Stourbridge charity’s frustration over housebuilder’s delayed public open space works

Mr Stacey, director of Riverside House, has voiced his profound frustration over the situation - criticising Taylor Wimpey's failure to make good an uneven track leading to the charity’s entrance.

He said the path, which has been left in a poor state following preliminary works on the site, turns into a “mud bath” during wet weather - posing a great risk to anyone visiting the charity which works with people with learning disabilities such as autism.

Mr Stacey said he was "very disappointed that a simple job of putting hardcore on the track did not occur" after works on the site, and he has called on the prominent housebuilder to take urgent action to remedy the pathway before waiting for the public space works to take place in their entirety. He even offered to lay temporary hardcore himself “so that people do not need to wade through lakes and disabled people are not at risk” but he was told not to.

Claire Price, operations manager at Riverside House , said open days have had to be cancelled due to the poor state of the track.

She said: “It’s having an impact on the whole space. We halted our open days this year because we couldn’t get people here in the spring.”

Taylor Wimpey said it acknowledges the difficulties and has expressed regret for the inconvenience but the housebuilder has stated it is "unable to commence these works immediately" and will not be completing interim works. 

The company, however, stressed health and safety on Taylor Wimpey owned sites is its highest priority and the business remains committed to reaching a suitable and swift resolution.

A spokesperson for Taylor Wimpey said: “Initial investigations identified the presence of an invasive weed in this area, which required further treatment before we are able to start the required works to the POS (public open space). 

"We are currently in the process of retesting the area to ensure the treatment was successful, and until this is complete, we are unable to instruct the necessary works. We are working closely with the local authority and will continue to keep them informed of our progress. 

“We apologise for the delay and we would like to assure the local community that we remain committed to completing the works as quickly as possible.”

Mr Stacey said he was told the works would not begin until April 2026 at the earliest - which he branded outrageous, saying they are already three years overdue.

He added: “It’s having a significant impact on us.”

In a final plea letter to Taylor Wimpey, Mr Stacey told the housebuilder: “Let’s hope the ghost of Christmas future gets his act together and does something to improve the situation in 2026!”