Western Gateway residents fear developer holding up Swallow roundabout upgrade

Fed-up residents living in the Western Gateway are demanding a leading property developer fulfills its pledge to upgrade the Swallow Roundabout.

Springfield Properties signed an agreement with Transport Scotland in 2016 stating the company would pay for upgrades to the roundabout once 270 homes were built.

Although work was expected to being early next year, the company commissioned a traffic survey earlier this year and is seeking to revise the deal so it will not need to carry out any improvements until 370 homes have been built.

Residents say they believe Springfield is deliberately dragging its feet but that urgent work is needed to alleviate traffic problems at peak times.

And they also claim non-drivers are “prisoners” on the estate because Springfield has now completed work on footpaths which means the only way in and out is to use a car.

Bill Batchelor, chairman of the Western Gateway Community Group, said: “We’ve been complaining about this for some time.

“There is a clause that says they’re supposed to pay for the upgrade when 270 houses have been built but they want to delay it until 370 have been built.

“There are already huge tailbacks at the roundabout between 8 and 9 in the morning.”

Mr Batchelor said: “We were promised a bus service and there isn’t one. We were promised a primary school and there isn’t one.

“People have been made promises and it is very frustrating.”

He added: “The only way in and out is with a car as there are no paths. so safety issues are a major concern.

“It’s fine if you are a driver but how do you send a 13 or 14-year-old out to school? You wouldn’t send your kids out to cross the Kingsway.”

Lochee Labour  councillor Michael Marra, whose constituency includes the development, said: “Local people are desperate to have this work completed.

“It should have been done months ago and I share the anger of residents that their concerns are falling on deaf ears.

“With each passing week safety concerns are growing. The promise of works commencing at the start 2020 now looks to be untenable.

“The delays must stop and the legal planning obligations, on which this major development was granted to the developers, must be met.”

Transport Scotland confirmed Springfield is seeking to delay the upgrades but said they will only allow this if assurances over the purchase of the necessary land are received.

A spokesman said: “Transport Scotland has met with both Springfield Properties and Dundee City Council to discuss the request for a deferment of the implementation of the works to Swallow Roundabout.

“Transport Scotland has sought assurances from both parties that issues of land ownership are able to be resolved and progressing suitably before formally agreeing to such a relaxation.

“Transport Scotland will continue to work with both Springfield Developments and the Council in the delivery of the mitigation at the roundabout and allow development to proceed.”

Springfield Properties central managing director Peter Matthews, said: “We are continuing to work with relevant authorities to progress upgrades to the Swallow Roundabout.

“Once we have final approval, we can move forward with the plans to make improvements to the roundabout including implementing a new traffic light system.”

A Dundee City Council spokesman said: “We are aware of the ongoing issue at the Swallow Roundabout.

“We will continue to support the improvement of this junction.”