Royal Mail says it has to deliver to illegal caravan

ROYAL Mail has said it has no choice but to deliver post to a caravan sited illegally on land behind Panmurefield Village outside Dundee.

The caravan was moved on to the site on North Balmossie Street, between Panmurefield Village and Wyvis Road, in September.

Since then, the owners of the caravan have erected steel fencing so nobody can see in.

They have now installed CCTV in the trees above the caravan and a mailbox bearing the name “Heraswood”.

One nearby resident, who asked not to be named, said: “They have now put CCTV cameras up all over the place.

“I wonder how parents will feel knowing their kids are being filmed every time they use that path.”

As well as CCTV, there are also signs warning people that the fences are coated in anti-vandal paint.

Planning permission was sought to build a house on the site i n January but refused by Dundee City Council.

As the land is at the top of a steep slope, the house would have been propped up on stilts.

Although t he l and i s understood to be privately owned, no permission has been granted for a caravan to be on the site.

Permission for the house was refused by the authority because of concerns over its impact on the environment, the privacy of nearby properties and a lack of parking spaces.

However, the caravan’s occupants have now set up a postbox on the fence outside the caravan.

A Royal Mail spokeswoman said: “If we get mail for an address then we have to deliver it.”

A woman i n the compound refused to comment last week. She threatened to call the police when approached by a reporter.

She said: “That’s all we need. If you don’t go, I’m calling the police.”

Dundee City Council launched an investigation following the appearance of the caravan in September.

A council spokeswoman said: “We are aware of the situation and an investigation is taking place.”

Broughty Ferry councillor Laurie Bidwell said: “I wrote to the council earlier this week and I am waiting on an update from them.”