who claims to have over 80 issues with their Persimmon property.

We asked homeowners on Martello Park if they were happy with their build and if they had experienced any issues which were similar to Mr Harris’.

We had many responses from homeowners who have bought a Persimmon property.

MIXED EXPERIENCES AT MARTELLO PARK

Many of those who contacted us said they were happy with their purchase.

Leanne Panton said: “We live in one of the firsts ones built; so about 4 years old now and we’ve had no problems at all. Absolutely fine.”

Barry Minshull also said he was happy with his purchase on the estate: “Very happy with our house any issues we may have had have been sorted within an acceptable time frame so we are very happy with our new build.”

Bridie Harrison also agreed: “We are very happy with our house in martello park. We have had no problems and nothing is too much if you ask someone to come give you a hand with something, and we have had the same people doing hobbles for us as well which have also been good work.”

However, one resident, who did not wish to be named, said Mr Harris’ experience was similar to hers.

The resident said: “They ignore emails and when you call. You leave messages but don’t get responses for weeks or months. I moved in December 2016 had over twenty faults.

“We had a leak in the bathroom that came through living room which ruined flooring. A carpenter put a nail through pipework when put on skirting boards. There was a faulty weld on pipes and fittings missing from the back of toilet which led to water coming all over bathroom floors gradually.

“Patio doors were not fixed correctly you could see outside through gaps. Drains were at 45 degree angles in the garden and above ground level. Wobbly slabs placed on exterior front and back. Cracks down walls to name the worst.

“I know neighbours in the same row have had many more issues too. For example, live electric cables dangling behind walls and not connected to sockets. Leaking showers etc.

“We have been in nearly two years and not all issues have been sorted. The site manager signed off the snagging list as complete even though it isn’t complete and we are not first he’s done this to.

“Persimmon customer care won’t answer emails or calls so have had to fork out money to sort issues ourselves or just live with the way it is.

“You have to look at the number of houses for sale on the estate that are not even three-years-old to know people are not happy. It’s disgraceful.

“I have heard of professional builders walking off-site as they are told they are too good at their work. They want speed not accuracy… complete shambles.”

PROBLEMS AT CLOVERFIELDS, MILFORD HAVEN

Persimmon has also come under scrutiny at their Cloverfields development in Milford Haven, where residents are disappointed by the lack of completion on the site.

An anonymous homeowner has told The Herald that the main road leading into the estate is still left unfinished despite living there for nearly five months.

Speaking to us, they said: “We were one of the last residents on the estate, purchasing our property back in June 2018, and yet the main road still remains unfinished.

“Five months later, the estate still resembles a building site, with building materials and metal fences still visible throughout the development yet there is no building work taking place.

“We were promised off-road parking, but we can’t use this as it is still blocked. Cars are parking anywhere they can which is causing massive issues and blocking some parts of the estate.”

Our source added that several attempts have been made to get a completion date for the outstanding work, however calls, emails and voicemails to the customer service team have not been answered.

When we presented these complaints to Persimmon Homes, a spokesperson said: “There has been a delay with finishing the roads and drainage at our Cloverfields development, which was in respect of ensuring the drainage works were passed by Welsh Water ahead of any surfacing works. We apologise for any inconvenience.

“We are pleased to report that a programme of works has been established with our groundworks contractor. Work is due to start at the end of November and finished by the Christmas break.”

Another controversy on the estate surrounds a play park, which has recently been boarded up.

Locals have been told that the park is inaccessible because of vandalism, but our source tells us that the ‘supposed vandalism’ is in fact just a broken swing.

They added: “There are rumours around the estate that the park has been boarded up in an attempt to remove it and take it to the However, Persimmon site in Pembroke to help them sell those houses.”

Persimmon said that they were in talks with Pembrokeshire County Council in regards to the play park in a statement to the Herald: “The play area at Cloverfields has been secured following a couple of instances of vandalism.

“There is currently a reluctance by Pembrokeshire County Council to adopt the play area. We are in discussions with the council about this and, when this happens, the park will be reopened and maintenance will fall within their remit.”

In response, Pembrokeshire County Council told us: “This play area is situated on a private housing estate.

“It is, therefore, the responsibility of the developer of the estate – not the local authority- to maintain the play area.”

News

Welsh Lib Dems urge First Minister to return dodgy donation

Published

16 hours ago

May 2, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THIS week in the Senedd, the Welsh Liberal Democrats have urged the First Minister to return the £200,000 donation he received from a company linked to environmental crimes.

Speaking to the Senedd on Wednesday, party leader Jane Dodds MS urged FM Vaughan Gething to return money donated to his campaign by Dauson Environmental, a refuse and recycling business owned by David John Neal.

Mr Neal received a 3-month suspended prison sentence in 2013 for illegally dumping waste at a conservation site on the Gwent levels.

His companies Atlantic Recycling and Neal Soil Suppliers were also prosecuted and given fines and costs of £202,000.

Then in 2017, Mr Neal was given another suspended sentence of 18 weeks, with fines and costs of £230,000 after failing to remove the waste.

The Welsh Lib Dems have called on the FM to return the donation, as part of wider calls for a shift away from the influence of “big money” in Welsh politics.

Commenting, the Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Jane Dodds MS said:

“This entire episode has casted a dark shadow upon Welsh democracy and has rightfully led to many questioning the integrity of Vaughan Gething’s leadership campaign and the way our democracy works here in Wales.

Unfortunately for many of us this is hardly surprising, as our political system has been broken for quite some time now.

A system that empowers the elite donor class whilst simultaneously shutting out the voice of the voter is a perversion of democracy itself.

This is why our wider goal must be to remove the influence of ‘big money’ from Welsh politics once and for all.

We cannot have another government that prioritises the interests of its financial benefactors over those of the Welsh people.

We need to take a firm stance in rooting out the influence of cash in Welsh politics, for the sake of our communities we must start prioritising their interests and needs instead of having more self-serving politicians.”

News

Council seeking legal advice to address Withyhedge enforcement

Published

17 hours ago

May 2, 2024

Tom Sinclair

PEMBROKESHIRE County Council says it has sought legal advice and is contemplating legal proceedings against Withyhedge Landfill operators RML, in regards to the ongoing odour issues at the site.

The Council intends to ask the Court for an injunction requiring RML to abate the public nuisance odour arising from the landfill. Failure to comply with the injunction would be contempt of court, which carries a penalty of up to two years’ imprisonment and unlimited fine.

Following significant work undertaken by RML the Authority is disappointed that the problem has not been resolved and residents continue to be impacted by the odour.

Working in collaboration with Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and Public Health Wales (PHW), we fully appreciate that the communities affected cannot tolerate this any longer.

NRW announced that the first set of deadlines for the completion of actions to tackle the ongoing odour issues at Withyhedge Landfill have been met, one week on following the issuing of further enforcement action on 18th April.

This will be closely monitored by NRW to ensure the operator complies with all the actions set out in Notice by 14 May.

It was deemed appropriate to wait until the operator had carried out mitigation to comply with the enforcement requirements by NRW prior to considering this additional action.

To that end, on 26th April 2024, the Council served RML with a letter of claim and invited them to give legally binding undertakings to abate the odour nuisance or face legal proceedings. The Council also asked for disclosure of documents relevant to the proceedings, including records of waste brought in or removed from the landfill.

The Council has given RML until 14th May 2024 to respond to its letter of claim. This aligns with the current deadline set by NRW under its enforcement notice.

Pembrokeshire County Council Chief Executive Will Bramble welcomed the move. He said: “We are extremely disappointed that RML has not delivered the necessary action to stop the completely unacceptable smells from the site.

“We fully support the additional enforcement action being taken by NRW and continue to work closely with them to do all in our power to correct the situation.

“Our intention to ask the Court for an injunction requiring RML to stop the odour nuisance arising from the landfill, is another part of our collaborative approach. The smell from Withyhedge is having a major impact on residents and visitors. This situation has gone on too long and it is unacceptable.”

News

Beautiful, funny and lovely: Family pay tribute to Sian Batchelor

Published

19 hours ago

May 2, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE family of a woman has paid tribute to a “beautiful, funny, lovely person.”

Sian Batchelor, aged 32, was found on a beach near Pennar, Pembroke Dock on Tuesday evening, April 30^th, 2024.

Her family has issued a statement to say: ‘We are devastated by our loss. Sian was a beautiful, funny, loving person. We will treasure the good times we had with her.

“We would now like time to grieve and would ask to be given privacy in which to do so.”

The circumstances surrounding Sian’s death are being investigated and police would like to hear from anyone with information, sightings of Sian or contact from Sian, between Thursday April 25 to Tuesday April 30.

Police can be contacted either online at: https://bit.ly/DPPContactOnline, by emailing [email protected], or by calling 101. If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired text the non-emergency number on 07811 311 908.

Quote reference: DP-20240430-284