What do you when the developer reneges on its commitments to provide amenities such as a bridge linking your estate to the green areas surrounding it? Would it make a difference to you, if your decision to buy on that estate was due to the promise of being able to go walking or jogging along the canal which is only accessible via the bridge? Or if, as for me, the bridge would make the journey to church shorter, more rewarding and much greener? Both in terms of the enjoying the beauty of the environment and preserving its health?

What then?

Well - you could moan and contact customer service…. But, nothing came out of that.

“It always seems impossible until it is done”

— Nelson Mandela

Or you can organise. “Don't agonise, organise”. (Florynce Rae Kennedy)

Following the success of our session with the local councillor to discuss a footpath, we, the residents felt empowered to take on the developer. Seeing as they would not meet with individual residents, we decided to do a petition instead. So we gathered 133 signatures (given there are less than 400 dwellings on the estate - this seemed a good number) which we then mailed to the C-Suite of the holding company of the developers.

Then we waited. And waited.

Lo, the response came, our petition was now being treated as a formal complaint. Wow, this was the first board level acknowledgement that all was not well with the development. Hitherto, residents were routinely fobbed off by the developer’s reps. A formal association to represent the residents was set up to meet with representatives of the developers. Itself, a major shift, as before then the developer had remained faceless.

Even though I had been bullish in getting the petition written and doing the legwork for collecting the signatures across the estate, I admit to being doubtful of a positive outcome. Which is where the work of the residents’ committee led by Councillor Craig Scott has been invaluable in holding the feet of the developer to the fire. Regular monthly meetings followed by updates to the wider residents’ community soon translated into actual boots on the ground. A calendar of works was agreed, the highlight of which was the bridge arriving in parts. Itself preceded by a temporary bridge to facilitate access to the opposite bank for the necessary civil works.

Temporary bridge near Eaton Lyes — Temporary bridge Eaton Leys c. Rob Briancourt

Each time someone in church told me about progress on the bridge, I pinched myself. Was it real?

Well, last week, the bridge was hoisted into place. It really looks impossible until it is done.

The bridge

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