THE nightmare is finally coming to an end for families living on a Poole housing estate where the gas was turned off more than six months ago.

Gas supplies were switched off at the end of January for all 340 homes at the new Harbour Reach development in Hamworthy after a carbon monoxide leak revealed widespread problems with the gas flues.

The problems were so serious the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) was informed and is still investigating.

Residents faced a lengthy wait as developer Taylor Wimpey, the HSE, and housing associations Raglan and Swaythling, which have more than 100 council and shared-ownership flats at the site, determined what work needed to be done to satisfy safety standards.

Then began the long process overhauling every home in turn.

Taylor Wimpey has now completed works at all but one home, but some housing association residents may still have months to wait.

Mick Gauntlett, of Raglan, said he expected works at its flats to be complete “by the end of September or the beginning of October”, while Mark Wilkin, of Swaythling, said its tenants would be back to normal by mid-September.

Ray Sherry, 46, a senior IT manager, had his gas restored on June 5, but said it was “scandalous” others were still waiting.

“They ought to be hauled over the coals as far as I’m concerned,” he said.

“It’s absolutely awful.”

He spoke of the “huge nuisance factor” of not having gas central heating, as well as noise, dust and mess from workmen, including nails littering the car park.

“We’ve been offered compensation of £20 per person per week without gas, but to my mind it goes way beyond that.”

He said he was now considering legal action.

A spokesperson for Taylor Wimpey said residents would be reimbursed for additional electricity costs.

She added: “Once again, we would like to reiterate our apologies to customers for the ongoing inconvenience and thank them for their patience.”

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