‘What a mess!’: Residents hit out over green being turned into a storage area
Residents of Tenison Road and Nelson Road in North Walsham unhappy about the equippment being stored on their neighbourhood green, are from left, John Hogg, Lesley Hogg, Jenny Appleton, Derrick Thompson, Helen Thompson and Marilyn Woodhouse. Picture: STUART ANDERSON - Credit: Archant
Residents of a north Norfolk neighbourhood are fuming at the thought of spending another five months confronted by the sight and noise of four shipping containers, a skip and a portable toilet on the green in front of their homes.
But that is what those who live in Tenison Road and Nelson Road, North Walsham, are facing after Victory Housing Trust turned the spot into a depository for subcontractors working on projects elsewhere.
But Victory, which owns the small square, said the land would continue to be used until next March as a base for work to replace windows at 235 homes across the district.
Jenny Appleton, who lives on Tenison Road, said: 'It's a complete eyesore. What a mess! [The workers] come here with their vans, they pick up what they want and off they go. And we're having to tolerate this right in front of our homes when they're not even working here.'
Derrick Thompson, another resident, said he was fed up with the noise the workers made.
He said: 'Sometimes they're here for two-and-a-half hours and we hear them banging and going out.'
Mr Thompson said that before Victory bought the land, nearby residents had paid a sum - around £60 - towards the upkeep of the ground, which made the fact it was now off-limits worse.
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His wife, Helen Thompson, said: 'This really shows no respect for the residents around here.'
But a spokesman from Victory said the site was chosen for its size and accessibility.
The spokesman said: 'To undertake a project of this scope, making major improvements to our residents' homes, requires a base for operations which has enough land and is accessible for deliveries.
'We understand that no-one wants such a base to be sited near their homes, but we have to put it somewhere.
'We hope that residents will understand that the equipment is temporary, and that the result will be significant improvements for residents in the 235 homes where we are replacing windows.'
But the residents remain unconvinced, and want Victory to reconsider using the site.
Mrs Appleton said: 'There must be somewhere else they can put them than on the green. The children can't play there now.'