New Build roads

awolo1

Hi
Really need some feedback on this as feel that the building developer is not cooperating at all.

I moved into a new build property earlier this in June and ever since there has been ongoing work on the development with regards to the roads including a very narrow passing on a T-junction which I turn left at to get to my property

On Thursday last week the builders erected a fence which was protecting cars and people from falling into a hole, fair enough - but what they forgot - was that vehicles still need to get through this road safely and with enough space

Without a word of a lie, the space is so narrow it is extremely difficult to get vehicle through without damaging the alloys as the kerb is not in a straight line it is curved - so since the fence has been put up (doesn't help I have a wide vehicle) - the alloys are on my 4x4 have been scuffed.

Builder is laughing at me and accusing me of being a bad driver when I speak to them about it. I've been more than reasonable and I do drive carefully - but I honestly can't drive any better than I am already doing.

It's going to cost me £150 to have the alloy scuffs repaired and I feel that the builder should reimburse me.

I've called the Police and the local bobby is happy to attend to have a friendly word. Not sure if this is the right course of action - as I'm a customer - and they should be cooperating with me without the need to use Police!?

Bogalot

Involving the police is a waste of scarce resources. They cannot force the builder to do anything anyway, no crime has been committed.

Has anybody else reported a problem? If so, you should contact the planning enforcement team at the council. If not, perhaps the builder is right?

awolo1

That is your opinion of wasting police time although scarce or not I'm a tax payer and therefore I reserve the right to ask them to intervene - if they offer to have a friendly word - that is entirely their discretion.
I'm simply asking if involving the Police is perhaps the correct way to deal with it, when the builder is not right, as they are blocking me from getting to my properly safely and without a claim arising for the damage of my personal property.

agrinnall

Have you actually offered the builder a solution, because you haven't mentioned doing so? If he hadn't put up the fence you'd be on here complaining that your massive car had fallen down a hole, so he can't win really.

k3lvc

agrinnall wrote: »

Have you actually offered the builder a solution, because you haven't mentioned doing so? If he hadn't put up the fence you'd be on here complaining that your massive car had fallen down a hole, so he can't win really.

Maybe a Park and Ride/Chauffeur service from the entrance to the estate to front door


In reality OP if your car won't fit through the gap and you damaged it then it's your responsibility - presumably the road system is not yet finalised/adopted and on this basis you use it at your own risk based on what you can see

Cakeguts

This is just one of the problems that you have to put up with if you buy a new house on a new development. You can't expect the builder to provide you with good roads until they have finished the development.

lincroft1710

As the road has probably not yet been adopted by the council, it would still belong to the builder and therefore the police would only be able to suggest that builder tries to make access easier. But I agree with Bogalot that police involvement is a waste of resources.

Unfortunately if the access was not wide enough for your vehicle you should not have attempted to negotiate it. So the responsibility for the damage is down to you.

Although it is inconvenient there is still pedestrian access to your property.

None of the above implies that I agree with the builders' actions, just that I don't think you will get anywhere with this.

awolo1

I've started a conversation with the builders that the narrowing of the road is not helpful, the issue is, when I spoke to them originally about it (yesterday) the site manager became very confrontational with me and left machinery next to the fencing, clearly to be awkward and out of spite, hence why I am even more frustrated.
I was perfectly reasonable with him and he was being very rude to me which is completely unacceptable as a customer. I've since escalated the matter to a company director who hasn't responded. It's worth noting that the builders are the most unreasonable people I have EVER dealt with. This is just another issue on top of a number of other issues that they have poorly resolved and dealt with. Hopefully this gives some background.

DoaM

The background it could give is that (to them) you're an awkward customer, and no matter what they do you'll find something else to complain about.

Also, you may have felt you were reasonable, but can you categorically state you said nothing or gave no impression of being aggressive? Remember, we're highly unlikely to recognise such traits in ourselves.

I'm not defending them - just giving an alternative view.

SpammyTheSpammer

awolo1 wrote: »

Hi
...I'm a customer ....

Is the builder also the developer, or is the builder a contractor, hired by the site developer
If the latter, you are wasting your time talking to the builder.

Mr.Generous

Is the road layout accurate to the site plans that are posted in every site office and given to purchasers?