Having lived in Lochee and surrounding housing schemes for 52 years, I would say the area’s gradual decline is the result of a combination of factors.
Certainly the traditional places of employment have gone and areas like Camperdown and Charleston do not have the nickname “Cash Valley” anymore, but the most important point is the potential for employment is there.
The area still has huge potential, despite all the problems in recent years.
Why should children in the Lochee area have to go to Caird Park or Riverside Drive for the carnival when Lochee Park is on their own doorstep?
Why has the High Street been narrowed to such an extent that even in the 1840s and before it was wider?
It was able to take horse drawn carts loaded with quarry stone down to the docks to be loaded onto ships where it was taken to London.
Instead, it now boasts the biggest ashtrays in the world.
We should be looking to maximise the area’s resources. The buildings in the empty Stack Leisure Park are already there so I ask the following.
In the Wellgate, in the food hall area, there are several different restaurants. Why doesn’t a well-known chain move into Busters? This would be an ideal venue for multiple choice eating cafes.
This area could also be used as a heritage and cultural centre. Instead of the V&A going to the Waterfront, why not place it on the site, which was at one time the world’s biggest jute mill?
The empty Tesco building could be opened as an indoor fun fair, open all year round, or, turn it into a shopping mall bigger than the Forum Centre, but appealing to all, so that cars and bus loads of people come into the area.
The wealth from Lochee created Dundee into a city. It’s about time Lochee was repaid instead of being thrown crumbs. The £2.8 million pounds spent on regeneration recently is a good start, but there needs to be considerably more investment to help Lochee recapture its former glory. — Andy Walker.
Rail disaster?
Why did the council paint the railings in Byron Crescent, Dundee, only to replace them the next week? — Derailed.
[A Dundee City Council spokesman said, “Maintenance is being carried out on the railings and this involves preparing them for painting. Any sections that are too badly rusted to be painted are cut out, repairs made and these new sections are then painted when put back in place. The work does not involve painting areas that need to be replaced.”]
Route has given me back my life
I read people complaining about the new number 22 bus service coming around St. Martin Avenue/ St Martin Drive, Dundee.
I am delighted with the new service. It has given me my life back. I have been virtually housebound for the best part of a year without the bus during the day and since I live about the furthest away from the old bus stop, I am really appreciating the fact that it stops at the top of St Martin Avenue now.
Not everyone has two cars. I also have to attend Ninewells Hospital and the fact that the bus goes virtually door to door now is a great boon for me. I have a list of names of people who are delighted at the new service. — Happy Traveller
People deserve bus service
I find it absolutely astonishing that the people of Craigowl housing estate are complaining that they have a bus service.
You can’t say you don’t want a bus service because children play in the street. Don’t cars go in and out of the housing estate?
Some areas in Dundee would love to see one bus a day going down their street.
What about people who don’t drive and children getting home from various schools? Don’t they deserve a bus service? — Elizabeth Dolan, Fintry Road, Dundee.
Folk should be happy
Regarding buses to Craigowl Estate. The letter writers do not talk for all in this estate.
The buses do not/cannot speed, as there are numerous speed bumps to prevent this.
I think that is a ‘not in my back yard please’ syndrome. The people should be very happy that they have a very good service now, unlike some who have no service due to the withdrawal of the circular buses.
Adults should supervise their children who, in turn, should be told to stay off the roads.
And yes, I do stay in Craigowl and think that the bus service is braw. — Bus User.
Delight turned to concern
I am a regular bus user and my sons travel to and from school by bus.
I was delighted to hear that Craigowl was going to get a bus service again between 10am and 3pm. However, I was rather perplexed when we saw the first bus travel up St Martin Avenue because although I was aware that Craigowl was being reinstated with a bus service during the day, the exact configuration of the route was not publicised as far as I am aware.
I am concerned about buses travelling along St Martin Avenue every eight minutes.
This is a quiet residential street and many young children play in the street on their bikes, skateboards, etc. Moreover, the school holidays are here.
I realise that St Martin Avenue is a classified road and when many home owners purchased their properties, there was an awareness of the possibility of being on a bus route.
However, I do not think many residents had envisaged living on a very frequent bus route. — Lesley Brennan, Gauldie Road, Craigowl View, Dundee.
Too much charity
I read with interest the letter from the individual who is tired of getting charity bags through his or her door.
I can fully understand this sentiment. These bags arrive through my letterbox, it seems, almost daily.
Now I consider myself a charitable person. I regularly donate to good causes, particularly local ones, but this maildrop strategy is enough to try anyone’s patience.
Of course, charities need support, but these are tough times and everyone is feeling the pinch. If I filled even half of these bags, my wardrobe would be empty. — Charitable Soul.
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