| A vandalised square, intended to demonstrate to First Minister Jack McConnell the harm caused by anti-social behaviour, was painted over by Dundee City Council before his visit to the city today.
Huntly Square has long been a hangout for large groups of youths, and many of its walls have been treated as a blank canvas by vandals.
However, contractors arrived last night and, according to residents, worked until 9pm to clean up the square.
After they left, vandals struck again — and workmen visited the site once more this morning to clear up the mess a second time.
One angry resident said, “They should have come here last week to see how the place really looks.
“Painters came last night, but then had to come back in the morning because there was more graffiti.”
Mr McConnell told residents of the area that they should expect the square to be kept clean at all times — “not just the night before I visit.”
Administration leader Jill Shimi said the work had not been carried out because of Mr McConnell’s visit, but had been done as part of a programme of works carried out by the council throughout the year.
“It wasn’t planned, and I wasn’t happy to see it, because it was the whole reason for the visit — so the First Minister could see it.
“As soon as I saw it had been painted we decided to take him to see the underpass.”
Cllr Shimi said Mr McConnell’s visit had highlighted the need for the council to work closely with other agencies to tackle the problem of anti-social behaviour, and that the introduction of new powers could also be useful in tackling some very Dundee-specific problems.
“We’ve got to make sure we take full advantage of the powers we have, and we must engage the community in that,” she said.
“We’ve got to pull together more often, and new measures could be very useful.
“For example, youths coming through the area on motorbikes are a concern for many people, and new measures could be used for that.”
However, one Craigie resident, who is trying to make an active difference in the community, felt he was being hindered by red tape.
Amer Naveed, who owns the grocery store in Huntly Square, said he was trying to build a boxing gym in the square that would fill one of the unoccupied units and give children in the area something to do.
He said, “I’ve lived in the area for eight and a half years, and noticed it go downhill.
“I’m here 13 hours a day, seven days a week, so I know the actual state of the place.
“We’ve been trying to build a gym in the square, but plans have just being going to and fro between us and the council for years.
“Hopefully, the visit by the First Minister will help us get the go-ahead,” he added. |
