Building firm facing court
By Katy Edwards on Thursday, 10th August 2000.
DEVELOPERS of a Haverhill housing estate are facing prosecution for a second time after leaving work undone.
St Edmundsbury Borough Council is to take action against HC Moss (Builders) Ltd (Melvire), after the company missed a July deadline for finishing landscaping work on the Hanchett Grange estate.
In December last year, Melvire - which owns the land - was fined £500 after failing to provide proper landscaping for Hanchett’s green areas, as set down in the planning agreement.
The deadline was extended to July this year but the work has still not been completed to the council’s satisfaction.
A council spokeswoman said: “we’re sending a message to all developers that they have to fulfil their promises, whatever the cost.
In this case, that will mean the fines imposed by the courts and the loss of their bonds.”
Many of the roads on the estate are also below the standard required for adoption by the council.
Following pressure from Haverhill MP Richard Spring, who has visited the estate a number of times, the council has now agreed to upgrade the roads.
A council spokeswoman said the work would be funded using using part of £1.5 million in bonds and cash deposits from HC Moss, to be used if the firm went into liquidation or failed to complete the work.
Mr Spring said: “The way HC Moss has treated residents on this estate is scandalous.
“I’m very pleased the council is taking action. It doesn’t seem right that the builders can continue to construct new homes while essential work in relation to the existing ones has been ovelooked.”
Alf Turner, a member of the residents’ association, who lives in Langham Way, said the green areas had been laid using “clay and rubbish” left over from building work and had become choked with weeds.
He also criticised the “appalling workmanship” behind the roads, with drains “standing proud” from the surface, unfinished surfaces and chipped kerbs.
Malcolm Latarche, the association chairman, who lives in Hopton Rise, said: “We’re just fed up with HC Moss’ attitude. The company has no concept of time or deadlines.”
Martin Few, general manager at HC Moss, argued the landscaping Issue had been blown out of proportion but admitted there was a problem with weeds, owing to poor quality soil.
He said there was an “extremely modest” amount of road works — “a few hundred pounds’ worth” — still to be done and added he had agreed to pay for the council to finish it. He said the money would not come from the bonds.
St Edmundsbury Borough Council is to take action against HC Moss (Builders) Ltd (Melvire), after the company missed a July deadline for finishing landscaping work on the Hanchett Grange estate.
In December last year, Melvire - which owns the land - was fined £500 after failing to provide proper landscaping for Hanchett’s green areas, as set down in the planning agreement.
The deadline was extended to July this year but the work has still not been completed to the council’s satisfaction.
A council spokeswoman said: “we’re sending a message to all developers that they have to fulfil their promises, whatever the cost.
In this case, that will mean the fines imposed by the courts and the loss of their bonds.”
Many of the roads on the estate are also below the standard required for adoption by the council.
Following pressure from Haverhill MP Richard Spring, who has visited the estate a number of times, the council has now agreed to upgrade the roads.
A council spokeswoman said the work would be funded using using part of £1.5 million in bonds and cash deposits from HC Moss, to be used if the firm went into liquidation or failed to complete the work.
Mr Spring said: “The way HC Moss has treated residents on this estate is scandalous.
“I’m very pleased the council is taking action. It doesn’t seem right that the builders can continue to construct new homes while essential work in relation to the existing ones has been ovelooked.”
Alf Turner, a member of the residents’ association, who lives in Langham Way, said the green areas had been laid using “clay and rubbish” left over from building work and had become choked with weeds.
He also criticised the “appalling workmanship” behind the roads, with drains “standing proud” from the surface, unfinished surfaces and chipped kerbs.
Malcolm Latarche, the association chairman, who lives in Hopton Rise, said: “We’re just fed up with HC Moss’ attitude. The company has no concept of time or deadlines.”
Martin Few, general manager at HC Moss, argued the landscaping Issue had been blown out of proportion but admitted there was a problem with weeds, owing to poor quality soil.
He said there was an “extremely modest” amount of road works — “a few hundred pounds’ worth” — still to be done and added he had agreed to pay for the council to finish it. He said the money would not come from the bonds.
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