Frustrated Llanfoist residents say they have spent a fortune buying homes on an ‘unfinished’ estate which developers have left as an ‘eyesore’, they claim.

Homeowners at Ffordd-Sain-Ffwyst in Llanfoist are still waiting for Persimmon Homes to surface their roads, landscape sprawls of green-space, and erect promised fencing at the development they moved into 18 months ago.

Back in January, after stories in the Press Persimmon Homes promised work would be finished ‘within four to six weeks’ after road-paving talks with Monmouthshire County Council.

Now almost six months on furious residents say that the promised landscaping has still not materialised.

Disgruntled buyer Les Keen said Persimmon had given ‘appalling’ customer service.   

 “It has been almost a year and a half since we all moved in and despite repeated phone calls and emails, Persimmon refuse to tell any of us what their plans are,” said Mr Keen.

 “And yet when our county councillor presses them for answers they have the gall to say they keep us regularly updated. 

“To be kept in the dark about this for such a long time shows how poorly they view their long-suffering customers.” ??

County councillor, Giles Howard, visited the site alongside David Davies MP last week, after frustrated residents got in touch.

“Residents were under the impression that when they bought these houses work would be quickly finished,” said Llanfoist Fawr’s Councillor Howard.

“I’ve received reports of some activity on site, although the contractors don’t appear to have clear instructions from Persimmon. 

“Patience is starting to wear thin and people living here simply want the developer to finish the job.”

The busy 12-acre site off Merthyr Road is home to a new Premier Inn, Brewer’s Fayre restaurant and Costa Coffee drive-through. Workers are currently building a 60-room care-home and 31-space car park opposite residents’ homes.

David Davies, Conservative MP for Monmouth, expressed his disappointment, and called on Persimmon to ‘sort out the mess they have left.’  

“The road is in a terrible state,” he said. “It has not been properly levelled or surfaced and residents have said this is damaging the suspension on their vehicles. 

“At the back of the estate is a big unsightly metal fence which leads down to a steep bank and has yet to be landscaped.

“I am sending a strong letter of complaint to Persimmon on behalf of residents and asking for a completion date.

“After purchasing a new home, the least people can expect is a comfortable and safe environment in which to live.”

Persimmon said back in January that road-surfacing would be ‘finished in the next four to six weeks’ as they waited on an MCC to complete a highways inspection.

Mike Harper, a local resident who moved in 18 months ago, said the situation was ‘disgraceful’. ?

?“We’ve been told there’s a dispute between Persimmon and Johnsey Estates [who sold the land] but, as far as we are concerned, these problems are nothing to do with us,” he continued.

“I’ve been here over a year, and it’s still not finished. It’s like living on a run-down site, when it is supposed to be brand-new. We have tried to get it sorted, but we are passed from pillar to post. It is ridiculous.”

A spokesman for Monmouthshire County Council, said, "We’re monitoring progress on the landscaping as all the housing has now been completed and we will undertake another site visit at the end of this month to assess progress.

“We would expect to see the planting commence in September or October and be completed no later than March next year.

“Site roads are still currently not adopted and remain private. Responsibility for them rests with the respective developers as land owners."