Dundee recycling centre re-opens after 11-day closure due to flooding

Local politicians have called for a long-term solution after flooding forced Dundee’s Riverside recycling centre to shut for 11 days.

The facility shut on November 19 after heavy rain caused havoc around Tayside.

Dundee City Council confirmed the site will reopen on Thursday as the water has been pumped out.

Locals had been advised to use the Baldovie recycling centre in the meantime.

Closures impacting local residents

Councillor Fraser Macpherson expressed his concerns over the length of the closure, ahead of reopening.

He said: “I’m anxious this gets resolved as quickly as possible.

“West End residents are being told they have to go to Baldovie for recycling, that’s a seven-mile trip.

“It’s not good for the environment having people travel across the city.”

The West End councillor feels a more long-term resolution is needed stop flooding having such an impact.

He added: “We can’t keep having 10-day closures.

“Steps need to be taken to avoid these closures as it’s certainly not the first time this year it has happened.

“The ground there is challenging, it sits very low and close to the River Tay.

“We have a good city engineering team, and to be fair to the council, a lot of flood defence work has been done, especially in the east end and towards Broughty Ferry.

“Engineers need to look at additional measures to ensure that the site and the road into the site stops flooding.”

West End community council chairperson Gary Langlands echoed the fears.

He told The Courier: “It’s very inconvenient for anyone wanting to use the facility.

“It could also be linked to fly-tipping which isn’t desirable.

“People might be reluctant to make the journey to Baldovie, especially if they don’t know it it will be open either.

“That could incentivise people to dump waste anywhere.

“Because of where the land is, it’s impossible for it to drain when the water level in the Tay is high and there’s been a lot of rain.

“There would need to be a mechanical system in place to deal with it.”

The council apologised for any inconvenience caused during the closure.