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Nottingham Post
Nottingham Post
National
Oliver Pridmore

Calverton residents say housing development issues 'getting worse' after bins were left unemptied

People living on a Calverton street where dozens of new homes are being built say that issues are being caused by the development and that they are "getting worse." Some of the residents living off Flatts Lane were reportedly unable to get their bins emptied for three weeks, whilst other residents have raised safety concerns.

A total of 84 homes will eventually be built off Flatts Lane, with much of the development having already been completed. But as work continues, some of those living there say problems include being able to walk down the street due to the abundance of traffic and cars parked along the pavement.

Residents of Williams Drive, which is situated just off Flatts Lane, reported online that they had not had their bins emptied for three weeks due to bin lorries being blocked from getting in. When Nottinghamshire Live visited the area on Thursday, January 12, some of the bins were overflowing until bin lorries arrived moments later.

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Councillor John Clarke MBE, the Leader of Gedling Borough Council, confirmed in relation to the bin collections: "We're very sorry to residents for the recent issues with bin collections at the properties on Flatts Lane caused by inappropriately parked vehicles. Our crews were able to successfully empty the bins [on Thursday] and we are looking at collection options to ensure collections are not missed in the future."

But some Flatts Lane residents say other issues are being caused by the ongoing work. Gemma Chapman, 33, said: "I do think problems have been getting worse.

"I think it's bad for people living further down the road and I actually saw someone really struggling to get out this morning because of the traffic. I stopped and gave her a sympathetic look and I know that in terms of parking, most of the vehicles along the street at the minute don't belong to people who actually live here."

A general view of Flatts Lane in Calverton, Nottinghamshire, as housing construction continues. (Joseph Raynor/Nottingham Post)

Another Flatts Lane resident, who did not want to be named, said: "This has always been a really busy thoroughfare but it's really busy at the minute and we always said this would happen when the development was approved, and now it is happening. The road is too narrow and yet people are still speeding down it so it can get quite dangerous."

Tom Riley, 30, said: "This road is too narrow as it is and I think something will have to change. I don't think noise issues and so on are a particular concern, and if you're living in an area with this kind of development going on you just have to expect it.

"We do need more housing as well, but there is an issue with the width of the road I think and it should have been widened. I have heard about the bins not being emptied for some but to me, it just seems a bit like laziness because I can't understand why the bins weren't just dragged around the parked vehicles to the lorry."

Paul Westwick of Flatts Lane in Calverton. (Nottingham Post)

One resident who was experiencing fewer issues as a result of the development was Paul Westwick, 56, who has lived on Flatts Lane since 2008 and is the owner of PMAN Consulting. He said: "I don't really notice too many problems with it.

"The houses opposite me have been finished now and if you'd have come when they were being built, I might have said something different. But since they've been finished it's been fine and eventually they will all be done and it should all calm down.

"There is a need for more housing so there will be big developments like this. The main thing is that there are enough local services to keep up with it."

Gedling Borough Council has previously stated it will require developers to make a contribution towards infrastructure, which includes education and health services. The council also says it will ask Nottinghamshire County Council, which manages highways, to investigate issues raised around the width of the road.

Councillor John Clarke confirmed: "The new housing developments in Calverton were approved following full consultation with Nottinghamshire County Council, who are responsible for highways. We have also contacted them about the issues raised by local residents about the road width and asked them to investigate accordingly."

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