HOUSEHOLDER Clive Heard wants builder Taylor Wimpey and Wiltshire Council to do some joined up thinking after being told kerb stones outside his house had to be moved six inches to accommodate a new road layout.

Instead of simply shifting the stones and reinstating the verge, he is hoping a pavement that should have been built two decades ago could finally installed, completing a missing link between Swinley Drive and Common Platt.

“If they are digging all this up now it is the ideal opportunity to put in the pavement,” he said.

He explained that he moved into his new home more than 18 years ago a section of pavement in front of his property and three neighbouring ones was supposed to have been built by the developer. But it had never materialised.

Then, at 7.30am last Saturday morning he was woken by the sound of heavy machinery outside the house and looked out of the window to see JCBs pulling up kerb stones and digging a trench.

Worried about his broadband connection he raced downstairs and went to see the workers. They happily explained they were preparing to move the kerb stones six inches towards his property.

But they would be reinstating the grass verge. He said when he asked them whether it would be a big task to put in a pavement instead, they told him there was no reason to think so.

“It just seemed crazy, but they are digging everything up,” he said.

“There is a footpath coming out of the development that would connect up outside ours. If they want to go to the shops in Peatmoor it is the natural way to come.”

The road was often busy and although there was a 10ft grass verge outside his home it wasn’t ideal, especially in the winter when it was muddy and for people with pushchairs, which meant they were likely to walk in the road.

A Taylor Wimpey spokesman said: “As part of our Ridgeway Farm development, we are implementing a junction design as approved by the Swindon and Wiltshire Highway Authority. This does not include a pavement outside of these residents’ properties.

He added: “We have a legal obligation to implement the approved design.”

But Wiltshire Council is looking into it. A spokesman said: “We have asked the contractors to look into this to see if it’s a feasible option.”

Work began on the controversial Ridgeway Farm development early in 2014. The masterplan for the site includes almost 700 houses, a new primary school and open spaces.