Margaret’s anger at £800 shed ‘blunder’

A DUNDEE woman today hit out at the council after returning home to find £800 worth of goods — including her late husband’s tools — had been taken from her shed.

Margaret Barry (pictured) claimed she saw three council workers coming down the path of her house, carrying her venetian blinds and headboard along with other personal items.

The goods had been stored in a shed she has owned for 17 years.

Speaking today, the 81-year-old said there could be as much as £800 worth of items currently unaccounted for as a result of the “blunder”.

Margaret has contacted the council demanding answers after the unplanned removal of goods was carried out at the sheltered housing complex on Ashbank Road, just off Logie Avenue.

The mother-of-five said: “I returned home to see a council van parked in my disabled bay. One of the staff was apologetic and moved the van immediately.

“As I started walking up the path three men came down towards me — I could see they were removing items from the building, including a headboard which looked the same as mine.”

More goods, including personal family photographs dating back to the 1950s, were also close to being taken before Margaret stopped the workers.

She added: “When I realised what was happening, I did go into a period of shock. I asked the workers what they were doing and they said they were told to remove the stuff from a shed that another tenant required access to.

“I went on to explain it was my shed and that it wasn’t council owned as I’d bought it off a previous tenant. I’m glad I got there when I did, as family photographs were about to be put into the back of the van.

“The big issue I have here is that there has clearly been a major breakdown in communication and a blunder on someone’s behalf.

“If someone was looking to store items in the shed, I would have tried to help store it. It’s a very carte blanche attitude just to steamroll in and start removing items without any consultation. I’m incredibly angry this has happened.”

A Dundee City Council spokeswoman said the authority was looking into the matter.

Margaret Barry is pictured next to her shed, which was being emptied by three men when she came home one day.