Elderly and disabled people living in a Dundee housing scheme could be “cut off” from amenities when new homes are built, a resident has warned.
Developers are to build dozens of homes at Haddington Avenue in Whitfield but a footpath linking shopping hub The Crescent with many existing homes around Dunbar Park will be closed.
Chalkhill Court resident Patsy Pepper said she believes the link fits the criteria for a public right of way.
Merchant Homes say the council agreed to stop up the path as part of the development and said it is not registered as a right of way.
A spokesperson said the route to the shops will be maintained throughout construction work and thereafter, a “network of footpaths” will provide a route through the estate.
Ms Pepper, 75, who uses a walking stick, said: “It doesn’t seem right to close this off.
“A lot of people who moved here did so because of the easy access to shops and the extensive transport links.
“I bought my home and spent money upgrading it in large part because I thought it would be somewhere I could live for a long time.
“By next year, I will probably be in a wheelchair but will this be a suitable place for me?”
A spokesperson for Merchant Homes said two new routes will be provided — one with steps and one without.
He said: “Investigations carried out prior to the acquisition of the site confirmed that there were no registered public rights of way affecting the site.
“Any footpaths within the site were stopped up by Dundee City Council in terms of the Dundee City Council (Haddington Avenue Area , Dundee) (Stopping Up Order ) 2018.
“As approved by Dundee City Council in terms of Planning Permission granted for the site there will be a footpath directly from Dunbar Park to Harvestfield Crescent which includes two short sections of steps and another footpath which will branch off before the steps and meet Lothian Crescent next to the entrance to Haddington Crescent which has no steps.”
A spokesperson for Dundee City Council said: “During the course of development there should be a pedestrian route available at all times.
“A direct path will still be available between Dunbar Park and The Crescent building after the new houses are built.”
