Newton Abbot resident questions Taylor Wimpey after travel reimbursement refusal
Questions have been raised over Taylor Wimpey’s £200 sustainable travel vouchers at Hele Park in Newton Abbot, after a resident challenged the rules used to reject her claim for train travel costs
A Devon resident has expressed dismay at being unable to recoup the cost of train tickets through a scheme overseen by a housing developer aimed at encouraging sustainable travel.
Jeanne Howells is one of hundreds of residents in Newton Abbot’s Hele Park who recently learned they could claim up to £200 per household from Taylor Wimpey for items such as public transport tickets or bicycle purchases.
Ms Howells said she had purchased train tickets to visit her son in London, along with a railcard to help keep fares down, and believed she would be able to recoup most of the £211 cost through the voucher scheme.
“We’ve had a brochure through which specifically mentions train services from Newton Abbot, so I assumed that would be part of the freebie,” she said.
“But Taylor Wimpey has responded by declining my application, stating that I’m not entitled to a national railcard and that they cannot pay for individual tickets.
“It just doesn’t make sense.”
The voucher scheme recently came to light after Councillor Jacqueline Fry (Reform UK, Newton Abbot North) discovered that around £100,000 worth of vouchers were supposed to have been made available to Hele Park residents as part of a legal agreement struck in 2013.
The agreement, known as a Section 106 agreement, sets out the benefits and contributions developers must provide in return for planning permission.
In Hele Park’s case, Teignbridge District Council granted planning permission, but Devon County Council was responsible for coordinating the distribution of the sustainable travel vouchers.
The brochure sent to residents such as Ms Howells states on its front page that residents can “claim £200 towards the cost of sustainable travel”.
“A primary aim of the Residential Travel Plan, in line with government guidance, is to encourage the use of more sustainable forms of transport, such as walking, cycling, public transport, or car sharing,” the brochure states.
It goes on to provide a summary of train services, even referencing routes to London Paddington via Reading from Newton Abbot.
However, Taylor Wimpey said the relevant rail funding was intended for season tickets covering local journeys within the South West.
Residents could also use the funding for bus season tickets or cycling and walking equipment, including bicycles.
Cllr Fry criticised the refusal of Ms Howells’ application and has written to the housing developer to express her concerns.
“The central issue is that the guidance being relied upon to reject Ms Howells’ claim was not contained within the travel pack issued to residents, and was discussed and clarified only after vouchers had already been distributed,” she wrote.
“Residents were entitled to rely upon the information provided to them at the time they received their vouchers.
“The travel pack expressly refers to public transport and visiting family and friends, and highlights rail services from Newton Abbot to destinations including London Paddington, the West of England, Cornwall and the North.
“There is no reference to travel being restricted to the South West region, nor is there any statement that individual train tickets would be excluded from reimbursement.”
Cllr Fry urged that the complaint be escalated to a senior manager for review.
A spokesperson for Taylor Wimpey said: “The sustainable travel funding for Hele Park is designed to help residents make local journeys on foot, by bike or by public transport, reducing reliance on travelling alone by car.
“As set out in the Travel Pack, residents can claim up to £200 towards a bus or rail season ticket, or the purchase of a bicycle, cycling equipment or walking equipment.
“The rail travel funding is intended for season tickets for local journeys within the South West, rather than journeys to destinations such as London. This claim therefore falls outside the scheme’s eligibility criteria.
“We will reimburse all eligible claims from Hele Park residents and would be happy to consider a new claim from this resident for an eligible purchase.”