A community-spirited business owner has stepped in at the 11th hour to save the tourist season for an Angus visitor attraction blocked by fly-tipped rubble.
Staff arrived at the Royal Observer Corps Cold War bunker near Elliot to find access blocked by construction materials dumped at the gates overnight.
After a plea by Arbroath East and Lunan Conservative councillor Derek Wann, Arbroath-based Derek Mcnulty Joinery and Building Contractors took action, free of charge.
Mr Mcnulty said: “Clearing the debris and disposing of it properly, which is what should have happened in the first place, will take several hours, and will be done by hand.
“Fly-tipping is a blight on our countryside, and I think it is becoming more prevalent.
“It could be that a contractor has offered a cheap job to someone and cut their costs by fly-tipping, or someone may have been charged full-price, thinking that the materials would be disposed of properly, but the contractor has boosted their profit by simply dumping the rubble.”
Mr Mcnulty said it was vital that clients ask a contractor questions about how they intend to dispose of waste.
“I pay online before going to the council yard with a trailer of materials, and show the ticket to council staff,” he said.
“Customers could also ask to see the ticket from the contractor, or alternatively, they could hire a skip from a reputable company to ensure that waste is disposed of appropriately.”
The site is part of an extensive network of around 1,500 bunkers, which were manned by thousands of specially-trained local volunteer observers during the Cold War, when the threat of nuclear attack by the USSR was believed to be a constant possibility.
In the event of an attack, the posts were designed to monitor nuclear bursts and the subsequent fall-out across the UK.
The data collected by the observers would have helped construct a picture of the effects on the country so it could be used to assist survivors.
Mr Wann said: “I was appalled to hear that someone had dumped this rubble so irresponsibly – especially when it has such a negative impact on a museum that volunteers work so hard to maintain.
“When I spoke to Mr Mcnulty about it, he agreed to help immediately, and I am very grateful to him for such a public-spirited act.”
Cherly Stewart from the museum said: “The team of volunteers at The Arbroath ‘Royal Observer Corps Post’ Museum wish to thank all those involved in the successful clearing of the obstructive fly tip at our gate.
“Particular thanks to Steve West, James Wylie, Provost Ronnie Proctor, Councillor Derek Wann and last but not least Derek Mcnulty who offered his services free of charge to clear the large pile of rubble.
“We can now prepare for the season ahead.”
The museum is open on a pre-booking basis – Cheryl Stewart can be contacted via email on cheryl.stewart@gmail.com for further information.
