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Why is rubbish mountain still rotting in Baldovie two years after Dundee blaze?

This debris has been left at the site since summer of 2020 when a carpet recycling firm burned down. Image: Kim Cessford / DC Thomson
This debris has been left at the site since summer of 2020 when a carpet recycling firm burned down. Image: Kim Cessford / DC Thomson

Huge heaps of carpets and other rubbish have been left to rot in Baldovie after a fire destroyed a warehouse in 2020.

Experts believe the rubbish mountain dumped in Baldovie Industrial Estate will “attract rodent vermin into that area” as winter approaches.

In June 2020, a fire in the Dundee industrial estate burned down a warehouse storing carpets.

A large number of ruined carpets remain piled up at the site more than two years after the huge fire.

Pest control experts say leaving this waste here could attract rats.

Vanessa Hartley is the manager of Andy Law Pest Control.

She said the waste has been left “in temptation’s way” for the vermin.

Waste could entice rats to ‘move in’

The rubbish pile is only a mile and a half away from Broughty Ferry’s Claypotts Castle.

But it won’t be tourists flocking to this site.

“Any accumulation of waste – carpets and things like that – it gives harbourage,” Vanessa said.

“There are a lot of rats in Dundee, a lot of basements, watercourses and the river as well.

Rubbish piled high at Baldovie.
The old carpets and pallets could provide shelter for rats. Image: Kim Cessford / DC Thomson

“As winter comes on and the weather deteriorates, rats will move in and live under piles of rubbish like that.”

“It’s something that does not need to be there.”

Baldovie ‘nightmare’

Residents of Montpellier Gardens, less than fifty metres from the dumping ground, expressed concern and anger at the prospect of rats in the area.

Neil McGrath has lived in the area for thirty years.

He said: “They should have cleared that mess a long time ago – especially if it could lead to vermin.

An aerial shot of the fire at Baldovie Industrial Estate.
An aerial shot of the fire at Baldovie Industrial Estate.

“We get foxes and deer already. If we get rats too, it will be a nightmare.

“Kids use the play park down there. So rats would be a real worry.”

Stewart Millar is the depot manager at Rembrand Timber, a store situated opposite the abandoned site. They rent part of the waste-filled unit for staff parking.

Mr Millar said he has never seen any rats there.

“We’ve never had any issues with vermin,” he said.

He branded the Baldovie rubbish mountain abandoned after the fire “an eyesore”.

“It’s private land – so they can do what they like.

“Although if it was right beside my house, I might think differently.”

Mr Millar said that removing the waste would likely cost “a fortune”.

He estimated: “It could cost up to half a million [pounds].”

Who is responsible for Baldovie rubbish mountain after fire?

Although several residents called for the council to get rid of the waste, the council does not own the unit in question.

A Dundee City Council spokesperson said: “The site is in private ownership and the landowner is responsible.”

Imram Amin owns the warehouse that burned down in 2020.

He said the situation is “in progress” and blamed the delays on the insurance company.

“It has taken us two years to get it through. We’re still fighting to get insurance.

“It should be a couple more months until we get this tied up.

“But I have never seen any rats,” he added.

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