Cars belonging to people on a new-build estate have been damaged by ironworks on a road which had not been surfaced.

%image(14694284, type="article-full", alt="The raised ironworks and manhole covers in Miller Close, on the new housing estate in Back Lane, Hethersett. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY")

Housing developer Taylor Wimpey, who has been developing the estate alongside Persimmon Homes, apologised after admitting it failed to surface a road on the Kett's Meadow estate in Hethersett.

Two representatives from Taylor Wimpey's local planning team joined Hethersett Parish Council at its monthly meeting on Monday night and said it was clear there had been failures in keeping residents updated.

The national company is in the process of applying to start the second phase of its 1,196 home master plan, which will see the next 200 houses built in the village.

But frustration was voiced by a resident of Miller Close, Hethersett, who moved in 18 months ago.

%image(14694284, type="article-full", alt="The raised ironworks and manhole covers in Miller Close, on the new housing estate in Back Lane, Hethersett. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY")

She criticised the company for failing to complete roads on the estate and said car tyres were being damaged by the raised ironworks.

She said: 'We've been sitting in a construction zone for 18 months and feel that you're moving too quickly into phase two without fully completing phase one. We know that you make the income by moving onto the next part but the first part should be finished first. This stuff directly affects us because we look at it every day.'

Jordan Last, a representative for Taylor Wimpey's planning team, apologised on behalf of the company and said he would arrange a time to visit the estate to assess what needed to be done.

He also said long-anticipated work to paving on the Steeple Estate entrance, which councillors previously described as 'dilapidated and dangerous' would begin in the new year.

%image(14694284, type="article-full", alt="The raised ironworks and manhole covers in Miller Close, on the new housing estate in Back Lane, Hethersett. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY")

A spokesperson for the consortium of developers, which includes Taylor Wimpey and Persimmon Homes, said: 'We can confirm these works will start on January 8, 2019 and, weather permitting, we anticipate that these should be completed within two weeks.'

The parish council previously raised concerns that diagrams submitted alongside the developer's latest application were 'confusing' and did not clearly label proposed roads, making it impossible for them to comment on the plans.

Dan Humphries, from Taylor Wimpey, said: 'Our intention has always been to keep the council updated but sadly we have failed to do that.'

%image(14684115, type="article-full", alt="The sorry state of a bus shelter in the Steeple Tower area of Hethersett. picture: Peter Steward")

%image(14684116, type="article-full", alt="Brick paving in the Steeple Tower area of Hethersett. picture: Peter Steward")

%image(14694285, type="article-full", alt="Hethersett Parish Council criticised the "confusing" diagrams attached to Taylor Wimpey's latest planning application. Picture: Taylor Wimpey")