RESIDENTS of Winchester’s newest major housing estate are growing frustrated at the many snags still to be sorted.

The Kings Barton Forum heard they range from sewage smells, lack of traffic signs and street furniture, potholes and truncated footpaths.

A senior CALA manger said the scheme for 2,000 homes was entering a crucial phase with around 300 homes completed.

Local resident Carol Manning told the forum about sewage smells: “It has been a problem for the last three years and we have complained about it on a number of occasions.”

Catherine Zucca, chairman of the Kings Barton Residents Association, said: “We were told in mid-2019 that benches, dog bins and litter bins would be installed. We have been asking for two years. Residents are disappointed.”

Ms Zucca said speed limit reminders and shared space signs were also due. “We were told they would detract from the rural area. But it is not rural, it is going to be urban so safety comes first. There are no cottages or large estates, it is quite built-up now. This is something that should be addressed promptly. There are some things we can’t believe we are still asking for them.”

Another resident Chris Poulter asked about the quality of the cycle path with wooden edging that would soon rot.

Mel Iredale, secretary of the residents association, told the forum last Tuesday: “There’s quite a lot of frustration among residents here.”

She said she was disappointed that there would not be a polling station on the estate and the nearest would be at Jubilee Hall on London Road, Headbourne Worthy, inaccessible to many people without cars. Kings Barton has yet to have a post box, she added.

Viv Hill, Head of Design at CALA Homes (Thames) said the development for 2,000 homes was entering a key phase. He said construction was going well. “The scheme is at a critical point on homes being occupied. It is crucial we get the wider infrastructure in.”

He said he was surprised to hear that street furniture had not been placed and would chase that up.

Mr Hill added: “I appreciate it’s frustrating for residents, particularly phase 1b which has been fully occupied for a year with 223 dwellings. We will do our utmost to get things resolved as quickly as we can. Some we can control others we are reliant on third parties, things such as road surfaces.”

He said the truncated path from Wellhouse Lane to the ridge line would be completed soon, with the aim of before the end of the summer holidays.

Mr Hill said later this year CALA would be announcing details of the anchor store, public house and community centre at the heart of the development.

Nicola Wells, headteacher of Barton Farm Academy said she would like to see house-building proceeding more quickly to fill the places in her school.

Mr Hill said: “We are looking to speed up delivery which will be good news for the school.”

Cllr Caroline Horrill, Conservative group leader, said: “The elements they (residents) were expecting to be provided around them are not catching up as quickly as they should be. I feel their frustration. Developments are not just about homes but the overall community we generate for residents.”

Lib Dem cabinet member Cllr Kelsie Learney said she was concerned that CALA had made payments (of £380,000) to the county council for improved bus services but the money had not been spent and was depreciating in value.