Dundee businessman voices bankruptcy fears after fire-raising

Man who owns nation’s only carpet recycling firm says anti-social behaviour is putting his business at risk

A Dundee man who set up a new business after being diagnosed with a brain tumour has said anti-social youths running riot in an industrial estate could bankrupt his firm.

Darren Young set up Carpet Reclaim Ltd 10 months ago in the former Wood Group building in Baldovie Industrial Estate.

The firm recycles old carpets so the material can be used for equestrian riding surfaces.

Mr Young, 43, a former engineer who worked on the Tay Rail Bridge, started the business after undergoing tumour treatment.

It is the only carpet recycling firm in Scotland but Mr Young said its future is being threatened by the behaviour of anti-social youths.

Fire crews were called to his premises on Forties Road on Saturday after around four tonnes of carpet were set alight.

Mr Young said the blaze is the latest in a long line of incidents affecting businesses in the industrial estate.

He said: “We have had lots of problems with vandalism and then on Saturday night they set fire to three or four tonnes of carpet I hadn’t been able to get into the warehouse because of the rain.

“My business has only been going for 10 months but this will bankrupt me if it goes on.

“Other businesses have been hit too. There was a fire at a skip hire place here too.”

Mr Young said he had notified Police Scotland about the latest incident but urged parents to make sure their children are not involved.

He said: “Parents will know if their kids are coming home smelling of smoke and filthy.

“This building was vacant for years so it’s not a place for children. The big fear is somebody gets themselves killed.”

He added: “The police are building a case log and coming out to speak to me on Tuesday.”

Mr Young, who is originally from Hertfordshire, settled in Dundee after moving to the city 18 years ago.

“I was civil engineer on the railways but a couple of years ago I was diagnosed with a brain tumour,” he said.

“While I was going through chemotherapy I thought about starting this business.”

A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Inquiries are ongoing.”

Other businesses have been hit too. There was a fire at a skip hire place here too.

DARREN YOUNG

Picture: Mhairi Edwards. Clearing up begins after the damage caused by the fire-raisers in Dundee.