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Does Broughty Ferry road closure chaos show why Brook Street should be pedestrianised?

Some Broughty Ferry residents like Mary Wiseman would like to see Brook Street pedestrianised.  Image: Joanna Bremner/DC Thomson
Some Broughty Ferry residents like Mary Wiseman would like to see Brook Street pedestrianised. Image: Joanna Bremner/DC Thomson

As Brook Street, Broughty Ferry, becomes increasingly difficult to navigate as a pedestrian, do residents want to see cars driven out?

Recent road closures in Broughty Ferry have sent more traffic to the busy Brook Street.

Resident Mary Wiseman would like to see the street become pedestrian only.

Mary said that for her, crossing Brook Street is a “nightmare”.

“It’s a safety issue. It doesn’t feel safe at all.

“Pedestrianisation here would be great.”

Mary Wiseman on Brook Street in Broughty Ferry, Dundee. Image: Joanna Bremner/DC Thomson

“In general, it is older people that live here,” Mary added.

“You don’t feel safe crossing because it’s just so busy. The cars don’t stop for you.

“My husband hates me coming out here on my own.”

The temporary closure of Claypotts Road left drivers facing diversions from Christmas Eve into the New Year.

Drivers were forced to take alterative routes, with many heading down Brook Street to avoid the blocked junction.

This led to an influx of cars, lorries and vans on the busy shopping street.

‘Broughty Ferry is not built for the traffic that we’ve got’

“The roads have been blocked off, so all the cars are coming this way,” said Stewart Adam, 73.

But even with the reopening of the Claypotts junction, the problem with traffic on Brook Street will remain.

“Traffic is always an issue. People are cutting up side streets to cut [their journey times] down,” added Lorraine Adam, 70.

“It’s just an absolute mess.

“Broughty Ferry is not built for the traffic that we’ve got.”

There are others who do not want to see Brook Street become reserved for pedestrians.

David Cocksey has lived in Broughty Ferry for the last three years. He said: “Pedestrianisation would be a bit of a problem.

“That’s because parking in Broughty Ferry is a problem in general. If they were going to improve it, they could add more parking spaces.”

Cars often spend a long time trying to get parked on Brook Street.

There is a history of accidents on the busy stretch.

An 81-year-old woman was knocked down in August last year, and an 87-year-old woman was hit by a red Jaguar in March.

There are more road closures due to hit the Ferry. Gray Street is due for three separate road closures in the coming weeks.

Parts of the Esplanade are also closed for Active Travel improvements until March.

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