LOCALS are livid after developers dumped an 8ft pile of MUD next to their new homes that floods their gardens and spoils their views.
The huge heap of topsoil has been ditched next to new-builds on Park Place in Corsham, Wiltshire, leaving homeowners horrified.
They say the “mountain” has swamped their gardens and ruins their open views of the countryside.
Riled residents have also complained they have no privacy as people walk along the pile and peer into their properties.
Locals protested about the stack of soil to developers Redcliffe Homes, who claimed it was abandoned there after an issue with contractors.
It was declared unlawful by Wiltshire Council’s planning enforcement team after frustrated locals complained.
But despite boasting of the “large areas of open space, avenues and greenery” surrounding the homes, locals claim the developers have now bizarrely put a bid in for planning permission to KEEP the eyesore.
They allegedly want the mountain of mud to stay put to “create an amenity and wildlife buffer.”
But residents hit back after forking out for the luxury homes, saying “both the developer and the mound need to be brought back down to earth.”
Locals said they were originally promised a wooded area to the west of the estate – but “nobody said anything about a hilltop” viewing point into homes.
Corsham’s Park Place Residents’ Association chairman, Kevin Taylor said that the original plan was an “attempt to lower the level by as little as possible and minimise the cost to the developer.”
“We don’t think they’re [Redcliffe] removing more than 25 per cent of the soil they brought onto the site,” he explained.
“It will still be a large mound. I would say both the developer and the mound need to be brought back down to earth.”
I would say both the developer and the mound need to be brought back down to earth.
Kevin Taylor
Homeowners on the swanky new estate have echoed Mr Taylor’s concerns, complaining that the proposals do not adequately address the blight to their views and the risk of flooding.
Resident Mark Billingham said of the plans: “Redcliffe Homes have attempted to avoid removing a huge amount of construction waste from the site by dumping it on the application site illegally.
“They further sought to disguise this by importing topsoil to cover the waste.”
Marie Jones, whose house directly borders the mound, said: “This application is a clear attempt to mitigate the cost of proper legal disposal of spoil from the site.
“The developer has clearly gambled on doing the least they can get away with at the cheapest cost, to regularise the illegal development.”
Christopher Howlett said: “We live adjacent to this mound of earth and have already experienced flooding in our garden and round the edge of our garage.
“The proposal also allows for unacceptable levels of overlooking.
“Our end plot means that people walking over the earthworks look down into our garden and across into our house which means we don’t feel we have any privacy.”
Gary Cannon added: “The raised ground level provides a view into neighbouring residents’ first floor rooms which is affecting their privacy.
“I support the idea of a wildlife buffer but this could’ve been achieved with the original level.
”It seems that Redcliffe have tried to save costs by dumping their material at this site rather than dealing with it in the correct manner.”
Mr Taylor said some of the proposed mitigation works offered, such as planting trees in the space, was already expected to take place under the original plans.
Furious locals are also concerned about the powerlines that run over the area that could be obstructed by the trees – as well as the expense of maintaining them.
Ensuring they don’t interfere with the power is an issue that will fall on the residents – and their wallets – rather than the developers.
A spokesman for Redcliffe Homes said: “We are trying to resolve this matter as quickly and amicably as possible for local residents.
“The mound was put in place by a contractor and we are in a legal dispute with them, which we hope can be resolved quickly.
“A planning application has been submitted to remove the excess soil from this development.
“We regret that this issue is causing concern for local people.”
