Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
‘Danger’ close to get £20k of work
A DUNDEE close that was deemed too dangerous for posties to enter after one of them slipped in urine is undergoing improvements costing more than £20,000.
Royal Mail banned its workers from entering the close in Albert Street last year, fearing one of them could suffer an injury.
The Tele highlighted how the close was missing handrails on the stairs, window frames and a secure entry system.
Work is now under way to replace the missing features — and residents say they’re having mail delivered to them again.
They had been forced to collect letters and parcels from a Royal Mail depot following the ban.
Resident Aftab Alam Quereshi, 40, said he was “delighted” to see work starting on the close where he’s lived for more than 19 years.
He said: “I have spoken to a number of the other residents and everyone is delighted to see things starting to take shape.
“The new front door is a lot more secure.
“There have been workies here over the last few weeks carrying out a number of improvements.
“Given it has taken almost 10 years to try to sort out, I was sceptical that it was going to happen.
“Hopefully this is the start of making the close a safer place for the tenants.
“I started receiving mail again last week, which is great.”
One woman who owns a flat at the block said the area used to be a “beautiful” place to live and hopes the work — which is being undertaken by several landlords who own properties there — will benefit residents.
The woman, who did not want to be named, formerly stayed in the block and added: “During the time we lived here the front door of the close was changed three times.
“We have tried to repaint the block twice before.
“When the previous doors were damaged we couldn’t stop kids from scrawling graffiti in the close.
“There is still a lot of work to be done but we are certainly pleased to see the secure entry door is now in place.
“It used to be such a beautiful place to live. There is still a lot of work to be done but hopefully we can turn the close around.
“By the time the close is repainted and work is done to the rear garden space, I reckon between the landlords and some of the funding we have received there will have been more than £20,000 worth of investment made to the block.”
A Royal Mail spokeswoman confirmed mail was now being delivered to the close.