Dust from West Parley housing development causing issues

People living opposite the Kingsmere Park housing development off New Road, West Parley, say dust churned up by excavating and diggers is spreading to their homes. 

Kaye Woodward, a project manager, said she has complained to Environmental Health about weeks of dust collecting inside and outside the house she shares with her three children and husband. 

The 31-year-old said: “We can’t have our windows open despite it being very hot, after I had a shower, it was all covered in muddy water where the dust from the air had settled from the condensation. 

Dust collects in their garden (Image: Kaye Woodward)

“The kids' paddling pool had to be emptied and it was just disgusting and you feel like you can’t use it outside. 

“It has taken two weeks for the council to meet with Bellway after I made complaints and, while it may not be long for a normal planning breach, it is a huge inconvenience and a concern for our health. 

“There is so much dust there is a complete lack of consideration from the developers.” 

Her engineer husband Luke, 34, added: “We want people to be held to account for what the developers have done and it shouldn’t be down to us to video what is going on and sending it to the council.” 

Nicola Simpson said the dust has been a “nightmare” and accused the developers of not caring. 

The 49-year-old said: “Bearing in mind this is a brand-new house, everything is getting covered in dust. 

“We are constantly having to clean everything we have and we can’t sit in the garden as it gets in your throat. 

“Our flooring is always dirty as we are walking it through the house and we get the impression that the developers just do not care and don’t want to engage with the residents.” 

Dust (Image: Kaye Woodward)

A Bellway spokesman said the firm has been carrying out weekly inspections on the site and has introduced a number of measures to reduce the dust. 

“These include reducing deliveries to the site, redirecting groundwork labour from foundation excavation to drainage during this dry period and enforcing a 10mph speed limit, as well as reducing and sealing earth bunds,” he said.

“The construction team has also been using a road brush on tarmac roads and damping down haul roads twice a day, while being mindful of minimising water usage. 

“While every effort is made to minimise the presence of dust, it is inevitable that some will be created during dry periods of ongoing works, as we are currently experiencing.” 

386 houses will be built off New Road (Image: Daily Echo)

A spokesman for West Parley Parish Council said it has received “numerous” complaints from angry residents and they have reported the matter to Dorset Council's Environmental Health team. 

He added: “Whilst some improvements have been made over the last few days, Environmental Health is pushing for more to be done by the grounds contractor and the developer.  

“A dust blanket will be attached to the boundary fencing and this is expected to be installed on Wednesday.” 

A Dorset Council spokesman said: “Our planning enforcement team are aware of the situation and are looking into it. We have made contact with the developer to discuss the options.”