Council homes' residents complain about maggots

A Surrey council's flagship housing project where fire safety failings have been found is also being plagued by maggots, residents say.

In July, it emerged the fire safety certificates at Runnymede Borough Council's Addlestone One regeneration project were not valid, leaving residents in limbo.

Now, the Local Democracy Reporting Service says a group have filed a complaint urging the council to address the maggot infestations in communal areas, as well as fire alarms going off and displaying "fault" messages.

The council says its offshoot, Runnymede Borough Council Services Ltd, has responded directly to residents at the Dunsfold House site, and is dealing with the matters raised.

Residents have also called for a definitive timeline on when fire safety work will start, arguing the uncertainty has made buying and selling homes more difficult.

Dunsfold House resident Jon Joyce says the "problem is bigger, and it's affecting other blocks".

"We are getting pest control to clean it more often now, but, the other day the maggots were literally crawling out into the entrance way.

"I wouldn't say they've fixed the issue, just that they are cleaning it more frequently and since they've cleaned it there are more flies," he says.

The Addlestone One project, featuring housing and shopping space, fully opened in 2018.

The residents have given the council until Monday to respond before escalating their complaints.

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