People on a Bestwood Village estate say they are feeling "forgotten" by its developer as they battle with them to get street lights fixed. Two of the lights on Mill Lane remain dark at night, with one of them allegedly having never worked since the estate was built around 15 years ago.
The path affected is described as a popular cut-through but many people are changing their routes to avoid the "pitch black" street that the broken lights create. People living there are now hoping for the issue to be fixed before darker evenings return again in the winter.
Morris Homes is the developer behind the estate and residents say the company is still responsible for issues including roads and street lights. This is because the council has reportedly not adopted the land, meaning it is still classed as private and therefore falls under the developer.
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One of those hoping for the street lights to be fixed is Kim Blagden, 50, who has lived on the estate for around 15 years. She said: "It's a popular cut-through for people coming over the Hucknall bypass and into Bestwood Village, especially for dog walkers. But a lot of people are changing their routes now because at night it is pitch black down there.
"With things that have happened in the area over the years, it just makes people a bit more wary." Kim said that six street lights were previously faulty until last December, when Morris Homes had been out and fixed all but the remaining two.
Kim said: "I'm being told to be patient, but it's been six months now and nothing is being done." An email from Morris Homes to Kim, seen by Nottinghamshire Live, was sent in March and said: "I would like to apologise that this is taking quite some time to address.
"I have spoken with our technical team who have advised that they are investigating this further to ensure they cover the full scope of works... They have stated this may be a lengthy process."
Another one of those living in the area is 50-year-old Tracey O' Buckley, who has also lived on the estate for around 15 years and said: "We don't get any maintenance around here and it just feels as though we're being forgotten.
"If an area is well-lit at night then you do feel a lot safer. I wouldn't be going up there at the moment at night when it gets that dark."
Residents on the estate said there is a general lack of maintenance on the estate, with some of the street lights that are cracked being visibly cracked and dirty. Kim Blagden said she had been told that for the two remaining street lights to be fully fixed, the road would need to be "dug up."
Ashfield District Council, the lower-tier authority covering the estate, confirmed that the adoption of the highways and street lights is a matter to be resolved between the landowner and Nottinghamshire County Council. The county council has been approached for comment, whilst Morris Homes said it would not comment.
