Wednesday 14 September 2011

Travellers return to West End site

I have received numerous concerns over the past 48 hours following around 40 travellers' caravans now again illegally occupying former Scottish Water grounds on Riverside Avenue, west of the junction with Riverside Drive.

I have been in contact with Dundee Airport who have concerns about the close proximity to the airport runway, where there would be safety concerns should rubbish from the site blow across aircraft flight paths.   I have also been in touch with the City Council's Chief Executive regarding the need for the land owners (a Manchester-based company) to take necessary legal steps over the matter.

The council’s housing department has advised that the travellers arrived Friday evening at Charles Bowman Avenue in the Claverhouse Industrial Estate.    A notice was served on them on Monday morning at 11.00am advising them that Dundee City Council will take legal action to remove them from the site.

They moved from there to Riverside late Monday evening and steps have been taken to alert the landowner.

The airport operators have legitimate concerns about the site being adjacent to the airport.   Last time there was a real lot of rubbish left blowing about and that’s a safety concern for aircraft.    I am pleased that the council has moved swiftly on this concern.