Public Protection From Falling Masonry on Victoria Road

Over last weekend the high retaining wall at the top of Victoria Road close tot its junction with Claypotts Road, began to bulge and some stones fell out. 

One of my constituents drew this to my attention. He had initially contacted the Council directly but was concerned that in response they had only taped off the area.

He told me that he had expected something more substantial e.g. barriers to be done to [protect pedestrians and other road users from falling masonry.

I followed this up, contacted the City Engineers and requested a risk assessment on the state of the wall and better protective measures which rapidly followed.

Anton Drive Replacement Retaining Wall Going Up Fast

Reconstructing the retaining wall in Anton Drive
Tuesday 12 March.
Click on image to enlarge

Since Monday 11 March contractors have been erecting the replacement retaining wall along on the side of Anton Drive in the Ferry.

In July 2012, I was informed that, after a safety inspection by the Council's Senior Engineers, it had been necessary to erect safety fencing along the length of this wall prior to replacement or repair of the wall.

The first picture shows work in progress on Tuesday 12 March. Despite subsequent snow and ice, the second picture shows excavation and construction much further up the street.

Reconstructing the retaining wall further
along Anton Drive - Tuesday 19 March.
Click on image to enlarge

Residents I have talked this week are relieved that this work is now being undertaken. A big BUT from them is that the trees on the embankment above the new wall are not being reduced in height. Residents who live in the terraced houses opposite the wall remain concerned that their homes will be damaged when one of the tall trees topples over. A long term resident who has lived in these homes since they were built, remembers three separate incidents when falling trees and branches have damaged property beneath. When these concerns have been reported to the Council over many years, a major constraint is that these trees are on private land and this limits the power of the Council to intervene. I have written to the Council's Forestry Officer to request that they contact the private owners above to request that remove diseased and dying trees.

Anton Drive Residents Impatient for Replacement Retaining Wall

In early July, following torrential rain, the City Engineer decided that the weight of water above a retaining wall in Anton Drive was potentially in danger of collapse and was to be fenced off as a precautionary measure. As this retaining wall was built on Council land managed by the Housing Department, it turned out to be the responsibility of the Housing Department to fix. 

At the same time, following my request, a commitment was given to Ferry Councillors and the residents of Anton Drive that we would all be involved in examining an appraisal of different ways of replacing the wall. Two options had been identified; either rebuilding the wall with a better construction than the wall that is being pushed over or re-landscaping the bottom of the slope with the loss of the existing pathway. 

The residents in Anton Drive are concerned that no discernible progress has been made ten weeks after this announcement. In the meanwhile, the residents of Anton Drive have had the usable width of their road reduced by the safety fencing. This has led apparently to their parked cars being damaged by passing vehicles such as bin lorries with several residents either losing wing mirrors or having paintwork on their cars damaged.

I have written to the City Engineer and his colleague in the Housing Department as well as the Housing Convener, Councillor Black to ask them to hurry things up.

Loose Stone on Bridge Parapet is Reported to City Engineer

A large stone on the Fort Street railway bridge in Broughty Ferry has worked loose. Its an ornamental and heavy stone on the end of the bridge parapet at the junction of Fort Street, Brook Street and Erskine Lane. 

This is the slab of stone to which the Fort Street sign is fixed and which can be clearly seem in the photograph. Looking closely you can see that it's slightly skewed because it can swivel round on the wall below.

I have reported this to the City Engineer because I think it is a potential hazard.   

Anton Drive Retaining Wall Fenced Off As a Precautionary Measure

 
On Monday 11 July, I was emailed by the City Engineer, as one of The Ferry Councillors. I was informed that a safety inspection of the retaining wall which runs down one side of Anton Drive had been carried out that morning by one of the Council's Senior Engineers. Due to the poor condition of the wall and the continuing heavy rain, as a safety measure it had been necessary to erect safety fencing along the length of this wall. Furthermore, I was informed that the Council are currently designing and pricing alternative options for the wall strengthening/replacement and will consult with residents and Ferry Councillors on potential solutions 

While I welcome this precautionary measure, I share the concerns of tenants and residents about the potential threat from what is pushing over the retaining wall. In recent weeks there have been many reported land slips in Scotland on railway embankments and other places with steeply rising land which have become saturated with rain. While the protective fencing errected may prevent passers from getting near to the retaining wall, I think residents and tenants in Anton Drive will want to be reassured that there is no potential danger of a land slip and trees toppling over damaging homes and putting lives at risk.
 
As the retaining wall is built on council land and is the responsibility of the Housing Department, I shall be looking to the Council to get on with the replacement in weeks rather than months.

(Photograph DC Thomson)
Link to press coverage of this issue in The Courier
 

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