Ludlow houses left like building sites after work stopped

Residents say they have been left with exposed wires and holes in the walls

Residents have been left with exposed wires and faulty doors after refurbishments at their homes suddenly stopped.

More than 70 homes at Sandpits in Ludlow are being renovated by group housing association Connexus.

But residents said work suddenly stopped leaving many without heating.

Connexus apologised for the issues and said it was "committed to the much-needed regeneration on the Sandpits estate".

It said work started in August 2022 and insisted it had not stopped, but added it had not progressed how they had hoped.

Ludlow East councillor Tracey Huffer said it was due to an issue between the housing association and contractors.

"I understand it is a problem between Connexus and the contractors but this isn't the residents problem," Lib Dem Ms Huffer said.

Resident Beverley Orsborn said the situation people have been left in is "disgusting".

"We were put in this situation... yes we want the houses done but we don't want the mess, it's affecting our mental health," she told BBC Radio Shropshire.

Some houses have been left looking like a construction site with residents moved elsewhere

"You've got young families and older people inside the houses, it is disgusting. You have everything from mould to wires that you can see to doors that are coming off," Ms Orsborn said.

Jade Biggs, who has a two-year-old son, said she had been left with holes in the walls after work started in her kitchen.

"I'm being left with a non-functioning kitchen and a two-year-old pulling off kitchen cupboard doors because the carcass is rotten".

Sara Woodall, interim chief executive at Connexus, said: "We are aware of the delays and are disappointed that work has not progressed at Sandpits as we had hoped.

"We're working to get the project back on track alongside contractors and our in-house teams. In the short term, we are looking to get the work finished on all properties where it has started."

Connexus also said that long term it was "committed to the much-needed regeneration on the Sandpits estate.

"We apologise to customers that work is taking longer than originally planned."