Express & Star

Nightmare Stafford roadworks come to an end after nearly three years

It was meant to take between two to four weeks, but the emergency sewer repair project ended up lasting three years.

Published

This week, hundreds of people whose lives have been blighted by the road works are finally celebrating the completion of the scheme.

Work had started at the entrance of the Meadowcroft Park estate, Stafford, in May 2012 after part of the roundabout caved in.

Landstone Road has been dug up for two years

Fencing was installed and temporary traffic lights put up – but they were still there two years later, meaning some residents have had to wait for a green light just to get off their driveways.

The lights were finally removed in September but work on the pipes and sewers by Severn Trent Water continued as part of the £3 million project to rectify problems with the sewer system.

Work winds down on the Meadowcroft Park estate

Bosses apologised for the delays, blaming the scale of the scheme and the wet weather, and had to offer reassurances to residents when a meeting was called last year.

But the main part of the scheme finally finished on Friday and Landstone Road has reopened to traffic, with bosses saying that remaining works at a pumping station will not affect the community.

Residents have now spoken of their relief following many months of inconveniences endured.

Grandfather-of-nine Walter Adams, aged 81, of Tarragona Drive, said: "It's taken three years, cost millions of pounds and there has been all this inconvenience.

Tarragona Way resident Walter Adams

"They have apologised but why has it taken them so long?

"It made the traffic worse having to detour around the estate. It was terrible, especially when the children have been going to school. It's all the cost of the petrol or diesel too. It's a relief now it's over."

Matthew Houghton, aged 47, of Tyria Way, said: "My main concern was the traffic that had been coming past my house to access the estate.

"When I did get in the car I had to go further to get around the roadworks. I think there were people who wanted to sell their homes and I think it might have made it more difficult."

The entrance to the estate is covered in fresh tarmac as the roadworks come to an end

A Landstone Road resident, who did not want to be named, claimed the work carried out had damaged his home.

He said: "It has been a nightmare. I know the work had to be done but they have damaged my house.

"There's now cracks in the walls. I bought my house for £220,000 in 2009 and this has knocked 15 to 20 per cent off the value."

Warren Beard, programme manager for Severn Trent Water, said when the company became responsible for the sewers in the Meadowcroft Park area in 2011, some of them were in a poor state and needed replacing.

Residents Peter and Loraine Groucott

He added: "Replacing these sewer pipes was a massive job, but we're very pleased to say that the new sewers are now in place and being used.

"We still have a bit of work left to do at our pumping station, but this isn't something that will affect the local community.

"We also have some tidying up to do in the area, and we'll get that done as soon as possible.

"We absolutely understand the frustrations of the local community. The work has taken a long time to complete and we want to say a big thank you for their patience and understanding while we've carried out these repairs".

The estate was built by Beazer Homes UK, which has since been taken over by Persimmon Homes, in the late 1990s.

The first homes were finished by 2000 when families started moving in.

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.