A DEVELOPER has been blasted for turning off street lights in a community square for three weeks.

Home owners at the Highwell Gardens housing estate, in Hawkwell, have claimed the street lights surrounding them were turned off for a full three weeks.

The 36-home estate has private roads managed by Marden Homes and is in the process of being adopted by Essex Highways.

James Crossley, a dad-of-three who lives on the estate, said he was deeply concerned about safety.

He said: “The lights randomly went out about three weeks ago, and Marden Homes have given no reason as to why, or when they were due to be turned back on.

“Residents had to resort to using their outside lights to light up the estate rather than the low energy led street lighting that is installed for the private road.

“When I moved in, there was no lighting in the communal after area where my car port stands. My father had a bad fall when I moved in due to no lighting.”

An Essex Highways spokesman said highways have asked Marden Homes to carry out some improvement works to the road so they can adopt it.

The spokesman said: “When those works are done to our satisfaction there is then a year during which the developer remains responsible for maintenance so that any problems will likely show up during that time.”

He added: “After that, if there are no further issues the road will be formally adopted and maintenance, including street lights, then becomes the responsibility of Essex Highways.”

Marden Homes did not respond to the Echo before going to press.