Ian Yuill

Liberal Democrat councillor for Mannofield, Airyhall, Braeside, Broomhill, Garthdee, Kaimhill and Ruthrieston Learn more

Success – Windmill Brae tarmac to be removed

by Ian Yuill on 8 September, 2016

Photo of tarmac on Windmill BraeAfter I was contacted by people annoyed at the laying of tarmac on top of the granite setts on part of Aberdeen’s historic Windmill Brae I asked a senior council director for an explanation – and urged that the granite sett surface was restored as soon as possible.

I have now received an assurance from City Centre Director Marc Cole that the tarmac will be removed and the surface reinstated.

This is my e-mail to Mr Cole:

Good Morning Marc

I am e-mailing about the recent laying of tar on a section of Windmill Brae which has traditionally been cobbled.

You will not be surprised to learn that I have been contacted by a number of people concerned both that the tar has been laid at all and that it has been done in an apparently slap dash manner.

As you appreciate, Windmill Brae is a historic part of Aberdeen’s city centre and it is entirely appropriate that it is surfaced with cobbles.

I would be very grateful if I could be told why it was felt appropriate to lay tarmac on this part of Windmill Brae, who took that decision and why‎ the tarmac was laid so badly.

Finally, I urge that the tarmac is removed and the cobbled surface restored as soon as possible.

‎I look forward to hearing from you.

Regards

Ian

Ian Yuill

This is the reply I received from Mr Cole:

Good afternoon Cllr Yuill,

Thank you for the attached e-mail regarding Windmill Brae. As I understand it following safety concerns raised by local businesses and Aberdeen Inspired, the highways team took action to resurface a small part of  Windmill Brae.

This work was necessary to secure loose cobblestones on the carriageway, which were a potential hazard for pedestrians.   

The repair was intended to be temporary and carried out on a trial basis. However, the appearance of that part of the street has fallen short of the standards we expect, and the tar is to be removed. The Tar will be removed from cobbles using an infra-red heater which effectively melts it, and it is then scraped off before being grit blasted.

Further work is being carried out to look at the cost of a more permanent solution in keeping with Windmill Brae’s historic streetscape as a matter of urgency.

I hope this response provides you with the information you were seeking. However please do not hesitate to contact me again, if you have any further questions or queries.

Kind regards

Marc Cole
City Centre Director

   1 Comment

One Response

  1. Iain Wolstenholme says:

    The granite sett surface to Belmont Street was a City Centre Partnership renewal scheme at no small expense. There have been at least two recent repairs, one in tar, which may be temporary but fall short of acceptable. The setts were specially selected and manufactured and should not have been damaged or removed from this location. The areas are: outside Cocoa Ooze (possibly Vodophone works), and outside Triple Kirks (general works – tar). This is similar to Windmill Brae, but worse in that it is in an area of specific environmental and amenity improvement. (It is unfortunate that former street cafes seem to be disallowed from this largely pedestrianised space, but this is an addendum).

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