News that Taunton housing chief Cllr Terry Beale has ignored requests to explain the delays on the Weavers Arms re-development in Rockwell Green infuriated councillors at the Wellington town council meeting. Last month they invited Mr Beale to attend their meeting but heard from town clerk Greg Dyke that the councillor or his officers had ignored the invitation, despite numerous phone calls and emails.
“It’s completely unacceptable that the Taunton Deane portfolio holder cannot respond to a town council with legitimate concerns,” said Cllr Andy Govier. “I understand that some properties are now ready to move into but they can’t be used until the whole site is completed.” Now 26 new houses and flats at Rockwell Green are behind schedule with no completion date in sight.
A number of existing pre-fab houses and the Weavers Arms pub were demolished in 2016 to clear the site. A number of previous tenants were re-housed in other places and are now very anxious to move back home. “It’s a total shambles up there,” said Cllr Marcus Barr who added that he’d been told of sub-contractors going unpaid and a general lack of effective management at the site.
Other local residents will be inconvenienced a further three-week road closure this month. “It must be the most closed road in Somerset,” said Cllr Govier. “ I feel sorry for the people so badly affected by this mess.”
Other councillors added that they had also tried to gain answers from Cllr Beale but without success. Mr Dyke said he would continue to press TDBC for a response.
A TDBC spokesperson said: “Cllr Beale was informed that he would be invited to the WTC meeting on October 1 and did make it clear at the time that he would be unable to attend due to prior commitments. Unfortunately Cllr Beale missed the email invitation from the Clerk but apologised as soon as he was made aware of this.”