Green shoots for East Melksham Residents Group

RESIDENTS of the Clackers Brook and Weavers Gate estates met with representatives of GreenSquareAccord last week following residents’ complaints about the annual hike in prices for maintenance services and criticism of poor services (as reported in the last issue of Melksham News).  

Local MP, Michelle Donelan, has written to the CEO of GreenSquareAccord, saying the charges should be frozen and that GreenSquare Estates have a duty to provide better services. 

The first residents’ meeting with Greensquare, which was organised by town councillor, Louisa Lewis, was held at Queensway Chapel on Tuesday 22nd March. Residents of two estates around the Forest & Sandridge school area, known as Clackers Brook Estate, pay an annual rentcharge to GreenSquare Estates for services such as grass cutting, maintenance of hedgerows, trees, the brook, emptying of public bins, and upkeep of footpaths.  

Around 10 residents attended the meeting, along with clr Lewis, clr Mike Sankey and deputy mayor, cllr Colin Goodhind. Greensquare were represented by James Shackell and Andrew Rossiter. On the agenda were several items, from bin emptying and reporting procedures, through to vandalism and lighting in the estate. 

Speaking at the meeting, one resident said, “I looked at the customer part of the [Greensquare] website as I was trying to find out how do we know when work is being carried out – can you not just make it clear how to call you?” Another resident added, “Some contact details have a 0330 number and others are an 01249 number, which are we supposed to call?” 

In response, James Shackell said, “Yes, we can update the contact details on the website and in terms of seeing work being carried out, this is going to be updated on our website”. 

Another resident asked “How do Greensquare quality control their work? In an email to me they said that they do not know when work is carried out as they do not have access to their contractors’ diaries”  

Greensquare replied, “After each contractor site visit where work is carried out, we are sent photos of the work, so we can check works are carried out. This is alongside a listing on the website of work that has been carried out, which residents can access and see, which should resolve any issues. We will be publishing the works before the month end on our website.” 

After complaints of litter bins overflowing with rubbish on a regular basis, James Shackell says he is committed to fulfilling the request of the residents’ group, with bins being emptied twice a week, rather than the current weekly service. He also said that Greensquare will publish and update the map on their website, showing more clearly the areas Greensquare are responsible for within the estate. There was also a commitment to replace benches that were previously removed from the small play area on the Clackers Brook side of the estate. 

On the subject of vandalism, town cllr Colin Goodhind presented the meeting with an overview of Melksham Town Council’s new mobile CCTV equipment. This equipment is designed for short-term use in vandalism ‘hotspots’ and can be used in conjunction with the police in a multi-agency approach. Cllr Lewis said “I will speak to the town council to try and get the new mobile CCTV to be utilised in the area, to help combat vandalism, drug dealing and any other anti-social behaviour.” 

Residents also raised the issue of the footpath around the Forest and Sandridge School area breaking up, with a resident saying, “What about all the great big gaps in the pathways? When will that be sorted out?” James Shackell said, “That area hasn’t been taken over by Greensquare yet, it is still owned by the consortium of developers (Bloor Homes and Persimmon) and is in the snagging process. I have been speaking to them for several years, letting them know that we will not use residents’ money to fix issues – the consortium should fix it themselves. I have routinely chased Richard Darlow of Brookbanks but haven’t had much joy moving the issue forward.” 

Following the meeting, Melksham News contacted Richard Darlow of Brookbanks who told us, “I am hopeful we will have an agreement from the consortium by the first week of April. The solution to the issue [around the pathway cracking] has be found and costed. Once the consortium has agreed the plan, depending on labour availability, the work should be carried out within 4-6 weeks of the solution being signed off.” 

Cllr Lewis thanked residents for attending the meeting and gave special mention to Elaine Hargate, who has been instrumental in setting up the group and carrying out the administration of the meetings. 

The residents’ group has obtained agreement from Greensquare that they can work together moving forward and are arranging another meeting on 26th April, with the venue to be advised.