Attacks on tyres will go on, vow activists

CLIMATE campaigners have targeted Broughty Ferry in a vehicle attack, deflating the tyres of 10 cars overnight.

The Dundee branch of Tyre Extinguishers – DunDeeFlators – said it let down the tyres of around 10 SUVs on Thursday night, with activists claiming to have deflated tyres on more than 3,000 vehicles across the UK since March.

The group says its aim is to make it “impossible to own an SUV in urban areas”.

One anonymous Broughty Ferry woman’s Jeep Renegade was targeted.

She said: “My car was parked outside my house. “It is not an SUV.

“It has a 1.6 [litre] engine.

“I’ve read their website and it’s alarming, urging further action on the same vehicle and giving instructions and details of which cars to target.

“If I hadn’t noticed the note, there could have been serious consequences to such irresponsible action.”

The damage happened the same week more than 30 cars had their tyres deflated in Edinburgh, and 250 in Brighton and Hove.

The Tyre Extinguishers wants to see bans on SUVs in urban areas and pollution levies to tax them “out of existence”.

It is also demanding a large investment in free public transport and says its action will continue until politicians act on its demands.

The group says similar actions have taken place across the UK, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Arizona, Colorado and New Zealand.

Marion Walker, of Tyre Extinguishers, said: “This can happen anywhere.

“If you own an SUV, chances are you’re going to wake up soon with lentils in your tyres.

“We won’t stop until these death machines are history.”

A police spokesman said: “Officers received reports of tyres being deliberately deflated on a number of vehicles in the Broughty Ferry area on Friday May 13.

“Inquiries are ongoing.”

A BOSS at a Dundee bar chain where staff have lodged a series of grievances has stepped down.

Richard Davies was one of the businessmen running Abandon Ship and Macmerry 300, which have several venues in the city.

In January, the union Unite released a dossier containing allegations about the mistreatment of staff at the firms.

Bosses have since vowed to address the issues – including appointing an external investigator to assess their handling of claims of sexual misconduct against some staff members.

Now, Mr Davies has issued a statement on social media in which he says recent months have been “incredibly difficult for all involved – not just myself”.

Mr Davies, whose Abandon Ship clothing line was the inspiration for the bar of the same name, has not revealed the precise reason for stepping down.

However, he said: “I had a frank and honest conversation with my business partner and operator