West End councillor Richard McCready has been approached by worried constituents about several issues concerning the new fence which has been erected round the site, which is due to be developed into apartments.

He contacted the council’s planning and transportation department after discovering the new fence was blocking visibility for drivers using the roundabout at the Tesco store on Riverside Drive.

Mr McCready said, “The council and the construction company have had a meeting, and they are moving the fence back 15 to 20 metres to improve visibility.

“I am pleased to hear action is being taken on this, and I will keep an eye on the situation.”

Mr McCready went on to say people are also anxious about the pedestrian pathway, which is now in a narrow space between the new fence and another beside the railway to the north of the site.

“The concerns from pedestrians about the pathway are mostly to do with safety,” he explained. “The Riverside walkway was relatively open and people could be seen quite well. I have asked the planning and transportation department to look at this to see if there is anything that can be done to improve the pedestrian path while the building works are under way.”

He went on, “There is also a need for better signage — some pedestrians are not aware that a new pathway exists, and that they have to go to the north of the previous path. I have heard reports of people walking along Riverside Drive.”

Mr McCready has asked the council to ensure that pedestrian safety and access to walk along Riverside are maintained. He is not aware of when work is due to start on the site, but believes it will be “imminent” because of the recent changes to the fencing.

Planning consent for 202 apartments was granted by city councillors in December, 2005. The £40 million development will see flats arranged over eight levels with penthouses on top floors. The former Homebase site was sold by developer David Hagan last year to residential company Duncarse Ltd., in a deal worth £10 million.