One of the newest roundabouts in Preston has been labelled as a ‘blight’ on the landscape.

Constructed on Eastway and with a junction into Longfield, Fulwood, and the new D’urton Manor estate the roundabout has quickly become overgrown with weeds.

Advertisements

Kathy Weigh, who lives nearby, has written to her county councillor regarding the upkeep of the roundabout.

She said: “This roundabout has been built to allow access to the new houses. I can’t understand why this roundabout was built and then no-one has looked after it so all last summer and up to now, it’s just full of weeds.

“The other two nearby roundabouts have been mowed this week but again this roundabout has been left unattended. This gives a very bad impression of Preston to users of a major route into the city.”

Sharoe Green councillor Keith Sedgewick in correspondence with Mrs Weigh said the roundabout and surrounding roads were not yet adopted by Lancashire County Council.

He writes: “Negotiations are currently at the (often lengthy) stage whereby LCC Highways has to ‘adopt’ the roundabout, at which time the roundabout becomes part of the National Road System and therefore their responsibility.”

Read more: Developers win appeal to build hundreds of homes in Broughton

Mrs Weigh went on to say she hoped the roundabout could have some public art installed, similar to the stone heads in other parts of Fulwood.

She said: “I am though absolutely shocked that LCC have allowed Storey homes to build a roundabout and then not maintain it. Surely this was in the contract when permission for the houses to be built was granted.

“Story Homes say they are building ‘communities’ but this roundabout is now a blight for those of us who were already living in this area. I feel something needs doing quickly and feel that LCC have let the residents of Longfield down. Surely something can be done meanwhile whilst negotiations are ongoing. Perhaps LCC can maintain the roundabout but invoice Storys.”

A spokeswoman for Story Homes confirmed the land in question was in the process of being adopted by the county council.

What the council had to say

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: “This roundabout has not yet been adopted, however we’ll contact the contractor who constructed it to ask them to strim the grass as soon as possible.

“We will arrange to meet the contractor on site in the coming weeks in order to inspect the roundabout and see if it is ready to adopt, with a view to adding it to our maintenance schedule as soon as possible.”