Roads on Hatfield estate to be handed over 'in one year'

UNLIT bus stops, incomplete road signs and unfinished cycle paths.

These are just some of the problems that have blighted the lives of the residents of Salisbury Village in Hatfield.

But now, some 10 years after construction of the village began, a small chink of light has appeared at the end of the tunnel.

Goodman, the company that developed the village, has written to MP Grant Shapps to explain it could be ready to hand over responsibility for the roads to Hertfordshire County Council in one year's time.

The letter explains this timetable is subject to a number of factors, including the successful adoption of responsibility for drainage by Thames Water.

Consequently, a fixed date for the handover has NOT been given.

Mr Shapps welcomed the news with a certain sense of caution.

He told the WHT: "I have been working to bring together the various parties involved in creating an action plan for Salisbury Village.

"There are numerous different issues, but a whole host of problems arise from the fact that the roads have yet to be adopted by the local authority because the developers haven't been able to complete some of their obligations for providing infrastructure."

He added: "There are certainly lessons to be learnt from the history of this development, but the important thing to note is that there doesn't really seem to be some sort of tentative date mentioned for the adoption of the roads in the village."

A Goodman spokeswoman said: "Goodman has maintained the highways under its ownership at Hatfield Business Park to an impeccable standard, having spent just under �1m in the last 18 months on the installation of bus stops, signage and remedial works.

"A number of delays have led us to postpone the adoption of the drainage network, but all parties are working together to progress with the drainage adoption - which can take up to a year - by which time we hope the highway will also be ready for adoption.