The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Ferry sees Christmas cancelled as council slashes cash.
DUNDEE: Council’s proposed move to focus on city centre called ‘grossly unfair’
Plans to cut back Broughty Ferry’s “hugely popular” Christmas celebrations have been branded “vindictive and short-sighted”.
Dundee City Council yesterday revealed plans to make the city centre the focal point for future festivities in an attempt to mirror success seen in places such as Edinburgh and Glasgow.
It would mean the local authority, which currently pays for and installs trees and decorations, would no longer be involved in organising events for each district.
Instead places such as Broughty Ferry, Stobswell, Lochee and the West End would need to apply for cash and organise events themselves.
Ferry councillor Craig Duncan claims the move would be “grossly unfair”.
He said: “The festivities in the Ferry are very, very popular indeed and bring in a lot of money to local businesses.
“It feels vindictive. The area brings in a lot of council tax and lots of visitors to all of Dundee so it’s very short-sighted.”
The plans will go before councillors on the recovery sub-committee on Monday.
Each of the six areas which currently have a tree installed each year would need to apply to a new £50,000 joint Hogmanay and Christmas fund to put on its own celebrations.
Under the current system, £73,000
“The festivities in the Ferry are very, very popular indeed and bring in a lot of money to local businesses. It feels vindictive.
COUNCILLOR CRAIG DUNCAN
is available with Seabraes, Stobswell, Westport, and Whitfield receiving £8,000 each. Broughty Ferry receives £30,000 and Lochee gets £11,000.
Under the new plan, the council would concentrate its efforts on putting on an “enhanced” programme for the city centre.
Some suggestions include bespoke projections on Reform Street, interactive artwork in City Square and a festive shop window trail.
The events, which would likely not include a lights switch-on this year, would be designed to ensure physical distancing can be maintained.
The cost would be £151,000, an increase from the £108,000 usually earmarked for the city centre.
West End councillor Fraser Macpherson also said he is against the move. He said: “I know there won’t be any big lights switch-on events this year because of Covid-19 so I can understand if it was temporary for 2020. But these celebrations could be lost forever.
“Support from the council has been vital for Christmas across the city.”
However, Colin Clement, from the Stobswell Forum, said the plan sounds good “in principle”.
“More control to communities sounds like a good thing to me,” he said.
“We have been approached by local businesses over the past 18 months who want to organise something better than we usually have.
“Maybe this is the kickstart we need.” Council leader John Alexander, who will chair the meeting, said the “time is right” to review how the council uses public money at Christmas and said he believes “empowering communities” will be broadly welcomed.