Families fed-up with seedy side of village

From the Swindon Advertiser, first published Thursday 4th Oct 2001.

ANGRY residents on a housing estate near picturesque Lacock say their area is in a disgraceful state and they are treated like second-class citizens.

Families on the Corsham Road estate, about two miles from the centre of National Trust-owned Lacock, say the grass is not cut properly, and dog mess is strewn across verges from overflowing bins.

They say rubbish and discarded furniture is piled up outside a block of flats, and overhanging trees block out light to many homes.

The residents say Westlea Housing Association, North Wiltshire District Council and Wiltshire County Council cannot agree on who is responsible for duties such as street cleaning and as a result nothing is getting done.

"We live near a National Trust area but to me this is a national disgrace," said Bob Elford, 46, of Rosemary House, a block of flats owned by the Westlea Housing Association. His wife, Carol Elford, 46, said she collected a petition of 69 signatures from across the estate urging action. The petition was sent with a letter to the county and district councils, and Westlea, as well as MP James Gray.

Mr Gray visited the estate last Thursday and said he now plans to get each of the respective bodies together to see what can be done.

"The estate needs sorting out, and this is not just Westlea's fault, but money is being used for other things which should be spent here," said Mrs Elford.

"There are families here trying to bring up children, we want them to live in a good environment.

Mrs Elford said the residents are keen to reach agreement with Westlea so land nearby be handed over to them and developed as a nature reserve.

She also said there is not enough car parking space and provision needs to be made for a children's play area.

Colin Shipman, 63, of Corsham Road, said he has lived on the estate for 35 years and it is in worse condition now than ever before.

"There is certainly a them and us feeling between here and Lacock," said Mr Shipman.

"We have always felt like outsiders. It's deteriorated rapidly here over the years and things are getting worse."

Rosemary House resident, Zena Gould, 24, said: "It's disgusting here, I moved here in 1996 and it's getting worse."

County councillor Peter Davis visited the estate and met residents on Monday.

He said he would urge the different authorities to work together to ensure something was done.

Chris Doel, chairman of Lacock Parish Council, said members had received a letter from the Corsham Road residents highlighting their concerns and would be happy to attend a meeting to see what could be done. I would disagree that we don't take an active interest in that area," Mr Doel said.

Bernard Rossiter, Westlea's Housing Services Manager, said it was going to spend £16,000 installing bins and making other improvements around Rosemary House.

He said the district council is responsible for collecting bulk waste but suggested that residents must shoulder some responsibility for making the rubbish in the first place. The rubbish does not just fall from the sky," said Mr Rossiter. "It is dumped by local residents. I understand that Rosemary House and Corsham Road are forming a residents' association which we will do everything to support."

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