Family’s anger at Aberdeen road revamp that’s forcing Parkinson’s sufferer to move home

IT’S a scheme that could end misery for thousands of motorists at one of Scotland’s worst bottlenecks.

However, plans to redevelop Aberdeen’s Haudagain roundabout have left one family furious.

They are preparing to battle developers and council chiefs over a compulsory purchase order slapped on the home of Parkinson’s disease sufferer Maisie Mitchell.

The 80-year-old moved into her three-bedroom home in North Anderson Drive in 1965 and doesn’t want to leave.

Her family claim the stress of being asked to move out to make room for improvement works, along with a number of other tenants, is exacerbating her Parkinson’s.

Son Stephen, 51, who lives with his mum and his partner Fiona Barrie, said: “My mother has lived here for 53 years and she wants to spend the rest of her life here.

“What sense can there be in uprooting her at this stage of her life?”

When the £30 million Scottish Government scheme to build a link road at the site was first put out to public consultation in 2014 she didn’t raise an objection because she assumed, as a lone pensioner, there was little she could do to stop it.

Maisie told The Sunday Post: “I would have been more than happy to spend the rest of my days in my house.

“I have so many memories here and, let’s face it, I’m not getting any younger.

“I just want to be settled with my son and his partner.

“It’s hard at my age to understand the letters they send and it would be better to speak to someone face-to-face, then you know where you stand.”

The development plans involve the demolition of more than 100 homes, which will be bought using compulsory purchase orders. Work is scheduled to start later this year and take around two years to complete.

A spokeswoman for Aberdeen City Council said housing officers would be back in touch with Maisie’s family.

“Following an initial discussion and assessment, the matter was referred to our housing needs team to determine future housing priority,” she said.

“We recognise that this is a sensitive matter for the residents and we will be making further contact soon to discuss potential options for those involved.”