Plans to redevelop a dilapidated former hospital have seen four major objectors send a joint letter to Angus Council.
The four councillors in Strathmartine ward have sent a joint letter opposing the development of Strathmartine Hospital.
This follows on from Dundee City Council’s objection to the planning applications to build 198 houses, 24 flats and a creche on its site.
Now Kevin Keenan has rallied his fellow Strathmartine ward councillors to put forward their constituents’ concerns that the new development would only exacerbate traffic problems on an already busy Strathmartine Road.
Their joint letter of objection states: “We would wish to object as local ward councillors to the application for the construction of 198 new-build houses on this site.
“We have received many complaints over recent years from constituents regarding traffic congestion on Strathmartine Road and disagree entirely with the applicant’s traffic assessment which claims that this development would have no significant traffic impact.
“Strathmartine Road already has capacity and safety problems, and this proposal would make this increasingly worse for our constituents.
“If, despite our objection, you are minded to approve this application, then we would urge that the developer is required to make all necessary improvements to Strathmartine Road to accommodate the traffic it will generate.”
Mr Keenan told The Courier that other developments are also being discussed which would make the problem even worse.
He wants to see some provision to ensure that the roads will be upgraded to deal with increased traffic.
He said: “I think there needs to be some kind of mitigation put into play because there’s many more developments over and above Strathmartine Hospital.
“There’s one being talked about out the back of Templeton Woods. If the development goes ahead these roads coming into the city would become somewhat gridlocked.
“Dundee City Council put forward an objection and this is us now as local councillors putting forward a stronger objection. We want Angus Council to listen to us.
“The other ward councillors Ian Borthwick, John Alexander and Stewart Hunter have been having the same level of constituent complaints as me.”
Changes have already been made to improve safety on Strathmartine Road.
Plans for a build-out near Strathmartine Sheltered Housing Complex were revealed in January after the pensioner residents petitioned for a pedestrian crossing. They began their campaign when three of them were involved in accidents.
However, Councillor Hunter said increased traffic from the Strathmartine Hospital development would undermine any progress made.
“Even before the development comes we’ve had complaints from constituents about hotspots on Strathmartine Road,” he said. “There’s not just one, there’s probably four, five or six.
“This is just going to add to the traffic problems. We’ve done a lot of work in the area and it’s helping the situation currently but if you add this development it will negate the good work we have done.”
A spokeswoman for Angus Council said: “This will be considered in due course.”