A landlord has been accused of employing “Donald Trump-style” tactics after building an unpopular wall to stop people walking through a car park.
An “eyesore” brick wall, standing more than two metres tall and constructed out of breeze block, has been erected at the side of Butties sandwich shop on Clepington Road blocking access from the neighbouring car park which houses a number of retail units.
It is thought the managing agents of the land housing the retail units and car park, CKD Galbraith, have built the wall in an attempt to stop people using the car park while visiting other stores not in the square.
Butties owner Ian Tait said the wall was having an impact on his business and other nearby shops.
“The problems with people being stopped from getting through from the car park on to Clepington Road started about six years ago,” he said.
“Having this eyesore wall separating a car park and the shops on our block is having a detrimental impact on all of the small businesses here.
“The majority of the surrounding shops have said there isn’t a problem with people using the car park and then visiting our store, or the other businesses next door, apart from one.
“I feel sorry for the older people who would use the car park and nip into the barbers or newsagents, they are now having to walk a lot further to get to the shops. It’s frustrating, and the whole thing seems a bit silly.”
One local compared the episode to President Donald Trump’s controversial Mexican border wall, and posted a picture of the embattled head of state with his catchphrase “we’re gonna build a wall”, much to the amusement of locals and shop visitors.
The wall, which claims to be topped with anti-climb paint, sports signs warning people not to attempt to circumvent it in any way.
It is unclear whether planning permission was required to build the wall, which borders a public footpath, and a spokesman for Dundee City Council said they were investigating the situation.
CKD Galbraith chief executive Pam Over said: “The suggestion that Donald Trump-style tactics have been used … is both absurd and inaccurate.
“A small section of wall of approximately six feet was erected to prevent the continuing abuse of a private car park for use by the customers of the businesses operating from the accompanying commercial premises at the site. It is not a public car park.
“Regrettably, after repeated requests for co-operation and the involvement of the police on a number of occasions, as managing agents of the site we responded to the requests from tenants to ensure that the car park was protected for its intended use.”
