Council takes ‘unusual’ step of adopting Damacre site road

Councillors have approved the adoption of a Brechin road connected to the development of the town’s former Damacre centre site for affordable housing.

The burgh’s first new council housing for three decades is to be built on the site after critics lost their battle to hang on to the centre which was closed in 2016 following the opening of Brechin’s £26 million community campus.

A total of 10 new homes, comprising a mix of two, three and four-bedroom properties, are being built, with completion scheduled for later this year.

Members of Angus Council’s communities committee have now unanimously backed a proposal for the road at Wilson’s Park to be brought up to adoptable standard and taken on by the authority to serve the completed scheme.

The planning application for the project included proposals to widen the roadway and put a footpath on the east side in an effort to improve accessibility and enhance road safety.

The council’s head of infrastructure, Ian Cochrane, said: “The adoption is necessary to allow the housing project to progress in its current form.

“It is proposed that Wilson’s Park is adopted prior to road works commencing on site.

“This is unusual as the roads authority would not normally adopt a road which was not already at an acceptable standard.

“However, the cost of the works will be contained as part of the housing development project,” added the official.

Residents will now be notified of the plan.

Councillors were told that if the owners of land or property facing on to the road do not want to see it adopted, they can refer the matter to a sheriff.