A MAIN square bustling with shops, offices, restaurants, bistros, pub and church was what developers promised them.

But 10 years on, the residents of Redhouse have been left with a litter-strewn centre, a desperate lack of community facilities and no church, pub or restaurant anywhere in sight.

Residents who moved to the area with the impression that it was soon to be an up-coming, trendy place to live say they have been let down by developers Crest Nicholson, and local MP Justin Tomlinson is making attempts to tighten the law to stop developers making promises they cannot keep.

“In Parliament, through my own private members bill, I have been trying to tighten up the law to make the developers deliver the promises they make in the glossy brochures,” he said.

“All too often local residents pay a premium to live in a new build area only to discover that the developer has failed to deliver.

“In any other transaction they would face the full force of the law under the Trade Descriptions Act.

“It is only Redhouse that has really failed to deliver – in Abbey Meads and Taw Hill we have everything that was promised.”

Mr Tomlinson said over the years he had highlighted developer Crest Nicholson’s failings and organised a public meeting during which a representative from Crest ‘apologised profusely’ to the residents of Redhouse.

The Village Centre Design Brief, put together in 2000, shows artist illustrations of the area, including a Main Square, Market Square and Church Square.

The Master Plan reads: “The intention is to create a centre similar in character to market town centres.

“The centre will be focused around the High Street and Main Square. It contains a mix of uses, including retail units, offices, restaurants and a public house.

“Public art will provide focal points within both squares creating a strong sense of identity and potential icons for the centre.

“The High Street accommodates further office space and flexibile units so that future demand can be accommodated.

“On the northern side is a Medical Centre and public house with residential, and on the southern side are a restaurant, offices and residential units. Church Square lies between Main Square and Market Square.”

One of the main attractions in the village centre is a Tesco store, but local councillors have expressed concerns about drugs being dealt in the area and CCTV has been installed.

Resident Peter Goodfellow, who has lived in Redhouse for six years, said: “I was promised there would be shops, a public house and more.

“But so far all I have seen is a shop that generates far too much litter, no public house and housing association being given the flats above the shops which were initially for private sale.”

Last month, we revealed residents were still fighting for the pub that they were promised but Crest were holding out for a higher offer than what Arkells had been offering.

Tim Beale, MD of Crest Nicholson South West, said: “Crest Nicholson has delivered a number of units for commercial development at the Redhouse Village Centre and we continue to promote these to potential occupiers.

“However, as with many areas of the country, the economic climate has caused a significant reduction in the demand for commercial space.

“With this in mind, we are in negotiations with Swindon Council to discuss other viable options.”