The Trust in Action
Recently , the Trust, among other things, has campaigned:-
- against decisions being taken behind closed doors. Recently the City Council has adopted new procedures with regard to the treatment of planning applications which have diminished openness in the decision making process. This has resulted in more applications being decided by officials behind closed doors. Whilst before it needed only one objection to ensure that a delegated application was decided in public by our elected councillors it now needs 6 objections to ensure an application goes to committee. The reason given for this is that Councillors were overworked due to Planning meetings going on too long. We find this somewhat surprising given that in the past, when Councillors did not enjoy the payments and pensions which they now have, the system seemed to work.
- against the use of untreated cedar cladding on buildings. We feel that our earlier but unsuccessful objections on this matter in respect of the Apex Hotel, Victoria Dock have demonstrated that this material quickly becomes discoloured and unsightly on weathering in exposed locations
- The Trust is also keeping an eye on the restoration of Linlathen Iron bridge. This is a truly unique structure which is due to be restored by the developers after a campaign by the Trust. We can now report progress. A survey of the bridge has now been undertaken and it is hoped that restoration will soon commence.
- The Trust feels that it is essential that there is a major attraction at the centre of the Central Waterfront development. In this respect the possibility of there being a Dundee branch of the Victoria and Albert Museum is strongly supported by the Trust.
- We also feel that the City Council should regard the identification of a permanent site for the Unicorn as a matter of great urgency. Without this Lottery funding is unlikely to be available and the ship, which is an important part of the heritage of Dundee, will be lost to the City.
- The Trust also feels that the standard of design in the Central Waterfront should be of the highest and that there should be some kind of planning brief in place to ensure that the scale of the development is consistent with the City Centre.
- The Trust is concerned about the delays to the restoration of the former Tay Hotel in the Central Waterfront occasioned by the requirements of Historic Scotland. Accordingly we have written to Historic Scotland urging them to be more flexible in their approach as we believe it essential that this key building is brought back into use.
The Trust has always prided itself in being forward looking and having a positive approach to the development of the city. Accordingly we have supported, and will continue to support, all those proposals whether the improvement and regeneration of existing buildings or the construction of new buildings, which in our view would improve the environment.
