End now in sight for Stafford roadworks nightmare
'We believe this is the final solution' - the words of water bosses who attempted to reassure residents that roadworks which have dragged on for more than two years will end by February.
Residents expressed concerns after it emerged roadworks at the Meadowcroft Park estate in Stafford are set to continue for another seven months instead of finishing last month as planned.
Around 100 people turned up to a meeting at Wildwood Community Centre, Stafford, to quiz bosses from Severn Trent Water, which is carrying out the £3 million project to rectify problems with the sewer system.
Workmen first pitched up at the entrance of the Meadowcroft Park estate in May 2012 after part of the roundabout caved in.
But residents have had to endure temporary traffic lights, fencing, cones, signs, deep holes and machinery.
Speaking at the meeting, Severn Trent's area manager David Gordon apologised for the delays but said there had been a host of problems after several sewers collapsed and various complications with ground conditions.
Works ongoing at Tarragona Drive are now expected to be completed by the end of August and part of Landstone Road will then be closed off for the final section of the scheme.
A short break had been scheduled between the works but Mr Gordon agreed it was not needed during the meeting after an appeal by residents that they wanted it to finish as soon as possible.
Mr Gordon said: "I'm sorry we've taken so long as we have.
"I realise it has been going on for two years. I realise the disruption it has caused.
"It has been a very difficult and very expensive project."
He said plans had to be altered throughout the project as problems arose, adding: "We believe this is the final solution."
He said the sewers on the estate would go into a regular routine of maintenance after the work was carried out.
One resident in the meeting raised concerns about her house 'shaking' while the work was ongoing and others voiced worries about cracks appearing on houses.
Mr Gordon admitted that the company was in the process of buying one house due to the appearance of cracks.
He said: "When we were doing repair work significant cracks appeared in that property.
"After a period of discussion and negotiation we agreed the right thing to do was buy that house.
"If some people have issues with cracks, we will visit individuals, find out what needs to be done and make an agreement based on that."
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.
