Residents living in the shadow of the Hilltown multis say they are being let down by a lack of support being offered to them in the run-up to the demolition of the four blocks at the end of the month.
Rhonda Robertson, from Blaikies Mews, told The Courier “emotions are starting to run high” among her neighbours as they feel they are being fobbed off when they ask for details of the £3.7 million operation, which they fear could impinge on their homes.
Around 600 houses and 50 businesses in the area are to be evacuated while the tower blocks are reduced to rubble on Sunday, July 31. Blaikies Mews lies within the exclusion zone being set up around the demolition site and residents are being asked to leave their homes for most of the day, Rhonda said.
Even so, they have been offered no protection for windows which face on to the site and which they fear could lead to their homes being invaded by clouds of dust and debris.
Work started on stripping out Maxwelltown, Carnegie, Jamaica and Wellington Courts last summer and has already caused considerable inconvenience to locals, Rhonda said.
Many residents feel they are not getting the support they need from contractors Safedem and are not happy at the reception they receive when they try to address their concerns, she added.
“The demolition process started in August or September last year and was supposed to be going on between certain times,” Rhonda said. “They weren’t meant to start until 8am but they start with what sounds like pneumatic drills at 6am in the morning, even at weekends, which means that we have had no sleep. If it’s a nice day we have to come inside because of the noise.
“We have put up with a lot of things because we realise that the multis have to come down. I know they can’t get into individual preferences but we have not been given any say and this is people’s homes.
“We feel they should be offering some sort of protection for our houses to stop the dust and debris getting in. I would like the back windows protected for hygiene reasons if nothing else.”
Although the plan is to allow residents to return home by early afternoon, Rhonda said they have been told it could be later in the evening before they are able to go back.
“I start work at 9am the next morning,” she said. “I have 15 wall units in my kitchen and the last thing I need is to start to have to scrub them out at that time of night.”
A spokesman for Dundee City Council said, “There has been continuing local community liaison and communication ahead of this major demolition project on Sunday, July 31.
“We will ensure that there is a visit from the city council and the contractors to this resident to discuss her concerns directly with her.
“An exclusion zone has been identified and local residents inside the zone are being informed and asked to be out of the area by 10am on the day of the blowdown.
“A local evacuation centre will be set up at Dundee International Sports Complex, where people who have had to leave their homes will be provided with refreshments.
“Everything possible is being done to minimise disruption but some roads near the buildings will be closed and parking restrictions also put in place to allow the operation to go ahead.”