Residents living near the new Trinity School construction site at Aykley Heads have had to deal with continuous problems with the construction of the new building since the work started last year.

Last week I chaired a meeting with residents and council officers to make sure that concerns were fully heard and to identify areas where issues still needed to be addressed.

Whilst all residents are fully supportive of the need for a new school facility, it is the way in which the developers and planners have acted which has caused great concern.

These concerns have included and in some cases still include working outside of the designated hours, including on a Sunday. Following the meeting I arranged last week an enforcement notice has now been issued to Sir Robert McAlpine the constructors ordering them to desist from Sunday working – residents need at least one day a week without the construction noise and the planning conditions require it.

The council has also been made fully aware of damage to the road surface in Dunholme Close which goes clearly beyond the damage you would expect from everyday wear and tear, and is most likely to have been caused by the repeated use of the cul-de-sac by heavy goods vehicles delivering to the site.

Noise and road cleaning issues have also been an ongoing problem, as well as concerns with the council planning department about the way in which the planning process and subsequent complaints have been handled. A huge advertisement for the developer and signs stating that they are considerate constructors have been seen by some residents as a joke. Planners have now asked that it is replaced with something more reasonable in size.

I am continuing to work with residents to help get all these issues addressed, and it is hoped that many of these issues will be addressed by the Council and by Sir Robert McAlpine in the coming weeks.

Of additional concern is safety when the school opens,  and associated traffic management issues. I intend to hold a further meeting with residents and officers after the school has fully opened to determine if further action needs to take place.

The new school is going to be a fantastic asset for the young people attending it. It must be a safe environment to be dropped off and collected from and must have as limited an impact as possible on the surrounding area.

This is always a balancing act and it is clear that up to now residents have not been treated to a satisfactory standard. This has now been made very clear to both the Council and the developer.