LOCALS say a newbuild estate which popped up next door towers 100ft over their homes.
Angry residents in Cornwall say that a new home development of houses being built next to them is a disaster waiting to happen.
The homeowners in Chapel Close, Camborne live next to what was once the deepest and last tin mines in Europe and is now a designated World Heritage Site.
What was once a perfect location to escape the industrial and overbearing life has disappeared as the residents claim the housing development is leading to a loss of privacy, natural light and a rat infestation.
Father of four Dave Bennett, 66 thought that when bought his two-bedroom home 20 years ago it would be his ‘forever home’.
But now he said: “I just can’t put up with the stress of the situation anymore. I’m really worried that the development is a disaster waiting to happen.
“They’ve piled up soil against my ten-foot stone wall in my back garden and it’s already showing signs of cracking.
He later added: “Everyone on this development is suffering the same problem with the wall. It’s a disaster waiting to happen and I fear that this wall will come down on children playing in their own back garden.
“I’m seriously thinking of selling up because I can’t stand the strain.
“This was supposed to be my forever home but now I feel as though this development is driving me out.”
Neighbour Emma Coombes is worried about the height of the new housing development which will tower over hers and cause problems for her 10-year-old daughter.
The 48-year-old nursery said: “My daughter’s bed at the back of the house and already she is having to close the curtains all the time.
“She’s had builders looking into her bedroom already and that’s only going to get worse once the new occupiers are in.
“It’s not right that a ten-year-old should have to live like that.
“I’m also upset because the new homes tower above my property and causing a loss of natural light coming into my kitchen.”
Nick Russel, representing the developers, Salboy, claims that the developer was aware of the concerns and is committed to having an open dialogue with the neighbouring residents.
However, another neighbour does not feel as if the resident’s community is being heard by the developer.
Julie Daniels, 72, who has lived in the area for more than 30 years said it was like living in Manhattan because the homes are so tall.
She said: “The land at the back of my property rises quite steeply to the new homes but they’ve made it even worse by piling up soil and then building the houses on top of that.
“It’s like having a skyscraper in your back garden – it’s more like Manhattan than Cornwall.
she added: “All our complaints seem to have fallen on deaf ears, there was a site visit by officers and councillors but they didn’t seem to think we had a problem.
“But recent heavy rain has seen water run off the site and cascading down past our houses – in more than 30 years living here nothing like that has happened before.”
Another concerned neighbour, Kirstie Wheat, aged 30 said: “I’m not against the new homes in principal – we all know in Camborne that affordable homes are needed.
“But this development is having an impact on many in this street because the retaining wall at the bottom of our gardens is being affected.
“Cracks have already started to appear in my wall because of the weight of the soil being pushed up against it from behind.
Like the other residents, she added: “The homes will also lead to a real loss of privacy because they will be looking directly into my back bedroom.
“The developers don’t seem to think that is a problem but it is for me.”
The Residents in Camborne claim since the construction of the new housing development started it has caused a rat infestation.
Liz Wilson, 55, another Chapel Close resident said: “We never had a problem with rats in the 20 years we’ve been in here and then all of a sudden as soon as they started work we have them running all over the place.
“They’ve even chewed through cables running into the house and I’ve spent hundreds of pounds trying to get rid of them.”
A planning consultant on behalf of the developers Salboy, had told the west sub-area planning committee earlier this year that as a result of the residents’ concern, a new programme adding mature tree planting will be introduced – to block existing residents’ view of the housing.
However, local Cllr member Peter Perry has spoken out against the new housing development claiming the buffer between Chapel Road and the new houses was very small.
Cllr Perry said in a speech: “How you’re ever going to plant mature trees in that position on that slope, I do not know.”
He added: “To retain their privacy, residents have to keep their upstairs curtains and blinds permanently closed.
“I’ve visited and I’ve seen workmen level with me waving at the children in those bedrooms.
“In addition to the increased land height, residents are concerned that the earthworks on the site appear not to have been well compacted down.
“Last week we had some moderate rain – as a result, a river of mud flowed from those earthworks down into Chapel Road and flooded the whole road.
“Is this going to happen again when we have heavier rain throughout the winter?
Cllr Perry added: “These homes are badly needed. I don’t dispute that but my concern is with the area of the site which overlooks Chapel Road and Chapel Close.
“The problems being stored up include contamination from copper, arsenic and asbestos which are not insignificant. It is an injustice to those people living next to the site.
“It’s certainly not on a par with the Aberfan landslide but the similarities are there and we need to ensure that history doesn’t repeat itself.”
Russel, from the developers Salboy, claims: “The developer was providing high-quality family homes and bringing new life into existing buildings on what had been a derelict and highly contaminated site to provide – to enhance the special character of a conservation area and wider world heritage site.”
Yet, this is in stark contrast to what many of the residents in Camborne feel.
The Sun went to the developer Salboy for comment.
Statement from Salboy: “We treat any issues raised by the local community very seriously, and the Tuckingmill site manager has been in open dialogue with residents.
“We will investigate the specific claims made by neighbouring residents immediately.
“Salboy remains committed to delivering quality, much-needed housing for the local community.”
