Here is an update on what your committee has been doing over recent months.

Before we get in to the detail may we remind you that we have a General Meeting scheduled for Wednesday 18th March, starting at 18.30, at The Hub off Pittway Avenue.  All residents welcome.  It’s a chance to meet with the committee and your neighbours, and an opportunity to ask questions.  Please make a note in your diary and come along.  It would be good to see you.

In our previous news report we outlined your priorities for 2026, as expressed in the annual survey of residents.  So what have we been doing?

We have been dealing with a number of key stakeholders as we strive to get the best possible outcomes for residents.  Specifically we have been in touch with Taylor Wimpey, Stratford District Council (SDC) and our local MP Manuela Perteghella.  We have also been talking to other new build developments in Shipston as well as across the wider Stratford district, so that we can learn from each other and provide mutual support.

Let’s look at some specifics.

Public Open Spaces (POS) Landscaping and Footpaths

We are in the middle of quite a wet spell and some of our green spaces are not looking their best.  Planting on both developments has been checked by SDC Planning, and Taylor Wimpey have been instructed to put things right where the reality doesn’t accord with the plans.  We are monitoring.

On Herdwick Gate the Breedon gravel footpaths are in a dreadful state due to the action of flowing water which is destroying the surface.  In places, notably the steps coming down to Bland Grove, the paths are dangerous.  There has also been vandalism to the playground facilities.  All of these things have been drawn to the attention of Taylor Wimpey who are responsible for maintenance. 

We have also raised concerns with both Taylor Wimpey and SDC Planning about the inappropriate use of Breedon gravel on both Herdwick Gate and Herdwick Fold.  This material should not be used on sloping land due to the increased likelihood of surface water erosion - as is abundantly clear on both sites.  Apparently there’s this thing called ‘gravity’ which makes water run downhill, and the steeper the slope the faster water flows, and the more destructive it becomes.  Who knew?

Both Taylor Wimpey and SDC Planning say that Breedon gravel was a requirement of the original planning consent.  It is preferred for its aesthetic qualities in such a rural setting, despite that fact that it will have to be repaired and reinstated on a frequent basis, at great expense.  This is just not sensible.

It is worth pointing out that although Taylor Wimpey are legally responsible for maintenance right now, and they pay the cost, once the developments are signed off as complete, the responsibility for ongoing maintenance will transfer across to a private management company (Trinity), and we, the residents will eventually foot the bill for repairs.  We don’t think that’s fair and we are challenging the requirement to have this “pretty” but “useless” surface material.

Just to cover off the anti-social behaviour, this vandalism has been reported to the local Police who are sympathetic but tell us that without witnesses there is little they can do.  We need to remain vigilant.  If you witness any anti-social behaviour please report it.  Vandalism should be reported to the Police.  Irresponsible dog owners who don’t clean up after their pets should be reported to SDC.  Also please let us know.

Surface Water Drainage

Inadequate drainage is an issue on both developments.  It’s the reason why our footpaths are in such an awful state, however it’s more than just a footpath problem.  We have seen significant pooling of water in some areas because the drainage solutions were either poorly planned or badly executed, or both.  The committee has an ongoing dialogue with Taylor Wimpey about this and whilst there is cause for optimism, we still have some way to go before this problem is resolved.

You may have noticed on Herdiwck Fold there has been a lot of activity at the back of the development and along the western boundary towards Campden Road.  Contractors have been working on an improved sub-soil drainage solution that will remove water from the north-west corner of the site (where the footpath leads to Foxgloves, the Cala development).

It remains to be seen how effective this will be, but we live in hope.  For those who have seen this work going on you cannot have failed to notice how the contractors have churned up the landscape with their machinery.  We are monitoring - this needs to be made good.

We have also highlighted other areas where poor drainage is resulting in surface water run-off, which is discolouring roads and even affecting private driveways.  We are assured there will be remedial works.  Again, we are monitoring.

POS Maintenance payments

For background on maintenance payments please see our earlier report: Maintenance costs on the Herdwicks

We also set out our position on where we should be going with this in our recent Priorities for 2026 article.

Your committee has been quite active in this regard.  The Shipston New Build Forum, an informal alliance of six local new-builds which we helped to set up, has been meeting to discuss a way forward.  We have also reached out across the wider Stratford district to find others with similar issues.  Where those contacts have been made we have discussed how we can best pursue our goals and we have learned how others have fought and won.

For example we now know of two new-builds where residents were being charged prematurely for maintenance payments, but after challenging this they had the charges cancelled and obtained refunds.  These are important precedents and provide hope for us for the future.

Just to be clear nobody on Herdwick Gate or Herdwick Fold should be paying a penny for POS maintenance yet.  This is being done by Taylor Wimpey and they stand the cost.  Once responsibility transfers across to Trinity we then have seven years where Taylor Wimpey fund all maintenance costs - they must pay Trinity, not residents.  If they try to charge us before then, we will challenge this.

But there is a bigger picture here.  It’s our contention that SDC should adopt all POS and all we should be paying is council tax.  We have made this point to the SDC Task & Finish Group, which is looking at private companies managing POS.  We gave a presentation to them earlier this month. 

Soon we will have a meeting with our local MP, Manuela Perteghella where we intend to make the same argument.  The UK government has set up a couple of consultations on this subject.  We want to discuss them with our MP and find out how we can best contribute to this national debate.

If you wish to have your say here are the links to the two UK government consultations.  Both have deadlines of 12th March 2026.

Reducing the prevalence of private estate management arrangements

Enhanced protections for homeowners on freehold estates

The Herdwicks Residents Association & the Shipston New Build Forum

Some people have asked what’s the difference between the two.

The Herdwick Gate & Herdwick Fold, Shipston on Stour Residents Association is an unincorporated organisation, with a constitution, a committee and a website.  We also have a Facebook Group page.  It operates for the benefit of residents on those two developments.  We hold regular meetings which are minuted.

The Shipston New Build Forum is an informal alliance of six local new-build sites across town.  It’s simply a forum - a place where representatives from each site can sit down and discuss the bigger issues.  It’s not a Residents Association as such and doesn’t discuss the smaller (but still important) issues for individual sites.

We are currently looking to expand this forum across the wider Stratford district, in which case it will become the Stratford District New Build Forum.

Finally we would like to thank those residents who have donated to the Residents Association over recent months.  We don’t need much to keep going and every little helps.  If you would like to contribute here’s the link: Make a donation

We hope to see you at the General Meeting on 18th March.

Best wishes. 

 

HGHF-RA Committee

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