Roadworks nightmare: Two years of this on your doorstep

Workmen first pitched up at the entrance of the Meadowcroft Park estate in May 2012 after part of the roundabout caved in.

Fencing was installed and 'temporary' traffic lights put up – but they are still there, meaning some residents have had to wait for a green light just to get off their driveways.

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The huge project is being carried out by Severn Trent Water. And, even after 24 months on site, the entrance to the estate is still littered with fencing, cones, signs, two huge 30ft deep holes and even a digger.

Residents have now been told the bad news that the end is not yet in sight.

The scheme had been due to finish this month but will now drag on until the end of February 2015, bosses have said, blaming the scale of the project and the wet weather for the delays.

Residents have spoken of their frustrations, saying life has been a 'nightmare' for the past two years because of the works.

Cracks have even started appearing on houses and one homeowner has resorted to moving out because of the problems.

Peter Groucott, who lives in Landstone Road, was out walking his dog when part of the road first collapsed in May 2012.

He called Severn Trent Water who sent engineers out to inspect the area. But just days later parts of the ground caved in again and the police were called.

Engineers from Severn Trent Water confirmed the sewer beneath the estate had collapsed.

Mr Groucott, who is 49 and a director at Stafford-based Alstom, said: "This has been an absolute nightmare for over two years now.

"The works just keep going on and on. We really can't see an end to all of this."

His wife Lorraine, aged 54, added: "The noise of the diggers wakes us up every morning. The house shakes when the machinery gets going.

"No damage has been caused to our house so far but I worry that it will. To be honest, if Severn Trent offered to buy our house we'd bite their hand off."

Another resident, who did not wish to be named, said: "You couldn't make it up. These must be the worst roadworks in Britain for the amount of stress and bother they've caused.

"To have the noise and disruption day in, day out and to have to queue just to get off your drive is a disgrace."Members of Meadowcroft Residents' Group have called an urgent meeting on July 31 with Severn Trent Water.

The estate was built by Beazer Homes UK, which has since been taken over by Persimmon Homes, in the late 1990s. The first homes were finished by 2000 when families started moving in. Severn Trent Water spokeswoman Victoria Brown said today: "It is a big job, so it's had to be done in three phases to minimise disruption for residents. We're expecting to finish by the end of February 2015.

"We'd like to say sorry to the people in the area for the length of time this is taking. We understand how frustrating this can be but we've had to deal with extremely wet weather, which has delayed the work."

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