Petition for council to confirm end date for Tadpole works gains almost 400 signatures

Residents of Tadpole Garden Village have signed a petition asking the council to publish timelines and plans for current and future development in Tadpole Garden Village.

Residents are said to be concerned about unfinished roads being cracked and potentially unsafe, and say that they are cluttered with builders’ rubble, signage, and fencing.

There are also reports of open metalwork protruding from the ground, leading to concerns about the safety of walking in the dark.

Tadpole resident Allan Cox said he suffered a blown tyre after driving over a raised drain in the village. He said he believes there is not adequate ramping to allow cars to pass over it safely.

Mr Cox said developer Crest Nicholson declined his claim for compensation for the tyre.

As well as information on when existing work is due to be finished, the petition also calls for Crest Nicholson’s new Tadpole development plan to be published to the public for further consultation.

The petition was initiated by Cllr Bradley Williams, a Green parish councillor for St Andrews.

Cllr Williams said: “The residents of Tadpole Garden Village have been living on a construction site for far too long. Many who moved here understood that the village was an ongoing project but did not expect to live in such poor conditions for more than six years.

“In addition to reports of cars and property being damaged by the unfinished works, I’ve been told that people have been injured on pathways due to their poor condition. There are a lot of roads with drains that protrude from the ground, some reaching nearly four inches, and when residents contact the developers about making a claim, they are told it is their fault.

“My experiences as a resident of Tadpole for over three years have been similar to those of many other residents: developers have ignored us, made empty promises about work completion dates, and passed responsibility onto each other.

“Enough is enough. We’re urging Swindon Borough Council to obtain the complete plan and deadline for the completion of the village. I’d encourage Tadpole residents to sign the petition and keep sending emails to developers, and I’ll keep pushing the issue until we get answers.”