It’s not only businesses that have been affected by the deterioration of Dundee’s central business district (CBD.

Eventide Home for the Aged is also up against anti-social behaviour and environmental pollution.

A line of shacks, from where food and other goods are sold, have been erected against a concrete wall in Smith Street (that borders Eventide).

Residents have long complained of ‘choking smoke’ from fires made for cooking, coming into their cottages.

The smoke is especially detrimental to those with respiratory problems.

The wall facing Smith Street has been burnt black from the smoke.

The associated noise has also impacted on life at Eventide, which for many years has been caring for the elderly in the community.

There are also concerns that drug-users gather in the area to ‘share needles’.

“We have often seen them doing this in broad daylight,” said one resident who lives nearby (but did not want to be named).

Ironically, the newly-built concrete trading stalls in Smith Street, directly opposite the shacks, remain unused even though these were officially opened some months ago by Mayor Ndlovu and the management of Buffalo Coal, who sponsored the project.

The gate at the perimeter was locked when the Courier visited the site and the only sign of activity was a couple of men playing a game with dice on the pavement.

One trader said they did not want to use the stalls, as there is a fee and the stalls are not close to where pedestrians are.

However, it is yet to be ascertained if a fee is required from those wishing to use the stalls.

Councillor Naresh Gopie, chairperson of the Municipal Pubic Accounts Committee, confirmed that the stalls were not yet operational, as the municipality was still busy with the allocation process for traders.

“Once that process has been completed, the stalls will be operational.”

Eventide Home manager Karen Glasgow said that numerous letters had been sent to the municipality and the Health Department, but there is yet to be a response.