I am pleased that the City Council has responded to my concerns about safety at the former Homebase site in Riverside Drive, following the developer at the site going into administration.
In recent weeks, I have been inundated with residents’ complaints about the mess around the site’s periphery – including graffiti – but also about safety concerns regarding the temporary pathway the developer (Duncarse Residential, now in administration) had constructed on the northern edge of the site to replace the original pathway linking the West End from Riverside Approach to Tesco Riverside and the City Centre.
I was never happy with the temporary pathway – it is narrow and not nearly so open and accessible as the previous access around the former Homebase was, but since the developer has gone into administration, matters have got a whole lot worse, with vandalism of lighting and graffiti all over the site hoardings.
The major concern, however, is that, with no developer proactively building on the site, the potential for this unsatisfactory path remaining there for months – possibly even years – exists and that’s a totally unacceptable situation.
I have met with the Director of Planning & Transportation on a number of occasions recently about my concerns and the matter has also been highlighted at meetings of West End Community Council.
The Director of Planning & Transportation has fully appreciated the situation and is anxious to see the matter sorted as a matter of urgency.
The Director has now written to the administrators of Duncarse Residential – Pricewaterhouse Coopers – requesting that they take steps to take down the hoarding and re-erecting it behind the old footway next to Riverside Drive – that way a safe pathway can be restored pending the future of the site being determined.
I am pleased this action has been taken and I’m obviously hoping for a positive response from the administrators. Clearly, the council would have to look at its enforcement powers if there is no response or a lack of action, but I feel sure the administrators will appreciate the safety issue here and take steps as soon as possible.
In recent weeks, I have been inundated with residents’ complaints about the mess around the site’s periphery – including graffiti – but also about safety concerns regarding the temporary pathway the developer (Duncarse Residential, now in administration) had constructed on the northern edge of the site to replace the original pathway linking the West End from Riverside Approach to Tesco Riverside and the City Centre.
I was never happy with the temporary pathway – it is narrow and not nearly so open and accessible as the previous access around the former Homebase was, but since the developer has gone into administration, matters have got a whole lot worse, with vandalism of lighting and graffiti all over the site hoardings.
The major concern, however, is that, with no developer proactively building on the site, the potential for this unsatisfactory path remaining there for months – possibly even years – exists and that’s a totally unacceptable situation.
I have met with the Director of Planning & Transportation on a number of occasions recently about my concerns and the matter has also been highlighted at meetings of West End Community Council.
The Director of Planning & Transportation has fully appreciated the situation and is anxious to see the matter sorted as a matter of urgency.
The Director has now written to the administrators of Duncarse Residential – Pricewaterhouse Coopers – requesting that they take steps to take down the hoarding and re-erecting it behind the old footway next to Riverside Drive – that way a safe pathway can be restored pending the future of the site being determined.
I am pleased this action has been taken and I’m obviously hoping for a positive response from the administrators. Clearly, the council would have to look at its enforcement powers if there is no response or a lack of action, but I feel sure the administrators will appreciate the safety issue here and take steps as soon as possible.
Here's some photos of the site area :
Above : Narrow pathway looking east
Above : Pathway looking west
Above : Me, photographed beside some of the very extensive graffiti
Above : The deserted site compound