Residents in Vauxhall, Liverpool, have complained that ongoing construction works on a nearby housing development are causing significant disturbance, with dust and debris piling up inside homes just metres from the site. The £19m project, comprising 67 new homes for affordable rent, is being delivered by Westchurch Homes and managed by Torus Housing.
Residents report dust-filled homes and health worries
Anne Marie McDonald, 62, who lives in the Eldonian Village opposite the building site, described returning from work on the first day of construction to find her house filled with a gritty dust. "When I got into the house, well, I've never seen anything like it, my blinds and the couches were covered in filth, the carpets as well, because the whole house was full up with dust, but it's not dust, it's like a gritty dust," she said.
McDonald, who has borderline COPD and is awaiting a lung scan, said she and neighbours with health conditions are worried about breathing in the dust. She added: "You look out your window and it's like ancient Egypt with dirt and rocks all piled up like pyramids." She said the noise from drilling continues all day, affecting older residents and young families.
Complaints prompt letter to contractor
The Eldonian Community Trust (ECT) wrote to the principal contractor on August 17 outlining resident concerns about the works and an apparent lack of dust-suppression measures. The ECHO understands the contractor replied the next day, acknowledging the concerns and stating it had implemented a "comprehensive dust suppression strategy".
After residents raised the issue again, an ECT spokesperson said: "The Eldonian Community Trust has now written to Westchurch Homes regarding concerns over dust from the development. We are concerned by reports that the situation has not improved and are calling for urgent action to protect local residents and the surrounding community."
Developer apologises and sets out mitigation
McDonald said her blinds, carpet, and couches have been so damaged she will have to replace them, but she cannot afford to on her wages. "I live on my own, and I've got to do 12-hour shifts on a minimum wage just to pay rent and council tax. How am I supposed to replace everything?" she said.
In a joint statement, Partnerships Director at Westchurch Homes Oliver Chan and Development Director at Torus Anna James apologised for the disturbance. They said: "We apologise for the disturbance and appreciate how disruptive works like this can be for local people. It has been caused during remediation and archaeological work to the land that is intrusive causing quite a lot of dust which has been made worse due to the recent hot and dry weather."
They added that Westchurch Homes has installed screening along the site boundary and will use water to dampen down the dust, with remediation work due to finish at the start of November. "Unfortunately as a construction site there will be ongoing noise, but Westchurch Homes will make sure it is operating as considerately as possible bearing in mind local people living nearby," the statement concluded.
