Residents of a new housing estate and councillors in Didcot are speaking out against developers with accusations of being cut off from local amenities due to a lack of footpaths.

People accessing and leaving the Dida Gardens estate on foot are forced to cross muddy ground and/or walk in parallel with heavy traffic on the A4130 through Didcot to access schools, shops and bus services.

Residents first moved in to properties on the estate in July 2020, which was built by David Wilson Homes, and said no connecting footpaths have ever been installed.

They have now sourced wooden boards to lay on the ground in an attempt to ease pedestrian access.

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The leader of the estate’s residents’ association, Craig Rouse, described the situation as a “nightmare” and said those affected were “really struggling”.

Mr Rouse said: “I regularly use those routes myself and even as an able-bodied person it’s so challenging to move around without slipping.

“Other residents who are disabled or who have push chairs and young children really struggle. It’s a nightmare, especially in the wintertime.

“Since residents moved in, we’ve only had three small gaps made in enclosing fencing for us to get through.”

Didcot West county and district councillor Ian Snowdon called out South Oxfordshire District Council and accused developers of failing to fulfil their obligations.

Mr Snowdon said: “It’s beyond ludicrous really and that’s no exaggeration.

“This permission was given under Taylor Wimpey’s traffic plan which said they didn’t need to provide a bus route nor a school as these were all accessible nearby with footpaths.

“Footpaths however have not been delivered and there has been no enforcement action from the council. What frustrates me is seemingly weak leadership from this administration.

“Large developers apparently get a free pass as and when they feel, yet if residents don’t build to exact specifications the council comes down on us like a ton of bricks.”

A spokesperson for David Wilson Homes Southern said Dida Gardens development was completed in line with its approved planning permission.

Developer Taylor Wimpey, who owns the majority of the land the estate is built on, said the original planning consent did not include any footpath connection.

A Taylor Wimpey spokesperson said: “We would like to reassure residents that we are actively investigating possible solutions to connect Dida Gardens to Great Western Park.

“We are currently in constructive discussions with David Wilson Homes to explore the feasibility of installing a gravel path and in the process of transferring the open space land to South Oxfordshire District Council.”

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A spokesperson for the council said it was “doing everything” to work with developers “to find a resolution” but confirmed “developers are responsible for providing footpath connections.”

They added: “Since the two housing developments came at different times, the southern area in between wasn’t included in Taylor Wimpey’s plan and is beyond the other developer’s site boundary.

“On the western and eastern edge of the development, Taylor Wimpey’s consent requires them to provide gravel paths.”