Mixed reaction to survey

Residents have their say on city’s low life quality rating

DUNDONIANS have given a mixed react ion to a survey that ranked the city as third bottom of 32 districts for quality of life.

The data was compiled by the Bank of Scotland and plunged Dundee to 29th slot out of 32 council districts for 2020, just ahead of North Ayrshire, Inverclyde and Glasgow City.

It was based on factors including house prices, general happiness, education attainment and even the weather.

However, Lori Bradford, 24, from the city, disagreed with the low ranking. She said: “I think it’s a good place to live and I enjoy it.

“As for the weather, it is known as ‘the Sunny City’ and anyway you cannot control it. It is going to rain anywhere you go in Scotland.”

But John Brown, 66, a retired oil worker, backed the ranking and said: “The town is an absolute disaster. There are no proper jobs any more and we all know the problems that the place has.

“Just look at Reform Street, that sums up the state of the place.”

Joe McCarroll, also 66, said: “I totally agree. We both worked in construction jobs and the oil industry, but all the money has gone, and although it was a great town in the past and people had decent jobs, it’s not now. It has been nothing but closures from Timex to Michelin.”

Martin McLean, 42, from Stobswell, said there was good and bad in the city. He said: “The Waterfront is great and very vibrant. But when you venture from the city centre it can be a bit depressing, with the drug problems and poverty.”

And Donald Sturrock, 67, of Clepington Road, a retired electrical engineer said: “The front is not too bad, but when you go out to the hinterland, so to speak, there are problems. As for lifestyle, well, I think we should be higher up that table.”

A big fan of Dundee is Ruth Dickson, 43, from Douglas, who moved from Arbroath.

She said: “I love Dundee. I know it has its problems but it is a good place to live, and there is a real vibe about the place, with so many students from different countries.”