Teignbridge MP Richard Younger-Ross has called on Teignbridge Council to beef up its planning conditions after life turned into a round-the-clock nightmare for residents living amid the Asda/Wolborough Street redevelopment. Madalane Bywater, 31, her family and neighbours have endured months of daytime disruption in their Back Road homes, but on Monday night a giant road roller and jack hammer got to work just feet away from Mrs Bywater's three-year-old daughter's bedroom. They've been told that delays to the project mean overnight working is required for two or three weeks. 'The whole house suddenly shook and Elise woke up screaming she was so frightened,' said Mrs Bywater. 'Our bathroom mirror fell off the wall and smashed, and a crack has appeared in the bathroom.' Next door, pensioner Frances Gray was in bed, having been discharged from hospital after treatment for heart problems and told to rest. 'I had no idea what had happened. All of a sudden the suitcases were falling off the top of the wardrobe and the dog was scared out of her wits,' she said. 'Any more stress and I'll be back in hospital.' Complaints to the contractor left the neighbours with the impression that Teignbridge had authorised the work, something the council denied as no time restrictions had been imposed. A spokesman said an environmental health officer had been sent to advise the contractor that noise should be kept to a minimum during late hours and added: 'Should there be any indication of a noise offence throughout the remainder of the work, we will take steps to ensure levels are brought back within reasonable limits immediately.' Mr Younger-Ross said: 'I am pressing Teignbridge as to why no restriction appears to have been made on this and other sites. 'It is common practice for planning departments to impose working hours, so that out-of-hours working can be controlled.' He added: 'In similar cases of severe disruption, it is not unknown for companies to make a small compensatory payment to those affected as a means of saying sorry.' Asda has not responded to requests for an interview.
