Residents next to Lock's Hill say they are being covered by dust daily

Residents have been writing in dust blown over from a neighbouring building site. 

Residents living next to the Lock's Hill development site in Kingsbridge have been writing in the dust left on their vehicles and gardens, that they say has been blowing across their properties daily. 

credit Colin Sutton - Save Lock's Hill Facebook group 

Colin Sutton: "The car pictured is under a car port which faces away from Locks Hill. The "Stuff" on it is what we up here have been breathing in for weeks, with no damping down what so ever. All parties that should be notified have been. Thankfully there has been no activity on the site this weekend so windows are open!"

South Hams District Councillor Dan Thomas, South Hams Lead Member for Planning, said: "We have received complaints about noise and dust from the activities taking place on the Locks Hill/Garden Mill site in Kingsbridge and are actively following these up.

"We share residents' frustration and concerns about the development. However, as you may know, there are on-going legal proceedings with the company developing the site. We are also finding it disheartening that the process is taking so long. For councillors, or indeed the council, to engage in a running commentary could well weaken our case.

"All we can do, is ask for your understanding and patience while the legal process runs its course. In the meantime, any concerns will continue to be investigated and action taken where appropriate."

Save Lock's Hill Facebook group

Dan Stathers, spokesperson for the Save Lock’s Hill Group, said: “Everyone realises the council’s position with regard to the court case, but the immediate concern is for the health and wellbeing of the neighbouring residents and the workers. 

"The dust clouds are very large, whipped up by the dumpers and diggers as they manoeuvre the site. It’s a really fine dust that ghosts its way up the hill towards Barton Close, Highfield Drive and beyond. It’s been finding its way into people’s homes despite them having the windows closed. We want to know what’s in it, what people are breathing in?

"I’m sure those residents who have really suffered over the past few months, would openly invite the directors of Blakesley Estates (Kingsbridge) to come and sit in their gardens for an afternoon and see how bad it’s got up on the hill. 

"All this is compounded by the planning authority’s recognition that planning permission no longer exists on the site. People just can’t understand why it’s still being allowed to continue?

"Sympathy and concern isn’t going to protect people’s health. If the site can’t be stopped it should at least be damped down. This should have happened weeks ago when the dust first became a serious issue.”

A spokesperson for Blakesley Estates (Kingsbridge) declined to comment due to the ongoing court case. We will update this story if we get any further response.