Council chiefs could face a £10million bill to move residents from an Aberdeen housing estate to make way for the long awaited Haudagain roundabout.
Construction on the “Haudagain bypass” is due to begin by the end of 2017, and will involve building a number of new roads to alleviate the current traffic pressure.
Many homes will have to be demolished to make way for the £30million Transport Scotland project, and so far around 136 of 150 residents affected have already been rehomed.
But the future of 112 council properties is still in question.
Under 2014 plans the homes are currently projected to be left in the “Haudagain triangle”, surrounded by traffic on all sides.
But three options for the future of the site have now been unveiled. These include refurbishing the homes, demolishing them to leave an “open space” and putting the area forward for commercial use or building new homes.
Last night council bosses called on the Scottish Government to put forward money needed to carry out the works.
A senior town house source said that the demolition and reconstruction of the flats could cost “at least” £10million and said the Holyrood administration should pay.
Council leader Jenny Laing and finance convener Willie Young travelled to Edinburgh this week for a crunch meeting with local government minister Kevin Stewart to discuss the future of the triangle.
It is understood that the options will also be discussed at an upcoming council meeting.
Last night Ms Laing said: “I think many of these residents feel like they’ve been left in a state of limbo.
“We have put £36m into regeneration in Northfield but this road is their project and we think that it’s fair that they pay for any blight on the residents.
“We would like to see what the Scottish Government could do to help these people living there.”
Yesterday, residents had a mixed reaction to the options put forward for the triangle.
George Hanratty, 31, was already waiting to move but said the council should “do up” the existing homes.
Marie McDonald added: “Maybe the open space option would be the best. You have to think of what the quality of life would be if there are roads on all sides.”
Mother of three Anna Style, who is a full time carer to her disabled son Lee, 9, said the authority should “knock it down and start again”.
She said: “These houses have been left to rot for years, the have just moved in the homeless and drug addicts into the area. It’s diabolical.
“We’ve been told we may soon have to wear masks for the asbestos and keep our windows closed.
“You’ve got van loads of people turning up and dumping their stuff in the street. They just need to knock it down and find us new places.”
But shopkeeper Brahmanandan Roy, owner of the Amyes groceries and off-license, said that the homes being demolished could mean “the end” for his business.
He said: “We moved up from England to run this shop but so many of our customers have already left we might have to close.
“I think we are down about £8,200 a week, losing more houses could cost the business.”
Former SNP group leader at the Town House Jackie Dunbar, who lives on nearby Manor Avenue, said the call was “bare faced cheek”.
She added: “I think this is a case of slopey shoulders from the administration who know very well this land is the council’s responsibility.
“The Scottish Government has invested £1.63m in a new community facility here so I don’t think it’s fair for the administration to pretend the government do nothing for the area.”
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “As the local government and housing minister made clear, the Scottish Government would be open to discussions on the houses contained within the Haudagain triangle, however Aberdeen City Council has yet to share a concrete plan for this area and its residents.”
