Why were no councillors at consultation?

I ATTENDED the consultation event for the new female custody unit planned for the Hilltown last week.

Unfortunately during the time I was there, no Dundee councillors were present to talk to, or answer questions from, residents.

According to the leaflets available, there were initially 23 possible sites in Dundee for this unit, of which – at that time – two were in the Hilltown.

Since then, a school has been built a stone’s throw from the site.

What has not been mentioned is the fact that the Lily Walker Centre is also in close proximity to the chosen site.

As residents of the area know all too well, there is constant trouble at the centre, much of it revolving around drugs.

Do the authorities really think that the prison inmates, when they are out, and their visitors won’t meet up with the drug dealers in the area? If they don’t, they need to come into the real world.

As for the statement that there is a similar unit at Cornton Vale with no trouble, they conveniently forget that Dundee is the drugs death capital of Scotland.

Surely the safety and wellbeing of children should be paramount?

The authorities should reconsider.

Sheila Niven.

I ALSO attended the consultation on the custody unit, along with friends.

There were a number of representatives at the event from the Scottish Prison Service, who were delivering their explanations on this proposed unit.

But where were our representatives from Dundee City Council?

Where were the councillors supporting the people who voted them in and listening to their concerns about the site the SPS says it was given by the council?

This site is in the middle of a residential area where they have built new houses and a new school, where young families could live safely.

Is this another done deal?

Sceptic.

REGARDING the consultation event for the proposed female custody unit.

I was there and the Scottish Prison Service was left in no doubt about what people thought of putting this beside a new school and new houses.

It’s bad enough having the Lily Walker Centre there, with the police and ambulance service almost permanent residents, without this coming to the area.

It’s time the council had the courage to say no this time.

New resident.