Don't leave us in the dark! - Councillor and residents call on developer to fix street lights that have not been working for months

East Wichel Residents and their local Councillor, Nadine Watts, are calling on Taylor Wimpey to fix the street lights in East Wichel.  There have been some street lights that haven't worked for a year.  With it getting darker earlier and with a recent spate of car break-ins Taylor Wimpey has still failed to repair the faulty street lights in the area.

As the lead developer of East Wichel, Taylor Wimpey are responsible for maintaining the estate, not Swindon Borough Council.

East Wichel councillor, Nadine Watts, said: “It has been really frustrating that there are so many street lights that are not working in East Wichel.  Periodically I have compiled lists of broken street lights with the help of local residents and passed them onto Taylor Wimpey, but many lights are still not working.  I hope that Taylor Wimpey will listen to residents, repair the lights so that residents can feel safer where they live.”

Resident, Rosie Kileen, who has been working with Cllr Watts on this issue said: “Taylor Wimpey have been approached repeatedly to resolve issues with street lighting in the area, amongst other issues. Despite this being a clear health and safety and security concern, Taylor Wimpey have neglected their responsibilities to respond, follow up and resolve the issues.

"It is time that SBC held Taylor Wimpey to account for the disgusting way they have treated residents and ensure that they are heavily penalised should they not meet their obligations immediately.”

Fellow resident Trish Hughes said: “With regards to the street lighting, nights are drawing in and to have street lights out of action for months is not acceptable.  There have been a lot of car break ins over the last few weeks and in the areas at the back of houses. When lights are out it is dangerous parking at night.  There are a lot of children in Wichelstowe walking home from school and in winter it is already getting dark.  There are a lot of working parents who walk back from work in the Old Town area in the dusk or dark, me included.  Taylor Wimpey just are taking no responsibility at all, this is a safety issue and if something untoward happens, they will just ignore it.  With the many outstanding issues they are still to address on the estate, I really do not understand how anyone could even consider them being given permission to develop elsewhere.”