Tenants ‘left in the dark’

TENANTS still living in a block of West End flats marked for demolition more than 15 months ago say they have been left in the dark by Dundee City Council and landlords.

The 120-year-old private and council-owned sandstone flats at 219245 Blackness Road are to be razed and replaced with modern blocks after a decision by councillors in October 2017.

The building’s deteriorating stairwells may soon become a risk to the public but the council has struggled to agree on valuations to buy the flats from private owners and cannot find alternative suitable accommodation for the remaining council tenants.

Private tenant Laura Deas, who is five months pregnant and lives with her partner, said: “The council doesn’t care about us. It feels like we’ve been forgotten about.

“The landlord wants the money from the rent right up until the demolition obviously, which I can understand but I’m pregnant and I don’t know where we’ll be living when the baby is born.”

It is understood the local authority will spend about £300,000 buying the flats it does not own if a proposal to use compulsory purchase orders is approved by the Scottish Government.

Officials claimed a majority of residents – 14 of 22 who voted – backed the plans but a freedom of information request revealed six private landlords who do not live there had been counted as “residents”.

A council spokesman said: “There is an item on the agenda for the full council meeting on February 18 seeking authorisation to proceed with compulsory purchase of the remaining flats.” COUNCIL workers have repeatedly failed in their attempts to conceal an electrical cable in a Broughty Ferry road.

The orange wire was first reported on Fort Street Bridge in April last year by a member of the public.

The council said it fixed up the tarmac covering the wire, thought to be connected to nearby traffic lights, before it reappeared days later.

Ten months on, residents have again complained to the council.

Ferry Liberal Democrat councillor Craig Duncan said the wire was now more exposed than ever. A WEST End Community Council stalwart has stood down after four years at the helm.

Peter Menzies bowed out last night as chairman of the ward community group. He thanked those that had helped him over his tenure, including ward councillors and community council members.

During his chairman’s address Peter said he had enjoyed his time trying to help both businesses and ward residents.

But he admitted to being “frustrated” at the lack of headway that had been made tackling parking issues in the West End during his time in charge.

Peter urged those who had worked with him to carry on in their efforts and continue to fight for improvements in the West End.

He said: “The role has been challenging and I’ m certainly frustrated with the lack of headway we made on a number of matters.

“Parking has been a major issue in the West End both for businesses and residents.