Lochee residents have watched the area fall steadily into decline with the closure of major stores such as Tesco and Woolworths and the rise of a drug culture, where junkies can be seen knocking back methadone.

But many projects designed to improve Lochee’s appearance and go some way towards wresting it back from the anti-social are already at an advanced stage of planning and, in line with Government expectations the cash should be spent quickly, Councillor Duncan said Lochee will have a much-approved appearance by the end of the year.

An environmental makeover that is more than skin deep is seen as crucial to kick-starting the area’s regeneration and early efforts will be focused on that.

The first signs of new life being breathed into the community will become apparent at street level within weeks. Although consultation is continuing with traders and local people, the rejigging of traffic flows in and around the High Street will be given early attention.

Pavements will be realigned to improve access for pedestrians and help control vehicle speeds.

Then, security gates will be installed over closes and extra security lighting introduced to discourage crime and prevent junkies from using back gardens and stairwells as drug dens.

“The police do a good job in Lochee, but it’s all too easy for people to disappear into backyards and closes,” said Councillor Duncan.

“It has to be said Lochee isn’t too welcoming at night when all the steel shutters are down on the shop windows and doorways.

“But we hope new security lighting, which isn’t just more intense but is installed on the front of buildings above business premises, will help deter criminals.

“If we can successfully tackle that, then maybe some of the shopkeepers will start feeling confident enough not to pull down their shutters at night.

“Lochee has always been a strong community but, hopefully, these initiatives will give local people a renewed pride in that community.”

Dundee City Council does not have as free a hand in reshaping Lochee as it has enjoyed in some other parts of the city in the past.

Few of the buildings on High Street and surrounding streets are owned by the council.

The vast, but largely empty, Stack Leisure Park, which is in private hands, will not be a beneficiary of regeneration funding except in Methven Street, its main pedestrian access from High Street, where some environmental improvements will be carried out.

However, the local authority has already made a start with its work on the Sinclair Street car park, which has improved access to High Street shops.

Councillor Duncan said many more environmental improvements will be in place before the end of the year, all of which are expected to give Lochee a more friendly face.

After that, and probably before 2010 is out, attention will turn to the area’s key community facilities — the swimming pool and local library — which are in line for upgrading and are considered essential in providing a firm base from which to re-launch Lochee.

“I’m particularly enthusiastic about the proposals for Lochee, as we have been talking about them for so long,” said Councillor Duncan.

“People will not have to wait long for things to start happening. Before, all the plans were a pipedream, but now we have the money to do the work.

“This year and next, it will be spent, and by the end of the year and the early part of next year people will see a big difference.”