A HOUSING provider has pledged its commitment to completing a part-built Long Lee development.

The state of the 41-home scheme on land off Redwood Close has sparked anger amongst neighbouring residents.

They say a long list of problems at the site – including large holes in the road, fencing they claim is unsafe and half-constructed walls – is making their lives a misery.

Work was being carried out by Urban Developments (York) Ltd, but it is no longer involved.

Affordable homes provider Accent, the project partner, says it is "working hard to address the situation".

A spokesperson told the Keighley News: "We empathise with the adjoining homeowners and recognise they have been living next to a construction site for a number of months.

"We're working hard to address the situation, and to bring this scheme in line with our expectations.

"We are in the process of instructing a new contractor, which is working professionally and diligently on another local project, and we hope to be able to confirm this publicly soon.

"Meantime we are undertaking urgent works to help improve the conditions of the site, and are liaising regularly with neighbours."

Keighley MP Robbie Moore was approached by residents over the situation.

He has held an onsite meeting with Accent director of development Steve Morris.

"Accent has acknowledged that it fell short in properly engaging with residents and has committed to an immediate schedule of works," says Mr Moore.

"This includes a mobile road sweep, a feasibility survey for a temporary land drain to collect excess water, and additional safety measures.

"I welcome this progress to address residents' immediate concerns, but will be closely monitoring further work undertaken, making sure Accent and contractors are held accountable until this site fully meets the standards residents deserve."

But despite Accent's pledge, neighbouring householders remain sceptical.

"We have been living with this building site for four years – not a number of months as Accent claims," says Anita Jackson.

"And although talks are ongoing with another contractor, it could be between four and six months before the works start."

Another resident, Ann Topham, says: "The building of these houses from the very start has been a nightmare for anyone living close by – the noise, the mud, the mess.

"Thousands of pounds have been waisted building houses on an unsuitable site.

"Personally I don't think these new properties will ever be put right."

Keighley East district councillors Fulzar Ahmed, Lisa Robinson and Caroline Firth are also pursuing the issue on behalf of residents.

In a joint statement, they said: “We are in discussions with Accent, who have been open with us about their regret regarding the poor work on this site to date.

"It is their intention to start to put these problems right and we have been assured the issues will be addressed imminently.

"We recently wrote to residents around the site to keep them updated and we ask that anyone who hasn’t already contacted us about specific issues does so.”