“Significant investment” is being promised at Dundee multis with upgrades worth £4.2 million.
The announcement comes as residents claim they are living in hell in one of Dundee’s oldest and “forgotten” multi-storeys, Dudhope Court.
Dundee City Council proposals include upgrades to communal areas including new flooring, painting of landings and the further upgrading of fire doors.
‘Blighted’
Residents in Dudhope Court have spoken out about dozens of issues from drug taking to poor housing conditions.
Some say the St Mary’s Place building has been forgotten as the other 10 multis in the city have already seen investment.
One resident, Steven Wrycza, 29, said he and neighbours have now compiled a list of issues which must be addressed.
‘We have been forgotten about’
Steven said: “So many things are wrong here, we feel like we are being forgotten about by Dundee City Council.
“Other multi-storey buildings in Dundee are regularly maintained and have seen recent upgrades but we are getting nothing.
“It has become hell to live here.”
Steven said he believes Dudhope may be in line for demolition and that is why upgrades have not been done, but the council said there are no plans to raze the building.
The list of problems includes:
- Requirement for new heating or lighting system and fire doors
- The back stairs are filthy with poor cleaning being carried out, the external cladding is old and dirty
- The sprinkler system isn’t working in the bin recesses.
- Lights don’t work in communal areas
- Flats are damp and cold with outdated storage heaters
- Drug dealing takes place in communal areas.
- Drug paraphernalia is left lying around
Steven said there are also fears over serious anti-social behaviour, particularly during the hours when the concierge isn’t in the building – between 3pm and 7am.
He said: “Drug deals take place on the back stairs after the caretaker finishes his shift and drug items, blood, excrement and urine are regularly discovered by him in the morning.”
Stephen added there is real concern over the body of a woman left for up to seven weeks before she was discovered.
‘It’s awful living here’
Another resident, Colin Macdonald said: “It’s awful living here.
“We still have old storage heaters that cost far too much to use.”
He added: “I literally never turn mine on. I have one portable heater that I use to heat my flat.
“The flats are cold and damp with draughts coming through the windows.”
Colin said he too had fears about the lack of maintenance and the condition of the external cladding.
Tenants don’t feel safe
He said: “It just doesn’t feel safe living here.
“I am terrified of what would happen if a fire broke out.
“We had a fire last week. The fire brigade put that out but it could have turned out so much worse.”
A council spokesman said several improvements have been made to Dundee’s multi-storeys in recent years.
He added: “The latest announcement will see the delivery of £4.2 million of upgrades to communal areas including new flooring, painting of landings and the further upgrading of fire doors with the latest fire safety product.
“If tenants can get in touch with us about any concerns they may have, we will follow up on them with individuals directly.”
Proposals for the latest investment include
- New fire doors to all flats and communal areas
- New lifts at multiple locations
- New floor landing coverings and landing
- Painting of communal landings and corridors
‘Vital concerns are addressed’
Liberal Democrat group leader on the council, Fraser Macpherson, said he has raised the resident’s concerns with the director of neighbourhood services.
He added: “I am very concerned to learn about the issues being raised by the tenants in Dudhope Court.
“It is vital that the concerns of the folk in Dudhope Court are addressed as soon as possible.”
Labour group leader Kevin Keenan wants housing officers to meet Dudhope residents to address their concerns.
“I would expect all our multi-storey blocks would be adequately maintained, and all council agreed fire safety measures fully implemented as quickly as possible across the multi-storey housing stock in this city,” he added.
Council leader John Alexander said fire safety works have already been carried out and the latest investment is in addition to those.
“In the aftermath of Grenfell, significant fire safety works were undertaken to meet rigorous standards,” he said.
“These latest works are further enhancements.
“These works form part of the £4.2 million of works across all multi-storey development sites.
“The outlined works and funding were agreed in 2021 and are now moving forward, after procurement, to deliver.”
