'New housing estate on flood plain has turned my garden into a big swamp' says angry Fleckney resident

Pam Harrison, 64, said the 150-property development has turned her back garden into a “big swamp” after catastrophic flooding.

She said she’s spoken to the Harborough Mail to vent her anger after “getting nowhere” complaining to David Wilson and Harborough District Council.

The new row has blown up after council chiefs slapped a temporary stop notice on David Wilson’s under-fire Burnmill Farm site in Market Harborough.

Mrs Harrison said: “We’re all at the end of our tether here.

“People talk about not in our backyard – this huge development is literally in our backyard.

“I’ve complained to the developer and the council time and again but I’ve just been fobbed off.

“It’s disgusting.”

The fed-up mother-of-two said David Wilson is building the sprawling four-year scheme on a flood plain behind her detached three-bed home in Coleman Road, Fleckney.

“Unfortunately we lie directly opposite Fleckney Fields.

“The new houses back straight on to our back garden.

“We had great big cranes and diggers dangling over our fence in the summer they’re that close,” said Pam, a grandmother-of-one.

“We’ve lived here for 44 years in April.

“We have never had a problem with flooding.

“But now our garden floods every time it rains because the excess water has nowhere to run off to.

“The water has been so high that it’s risen to the top of my husband’s wellies.

“We loved our garden and have put a lot of work and effort into it over the years.

“But David Wilson has managed to turn it into one big swamp.

“It’s heartbreaking to see.

“My husband Rob’s an engineer and he’s had to put a pump in to try to dry it out.”

She said Rob, 65, has also laid a “plastic path” over the mud down to his shed.

“I’ve had two pet tortoises almost 50 years.

“I even had to rescue them from their enclosure before it flooded because they would have drowned,” said Pam.

“These houses are being built on land four feet higher than ours so the new occupants will look straight down through our windows.

“We all objected to this project in the first place but they always seem to be bulldozed through.

“I’ve come to the Mail as a last resort to let people know what’s going on here – it’s a disgrace.”

Cllr Stephen Bilbie, a district councillor for Fleckney, told the Mail: “I did oppose this development – and a lot of local people did object to it.

“I can understand why residents here are up in arms.

“And if they come to me with their fears and concerns I will fight their corner for them.”

He admitted flooding was a serious problem while communities such as Fleckney, Kibworth and Kilby face becoming one big urban sprawl.

“Our villages are in danger of losing their separate identities and changing out of all recognition,” said Cllr Bilbie, who’s also vice-chairman of Harborough council.

“The developer has to engage much more closely with the community.”

A spokesman for Coalville-based David Wilson Homes East Midlands said: “We are aware from local residents that there has been historical flooding in the area.

“We have installed a land drain on the boundary of our development to minimise any surface water run off onto existing residents’ land.

“We will remain proactive in monitoring the situation moving forward.”

He added: “The layout of Fleckney Fields has been designed in accordance with the approved planning agreement with Harborough District Council and all boundary fencing is consistent with the approved scheme.

“We take all complaints seriously and will investigate all concerns raised by new and existing residents.”

David Wilson started working on Fleckney Fields in July 2018 and won’t be finished until 2022.