NOISY workmen shouting outside their homes and vans continually blocking the road outside their homes have left residents in Amesbury at their wits’ end.

Jean Devine has lived in Evergeen Way for 11 years, but for the past two and a half years, since work began on Area A of the Archers Gate development, she says her peace has been shattered by work being done by Persimmon Homes.

Miss Devine said the portable cabin used as an office is just 50 yards from her back fence and she regularly hears shouting from it. She said she also has to keep her curtains closed to prevent workmen on the site from being able to see into her home.

The planning application conditions say they are not allowed to carry out construction or heavy plant work on Sundays and bank holidays. The final straw for Miss Devine was the recent bank holiday weekend when she assumed work would stop and she would get some much needed peace and quiet, only to be woken by the men arriving at 8am on Good Friday, Saturday and Easter Monday.

She said: “We aren’t given any consideration by the workers, and the noise that’s made, everything has just got too much for me now. They told us it would be completed by Christmas and we are now into April. It hasn’t abated at all in the last two years, it’s worse now.”

She said the heavy plant equipment causes vibrations in the ground, she hears constant beeping from the vehicles reversing as well as banging and shouting.

Last Tuesday a resident called the police because of workmen parking vans and cars in Evergreen Way, despite getting parking provided on site, which blocks the cul-de-sac and makes turning into the road difficult.

Miss Devine’s neighbour Moira Butler said the workmen often park on the blind corner, obstructing her view when she returns home and making it hard for her to drive into her road.

But even though police moved them on, the vans were back in Evergreen Way less than two hours later.

Mrs Butler said: “We thought we were going to have a nice quiet weekend, they have to notify people affected that they are going to do work, and they haven’t. It’s been a nightmare and they’re not very neighbour-friendly.”

Stephen Bennett, construction director for Persimmon Homes South Coast, said: “Following an investigation that has been carried out into parking at Archer’s Gate there were some contractors who have been parking off site. This issue has been addressed and the contractors have been informed that they must use the on site facilities. In addition we have communicated with Bloor Homes, who also have contractors parking off site, who are on the adjacent phase of the development. We apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused.

“We are currently investigating whether there has been any misconduct or unnecessary disruption caused by contractors and employees at the development, however we have had no complaints made to our site management regarding this specific issue.”

Persimmon Homes also contacted Miss Devine and told her the portable cabins will be removed at the end of June.