Shifnal gardens 'like a swamp' because of bad drainage, residents claim
Gardens on a housing development in Shifnal have become "like a swamp" due to poor drainage, residents have claimed.
People living in Stone Drive on the Thomas Beddoes Court development have claimed developer Taylor Wimpey did not put in proper measures to ensure rainwater would drain from the site.
They say their gardens cannot be used after spells of rain.
Officials at Taylor Wimpey said they were aware of the issues and were already working with residents to find a solution.
Four years after buying their home in 2012, Mike Jenkins and wife Tracey Ng said surface water on their garden does not soak away.
They say their garden has become like a marsh and a few hours of light rain is enough to create problems.
The pair posted about their problems on the Thomas Beddoes Facebook page and within 24 hours of posting, 22 people told them they were having similar problems, which was also affecting the new children's play area on the development.
It also means that their six-year-old daughter Zara is unable to use the garden or the play area.
They said a number of residents have now had soak away systems fitted into their gardens by Taylor Wimpey, but they were sent a letter offering them a £100 from the developer as a contribution towards works – which they say has been estimated at £3,000.
Mrs Ng said: "We spent hundreds of pounds doing up the garden, £200 on plants and shrubs and they are all dead.
"Moss has started growing through the turf.
"It would take two or three weeks of really hot, dry weather to get to a point where the ground is usable."
Their neighbour Steve McConnell, who lives in Hough Way on the development, said: "My garden is the same, it is a swamp in winter."
He said he also had issues with the general upkeep and maintenance of the site, which he said he has raised with the developers on a number of occasions.
Neighbour Julie Burke, who lives in Machecoul Place, said: "Lots of gardens have problems with it."
A Taylor Wimpey spokesman said: "We recognise the concerns raised by residents of our Thomas Beddoes Court development and will continue to discuss the matter with them, with a view to reaching a conclusion that is satisfactory to all parties."
