IT WAS a battle that has rumbled on for more than four years.

But work to finish roads leading to homes in Whisperwood Way has finally been completed – almost five years after the development of the Castle Grange estate.

Now, residents of the development off Noddle Hill Way are campaigning for councils to have more powers to hold private housing developers to account.

Residents said the roads were left with stretches of loose gravel, potholes and a raised manhole and drain covers after the development was completed in 2007.

Frank Oliver, 74, bought a three-bedroom detached house in Whisperwood Way five years ago.

"We have had no end of problems since we moved in," he said.

"There was a lot of trouble with the drains because the road had not been completed.

"They were backing up and causing the most horrendous smell.

"The road is finished now and it has been nicely done, but it has taken more than four years to get to this point.

"It shouldn't have happened."

Most of the houses were built by Harron Homes.

Mr Oliver said: "Harron Homes should not have been allowed to build anywhere else until they had put things right in Whisperwood Way.

"The Government should be able to take more action."

A petition has been launched by Hull North MP Diana Johnson, who helped residents of Whisperwood Way in their campaign for improvements.

The petition has already gathered dozens of signatures.

Ms Johnson said: "People should not have to go through all the inconvenience that Whisperwood Way residents did following the completion of their homes in 2007.

"It took them over four years to finally pressure a private developer into finishing the road serving this housing development.

"I was closely involved for two and a half years until we finally got the Whisperwood Way road finished.

"I'm now campaigning for a new legal requirement for developers to do works according to an agreed timetable and, if they fail, for the local authority to oversee the work instead from a deposit paid in advance by the developer.

"Either way, local people have a right to expect work to be finished in a timely fashion without having to spend months or years chasing the matter.

"It's a real weakness in the law that local people and their councils currently lack this power."

Harron Homes declined to comment.

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