ANGRY residents have hit out at the state of a half-finished housing scheme. 

People living close to the site at Long Lee, Keighley, say a long list of problems is making their lives a misery.

Urban Developments (York) Ltd, part of the Urban Group, is building 41 homes on the land off Redwood Close.

Neighbouring householders complain that issues with the site have been ongoing for years, and are not being addressed.

"There are all sorts of problems and we're sick to death of it," says Anita Jackson, of Long Lee Lane.

"We live a few doors down and have to use an access road at the site. There are big holes, and a drain with a wooden pallet over it. 

"Fencing is unsafe, and there are half-built walls.

"We can't let the grandchildren play out because of fears for their safety.

"This has been going on for nearly four years and it's time something was done."

District councillor Caroline Firth, whose Keighley East ward includes Long Lee, backs the residents.

She says: "Issues have been varied and ongoing regarding this site for years now, and district councillors have worked hard to support residents.

"Work onsite keeps stopping, yet residents just want it completed, because staring at half-built houses for months and years on end is a total eyesore.

"I’ve written to our planning team to highlight Anita’s concerns, which I share. Sadly I’ve had other issues raised with me by residents on all sides of this development about different matters such as broken walls, the state of the road and debris that blows into gardens. I hope the developer can get to grips with it all quickly and start to ease people’s stress and frustration."

Keighley MP Robbie Moore has also been approached by residents.

He is calling on Urban Group – and its scheme partner, social housing provider Accent – to address the problems urgently.

Mr Moore says: "After nearly four years, it is deeply frustrating that Anita and fellow residents are still dealing with unfinished walls, unsafe roads and hazardous conditions across the site. This is impacting their daily lives and is posing unacceptable risks to vulnerable members of our community.

"I have raised these concerns directly with Accent Housing, and whilst I appreciate a commitment to investigate the situation, it is clear these issues must now be addressed with urgency. It's crucial that both the Urban Group and Accent take action at pace to resolve this matter, as any further delay would no doubt damage the status of any future applications by the developers."

Nearly two years ago, the T&A's sister paper The Keighley News highlighted how residents living close to the site were experiencing problems with water running into their properties and gardens.

Urban Group said at the time it was examining ways of addressing the issue.

We invited the company to comment on the latest concerns, but at the time of writing no response had been received.